Wednesday, October 26, 2011

दीपावलीच्या हार्दिक शुभेच्छा




लाख दिव्यांची आरास सजू दे, आनंदाचे मळे फुलू दे,
पणतीच्या रुपात नव्याने आशेची नवी ज्योत जळू दे!

-: दीपावलीच्या हार्दिक शुभेच्छा :-

Thursday, October 6, 2011

विजयादशमीच्या शुभेच्छा

सोन्यासारख्या माणसांसाठी
सोन्यासारखा खाऊ,
सोन्यासारखा खाऊ खाऊन
सोन्यासारखं राहू!

विजयादशमीच्या पोटभर शुभेच्छा!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Festivals are here again...

Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Shaktirupen Sansthita
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah


With the auspicious arrival of Goddess Durga, we are excited to invite you to our updated website - www.khawakee.com

Get the feel of refreshing festival season, with mouth watering festival food items at Khawakee. You can check item-wise product details and rates before placing your order.

Get delicious festival food at your doorstep, anywhere in Pune. We knew you were waiting for this...

Kyonki, Khanewalon ko khane ka bahana chahiye... :-)

Sunday, August 28, 2011

गणपती बाप्पा मोरया

"नारायण, नारायण" असा जप करत नारदमुनी गजाननाकडं आले. दोन हातात दोन छोटे ब्रश आणि सोंडेत एक मोठा ब्रश. एक सुंदर निसर्गचित्र रंगवण्यात दंग होते श्रीगणेश. पृथ्वीतलावर सातत्यानं ये-जा करणार्‍या मोजक्या देवांपैकी श्रीगणेश एक. आपण जाऊ तिथला परिसर सुंदर बनवायचा त्यांचा आग्रह. हिरव्या-पिवळ्या रंगांची मुक्त उधळण केली होती त्या चित्रात. आता हे चित्र पूर्ण झालं की पृथ्वीवरच्या नक्की कुठल्या भागात बसवलं जाईल, या विचारात नारदमुनी गढून गेले. इतक्यात गणेशाचं त्यांच्याकडं लक्ष गेलं.

"प्रणाम मुनीवर, कसं काय येणं केलंत?" सगळे ब्रश बाजूला ठेवत गणेशानं नारदमुनींना विचारलं.
"नारायण, नारायण," भानावर येत नारदमुनी म्हणाले, "गणेशदेवा, तुझे भक्तगण तुझ्या स्वागताच्या जय्यत तयारीला लागलेले पाहून, तुला चार गोष्टी सांगायला आलोय."
"बोला मुनीवर, काही गडबड तर नाही ना?"
"गडबड म्हणजे...तसं नवीन काही नाही, पण..."
"पण? पण काय नारदमुनी?"
"पण हेच की तिकडच्या सगळ्या जुन्या समस्या अजूनही आहेत तशाच आहेत. नव्हे, उलट त्यांचं स्वरुप अधिकच गंभीर होत चाललंय..."
"परिस्थिती खूपच वाईट आहे का मुनीवर?"
"गणेशा, दर चतुर्थीला भक्तगण तुला साकडं घालतात, त्यांच्या समस्या सोडवायचं. शिवाय वर्षभर तुझ्या मंदीरांमधून नवस, आरत्या, महापूजा, अभिषेक, हे सारं सुरु असतंच. झालंच तर, वर्षातून एकदा तू स्वतः जाऊन तिकडं राहून येतोस काही दिवस. तरीही लोकांच्या समस्यांना काही अंत दिसत नाही बघ."
"कुठल्या समस्यांबद्दल बोलताय तुम्ही?" गणेशानं अदबीनं विचारलं.
"कुठल्या कुठल्या समस्या सांगू गजानना?
- महागाईनं जनसामान्यांचं कंबरडं मोडलंय;
- जीवनावश्यक वस्तूंचे भाव गगनाला भिडलेत;
- भ्रष्टाचारानं अर्थव्यवस्था मोडकळीला आलीय;
- दहशतवादानं माणसा-माणसातल्या विश्वासाचा बळी घेतलाय;
- देशाच्या...."
"थांबा थांबा मुनीवर," गजाननानं नारदमुनींना थांबवत म्हटलं, "अहो या सगळ्या समस्या माणसानंच निर्माण केल्यात की नाही?"
"हो, मग?"
"अहो मग या सगळ्या समस्यांवरचे उपाय माणसाकडंच असायला पाहिजेत की नाही?"
"हो, बरोबर आहे तुझं म्हणणं, पण..."
"मग कसला पण घेऊन बसलात मुनीवर? ते सगळे उपाय स्वतःच्या घरी ठेऊन माणसं माझ्याकडं येतात, फक्त समस्या घेऊन. मग उपास-तापास, नवस-सायास, होम-हवन, मंत्र-अभिषेक हे सगळं करत बसतात. आता तुम्हीच सांगा, त्यांनी निर्माण केलेल्या समस्यांवर मी कसा काय उपाय काढणार बरं?"
"हं, तेही बरोबरच आहे म्हणा. पण तरी या समस्यांवर काही तरी केलं पाहिजेच ना? म्हणजे, दहशतवादावर, महागाईवर, भ्रष्टाचारावर,..."
"बास बास बास...अहो काय नारदमुनी, माणसांमध्ये फिरुन तुम्हीपण माणसांसारखं कुरकुरायला लागलात की हो. त्या माणसांच्या समस्या-बिमस्या सोडा माणसांवर. त्यांनी स्वतः शोधलेले उपायच त्यांना कायमचं तारु शकतील. तुम्ही आम्ही भरवलेला घास पचायचा नाही त्यांना. त्यापेक्षा मी तुम्हाला मोदक भरवतो, तो खा आणि संतुष्ट मनानं नारायणाचा जप करा," एवढं बोलून श्रीगणेशानं आतल्या बाजूला आवाज दिला, "मोदक घेतलेत का बनवायला? नारदमुनींना द्या जरा गरम-गरम..."
आणि मग....
.................

