Life - like Pichkoo dhokla

 Yup! Sometimes one is so excited with a receipe in mind and the tummy is already prepared to do a grand welcome for food being prepared in kitchen, but one which is already cooked in the mind and also plated.

But then, the tangy twist happens!

 (Say life happens)

The airy powedry soda, which is supposed to make the Dhokla batter fluffy, eventually gets solidified and if the cook isn't cautious, in the excitement of it being the last act in the game, may directly add the lumps! Thinking themselves as one like the famous Salt Bae.🙄

The result will be a batter which gets steamed as it  or gets fluffy only in places where the soda lumps were hiding, more like grande!!

 🫣🤐

Exactly, like the dhokla below.

Though the taste was good...but I had to swallow it than enjoying it. 

  

While eating, I felt a uncanny resemblance of that of some people's life with that of this Pichkoo  (deflated) Dhokla. Where one plans a great deal about one's life and phissss...the air is gone away.

The planner takes great care about every single details like how one would gather the raw material for Dhokla...eg. Setting the curd at home, stealing a few home grown Curry leaves, even getting organic milled gram flour! But who would have thought the soda will be the culprit and when the packet would be cut open and poured on the batter...chapak! (Ok ok... that's too exaggerated). The lumps fell off and inspite of all the efforts to crush it before the oxidation processes gets over...was all in vain.

Nevertheless, life is life :)

And the celebration can be of different texture or colours too!

New year - 2025!

The dream spree

This morning, I woke up with a vivid dream from some bygone era.

The things I remember most clearly were: a pair of dark brown, almost black, bulls or cows sitting on the ground and munching. One of them had a horseshoe symbol on its forehead, which felt magical to me in the dream.

Later, I was walking towards two long, wooden carts or chariots parked facing each other, like taxis.

The chariot on my right was being pulled by two elephants, while the other was drawn by a pair of horses.

I saw a well-built, muscular man in rugged clothes – a dusty, off-white cotton dhoti and an off-white sleeveless waistcoat. He was lying face down at the edge of the horse-drawn cart. The whole scene felt peaceful and still.

As I walked towards the massive wooden cart, I heard rumbling sounds coming from the other end. The cart was so long that the sound traveled quickly, and it took a moment for the actual movement to begin. Just as I was about to touch it, the cart slowly started to move away, and the rumbling sound intensified. It startled me, and my heart began to race.

On the other side, the elephant-drawn cart also began to move, but more slowly than the horse-drawn one. I wondered if the movement of both these giant carts was intentional or if something was amiss.

And then I woke up.

Gili haldi (raw turmeric) - Tried new and authentic Rajasthani winter receipe 

Showing some love to myself. 

After my noon nap, I took a turn on my bed before opening my eyes and there i see those blooming vibrant flowers and it filled my being with a deep sense of love 💗 

When Alexa goes on her own trip. 

I asked alexa to play one of my favourite song and it made me laugh :

1. Song -  Unnaku thaan song. Have no clue if i ever heard this one, even by mistake nor do I understand the language. I then went and checked the lyrics and meaning 😂 

2. Song -  Un Poco Loco 😂 😂 😂 . This one definately made me get-up and wonder if I am in some parallel world, on a new year's day!! The song was something i can't even humm if I wish to 🤣🤷

3. Song - Aazhi Mazhai Kanna. Again, i don't know the language nor the song. Probably i would have loved the music and searched it after a movie or  hearing it somewhere... But definitely not on my favourite list and I still don't know the meaning 😂 

I wonder if Alexa has an affair 🤨🧐 

Then she plays... Dil hai chota sa... And I am like...ok ok. Apologies accepted.

But then, Alexa knew my weakness and played : heer heer song and my heart skipped a beat 🪘 .

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30mins Vipassana on terrace - 

After the noon nap, evening hot shower, I lit a oil lamp and some sambhrani dhoop and offered or took the burning incense to all the rooms and kitchen, bath and dead corners.. including closets to feel a fresh healing healthy energy around. 

For some reason as the sun was sliding down, my anxiety was creeping in, probably due to the un-due pressure I am taking of my own clutter of aspirations I have for myself and small things that I love doing and haven't been taking time for them and my being feels hollow. The anxiety isn't healthy for me and hence I decided to go out, under the open sky and do a 30mins guided Vipassana. post that It truly felt so great! I was ready for the world or say was just happy being. I then prepared. Cup of cardomom tea for myself and some snacks. On another gas burner, added some sweet 🍠 potatoes for boiling, for dinner. These were gifted by my neighbours. 

It feels so great to be composed and not driven by fear or anxiety.

Last night I continued my deep journaling and a many deep seated beliefs and feelings surfaced and I felt more liberated and more comfortable in my own skin. Feels the more I journal, the more I am seeing dreams 😀.

Dropped a - new year wishes and gratitude note for a new friend (I met on a flight).

--

Well now heading to complete one or two water color greetings. 

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I have been taking note of things and events that make me feel at ease, happy, unrushed and  blissful and probably tomorrow I will have my new Calendar ready for the 2025 adventures 💝.

Note to self - Loads of love Tan. 

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Indeed a blessed day and beginning to the 2025.🙏

May all be well. May all be at ease.