....मग काय, आम्ही घेतले की हो मोदक बनवायला! आणि बनवतोच आहोत - खूप खूप, भरपूर. तुम्हालाही खायचे असतील तर जरुर सांगा आम्हाला. त्याचं काय आहे, श्रीगणेशानं आम्हाला सांगितलंय, "हे जग खूप सुंदर आहे, त्याला अजून सुंदर बनवायचं आपण!"
ते चित्रसुद्धा आता पूर्ण होत आलंय. श्रावण-सरींनी सजवलेल्या आजूबाजूच्या हिरव्यागार निसर्गचित्राचा खरा चित्रकार येतोय आपली भूक शमवायला. तो गणाधिपती गजानन भुकेला आहे भक्तीचा, भावाचा, प्रेमाचा,....आणि स्वादिष्ट मोदकांचाही ! लागायचं मग तयारीला? आम्ही तर केव्हाचे तयार होऊन बसलोय वाट बघत... विघ्नहर्त्या गणरायाची आणि तुमची. कधी येताय मोदक खायला?

"उंदीर म्हणाला बाप्पांना
दर्शन देऊया भक्तांना,
मोदक-लाडू खाऊया
गणपती बाप्पा मोरया!!!"

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Happy Naag-Panchami

Khawakee wishes all on this auspicious festival of Naag-Panchami!

Proud to be part of a culture that teaches to respect not only human beings, but also every living & non-living things around us!

Apart from The God in all forms, we worship our Guru's, our Parents, Books, Trees, Animals, and what not...

On this fifth day of Shravan Maas, we offer prayers to the serpentine species. They are considered to be farmer's best friends. And they help maintain balance of natural ecosystem.

Monday, August 1, 2011

पहिली मंगळागौर, श्रावणातली...

मंगळागौर म्हणजे महाराष्ट्राच्या संस्कृतीतला एक हळवा धागा.
श्रावणातल्या पहिल्या मंगळागौरीचं अप्रतिम वर्णन केलंय जगदीश खेबूडकरांनी. चित्रपट आहे 'चंदनाची चोळी अंग अंग जाळी'. संगीत राम कदम यांचं, स्वर उषाताई व इतर. आणि पडद्यावर आहेत, संध्या आणि रंजना...

नाच गं घुमा, कशी मी नाचू ?

ह्या गावचा, त्या गावचा सोनार नाही आला
जोडवी न्हाई मला कशी मी नाचू ?
नाच ग घुमा !

ह्या गावचा, त्या गावचा शिंपी न्हाई आला
चोळी न्हाई मला कशी मी नाचू ?
नाच ग घुमा !

ह्या गावचा, त्या गावचा कासार न्हाई आला
बांगडी न्हाई मला कशी मी नाचू ?
नाच ग घुमा !

फू बाई फू फुगडी चमचम्‌ करतीया बुगडी !
पाट बाई पाट चंदनाचा पाट
पतीदेव बघत्यात माडीवर वाट

बारा घरच्या बायका एक जागी मिळू या
चला झिम्मा खेळू या ग चला झिम्मा खेळू या !

लेक बोलते लाडकी घरी गोकूळ साजणी
वसुदेव देवकीचा कान्हा खेळतो अंगणी
बाळ नवसाचा माझा त्याची दृष्ट काढू या
चला झिम्मा खेळू या ग चला झिम्मा खेळू या !

घुमु दे घागर घुमु दे खेळात जीव ह्यो रमु दे
गडनी घागर फुकतीया, मागं नि म्होरं झुकतीया
नाचून बाई माझी दमू दे, खेळात जीव ह्यो रमू दे
घुमु दे घागर घुमु दे !

पोरी पिंगा ग पोरी पिंगा ग पोरी पिंगा ग पोरी पिंगा !
तुझ्या पिंग्यानं मला बोलिवली, रात जागिवली पोरी पिंगा !

फेटा बांधल्याला भाऊ माझा ग जावई तुझा ग पोरी पिंगा
तुझ्या पिंग्यानं मला बोलिवली, झोप चाळिवली पोरी पिंगा !

शालू नेसल्याली भैन माझी ग सून तुझी ग पोरी पिंगा
तुझ्या पिंग्यानं मला बोलिवली, मागं घालिवली पोरी पिंगा !

भाऊ माझा ग, तो ब राजा ग, अग जा जा ग पोरी पिंगा
तुझ्या पिंग्यानं मला बोलिवली, मला बोलिवली पोरी पिंगा !

तुझ्या भावाचं डोळं चकणं ग, रूप हेकणं ग पोरी पिंगा
भैन माझी ग लेक इंद्राची कोर चंद्राची पोरी पिंगा !

तुझ्या भैनीचं नाक नकटं ग त्वांड चपटं ग पोरी पिंगा
माझ्या भावाचा भारी दरारा पळती थरारा सारे पिंगा !

भाऊ तुझा ग भितो झुरळाला, काळ्या उंदराला पोरी पिंगा
भैन माझी ग जशी कोकिळा गाते मंजुळा पोरी पिंगा !

तुझ्या भैनीचं काय नरडं ग कावळं वरडं ग पोरी पिंगा
अशा भैनीला कोण आणणार कशी नांदणार पोरी पिंगा !

भैन माझी ग जाई बावरून घेई सावरून पोरी पिंगा
तुझ्या पिंग्यानं मला बोलिवलं, लुगडं नेशिवलं पोरी पिंगा !


(स्रोतः http://www.aathavanitli-gani.com/GenPages/Song.asp?Id=62144078684)

Sunday, January 9, 2011

"Home away from home..." - a short story

Tushar was packing up for the day. Almost all of his assignments were near completion and he was getting ready for a week-long holiday. It was his first year away from home and he was feeling quite homesick. He was missing his family so much and was always looking for a reason to be with them. Every festival in last few months had left him craving for celebration and his weak point, home-made delicacies. This time, he got his leave sanctioned well in advance, booked his tickets, did shopping for mom & papa, and was just waiting for next week to pass. This 15th January, he would be with his family celebrating Sankrant and enjoying mom-made sweets.

Thinking of his holiday plans, Tushar habitually refreshed his Inbox before shutting down his PC. Couple of new e-mails appeared. He ignored weekly maintenance notices from IT Dept and proceeded to check the last e-mail. It was from his manager, probably asking him to submit next week's schedule in advance. Tushar opened the e-mail with subject - “Urgent & Important!”

From: madhav.k@in2solutions.in
To: tushar.j@in2solutions.in, sandip.s@in2solutions.in
Cc: vaishali.d@in2solutions.in
Date: Friday, January 7, 2011, 5:57 PM
Subject: Urgent & Important!

Team,

Just to update you, I will be leaving for the 3-day conference on Monday. We have been invited for another conference in the same city next week. I would extend my stay and cover both the conferences. I would be back by 20th of this month.

Tushar,

Received your presentation. Appreciate your efforts & skill in pulling out all details so fast. This is going to help me a lot in the Outsourcing Managers' Conference! I would also like you to handle the client visit in my absence next week. I will be available through e-mails & phone, in case you need any help.

Regards,
Madhav K
Manager – Operations
In2Solutions Pvt Ltd

Tushar read and re-read the e-mail in disbelief. All his plans were ruined in seconds. The holiday planning, train booking, festival shopping, all in vain! He re-read the e-mail to see if he could find a way out. Madhav, his manager, would be out of office; and Sandip or Vaishali, his colleagues, were too new to handle client visit. This obviously compelled him to cancel his leave and stay back with the work. He sat there for some more time thinking about all his plans. When he could not think of any solution, he just replied the e-mail with an “Ok.”, shut his PC down and left for home.

Back home, Tushar called up his parents to inform the change in plan. His mother was very disappointed to hear that his leave was canceled. She had planned to prepare his favourite Gool Poli for Sankrant. But now, he was telling that he would not come. Tushar avoided talking in detail with his mother, as he himself was upset. He cut the conversation short and switched on his laptop to check personal e-mails. While going through his Inbox, he could not keep his favourite food out of his mind. He opened a new window and googled “gool poli”. Along with many links to Gool Poli recipes, he found something different. It read - “Khawakee - Love of Eating: Gool Poli on order...” Being curious, Tushar clicked the link and whoa! He was taken to the world of special festival delicacies. Puran Poli, Ukadiche Modak, Khajachi Karanji, and yes, his favourite Gool Poli, too! He saw the actual product photographs and decided to call them first thing in the morning.

“Hello, is it Khawakee?”
“Yes, what do you want to order?”
“I found your website and saw Gool Poli photos. Can I order them for Sankrant next week?”
“Sure! You must have checked the rate and other details on our website. How many Poli's would you like to order?”
“I'd like to have 10 Poli's...no, make it 15, my roommates would also have. 15 Gool Poli's. Where do I collect them from?”
“No need to collect. They will be delivered to your home on specified day. Please give me your name and address.”
“What?? You'll deliver them at my place? Can't believe it! I'm not ordering pizza. It's Gool Poli, right?”
“Yes, you will receive your order at your place! We deliver Gool Poli, Puran Poli, Ukadiche Modak, all fresh items, at your doorstep.”
“And what about payment? Do I need to make any advance payment to you?”
“No advance! Just pay on delivery.”
“My goodness! So happy to hear that. Have to tell mom 'bout this! Please take down my address...”
“Yes, please!”

Tushar gave his address, contact number and confirmed his order details. As soon as this call ended, he called up his mom to tell her what he had found out. His mother, too, didn't believe what he was telling. But, she was happy to hear her son's cheerful voice. “Let's hope you get what you want,” was all she said. Tushar was so excited about next Saturday, the Sankrant festival, that he forgot his ruined holiday plan and resumed to work on Monday.

The next Saturday, at the time specified by him, Tushar received his order of 15 Gool Poli's. He was so happy to see nicely packed sets of fresh mouth-watering Poli's. Just couldn't wait for tasting them. His roommates, too, liked the tasty Poli's and Tushar called up mom to tell her how happy he was. He also called up Khawakee later in the day.

“Hello, this is Tushar.”
“Hello, thanks for your order. Hope you liked our Poli's”
“Absolutely! All of us liked them and would love to order more. Do you prepare these Poli's after Sankrant festival?”
“Yes, all of these items are prepared and delivered throughout the year.”
“Wow, that's great! Then I would like to order 20 Gool Poli's for next month, when I leave for my hometown. I want them for my mom. I'll confirm the date once my leave is sanctioned. Is that ok?”
“Sure, do let us know your schedule at your convenience!”
“Thanks, Khawakee!”






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