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.

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)

"Helping Grandma" - a short story

“We want pizza, we want pizza,” children were screaming and jumping around. Grandma was on the verge of losing this battle of Pizza Vs PuranPoli. For quite some time, she was trying to convince the children to have PuranPoli's instead of Pizza.

“Don't start that 'our culture - their culture' thing again, Grandma,” the eldest of them, Neha said.
“Yes, we don't want to try anything just because it's our traditional food,” added Siddharth.
“You are confusing issues, kids,” Grandma was struggling hard, “I am just asking you to try this item once. Not because of tradition, but for a change, it's worth trying!”
“But we want pizza, we want pizza,” the youngest one, Atharv found this shouting part most interesting.
“Look kids, I am not saying pizza is bad or puranpoli is better. I am just saying that you children should taste different foods. Why not try something which is really yummy and traditional, too?” Grandma's diplomacy!
“But we have never tried that before. How could we like it?” asked Neha.
“That's exactly my point!” Grandma exclaimed, “If you don't try it, how will you like it?”
“But we want pizza, we want pizza,” Atharv continued.
“Shut up, Atharv,” Neha said, “Grandma has a point.”
“Hmm, we should give it a try, what say?” Siddharth added. Grandma grinned.
“Grandma, give us a moment. Siddharth, Atharv, come, let's decide!” Neha took the lead.

Grandma's grin expanded. Looking at her grandchildren having serious discussion, she slipped into fond memories of various delicacies she used to have. She remembered how all relatives and family-friends used to appreciate her cooking. Grandpa used to call her 'Annapurna' (meaning bestower of food). Throughout the year, the whole family used to celebrate different festivals through cooking delicious food items. Any good news or happenings were communicated through different types of sweets. Any homely parties and celebrations were incomplete without homemade spicy and tasty meal. On any occasion...

“We want poli, we want poli.” Grandma looked at the group. The children were approaching her, with Atharv shouting again, this time for poli, not pizza.
“Grandma,” Siddharth said, “we all have decided to try puranpoli's today. You win!”
“Hurray,” Grandma joined the screaming group. This was the best part - one wins, all celebrate!

“What's happening?” came in Swati (Neha and Atharv's mom). Everybody stopped and looked at Grandma.
“Oh Swati, good that you are here. I won the bet! You owe me a treat now,” said Grandma.
The children looked at each other. This was surprise for them. What bet? What treat?
“So you could convince them on puranpoli's? I can't believe it!” Swati exclaimed.
“So that was a part of your bet, huh?” Siddharth and Neha turned to Grandma, who was grinning at her win.
“We want poli, we want poli,” Atharv continued.
“See, I win! I win!” Grandma was really happy.
“Ok, ok, you win. But what next? Who's going to prepare puranpoli's?” Swati mentioned the logical part first.
There was silence for a few moments. Then Grandma said, “I completely forgot about that. I used to prepare 100 poli's in a day. But can't prepare so many of them now.”
“Nor do I,” Swati confessed, “I am not so good at that.”
“Now what?” Siddharth and Neha were puzzled.
“We want poli, we want poli,” Atharv continued.
“Grandma, this is not fair,” Neha said, “you won the bet with mom. Now serve us poli's or accept you lose!”
“Wow, that's a turning point!” Swati exclaimed.
“Wait, wait,” Grandma was not easily defeated, “let me try something.”

The children and Swati waited while Grandma spoke on the phone.
“Hello, Shalini?”
“Yes, how are you, Nalini?”
“I'm fine, but not very fine. Need your help.”
“Why, what happened? Everything ok?”
“Don't worry, not that serious. Actually, I won a bet with my daughter-in-law, but seems to lose it now,” and she narrated what happened in the house.
“Ohh, ha ha ha,” came the reply, “you are so funny, Nalini.”
“Come on, don't make fun of me now. I need your help.”
“Ok, ok. I had similar situation last week and didn't know what to do. But somehow I could get the solution.”
“And what's that?”
“Khawakee!”
“What?”
“Khawakee, that's the solution.”
“You are making fun of me, ain't you? Please help me seriously.”
“Yes, I am serious. I got this from somewhere last week. Khawakee delivers fresh puranpoli's at your doorstep.”
“Really? Like they deliver pizza?”
“Absolutely! And it's yummy, tasty, and homely!”
“Can't believe it! The kids would be amused. Give me their contact number.”

When Grandma told the children that she has ordered puranpoli's on the phone, they didn't believe her. Not even Swati!
“How's that possible?” asked Neha, “that's not pizza, Grandma.”
“Wait and watch,” Grandma said.
“Your friend must have joked with you,” Swati guessed.
“Just wait and watch.”
“We want poli, we want poli,” Atharv was at his best. Grandma drew him closer and said, “Just wait for some time, dear!”

Ding-Dong! The bell rang and everybody ran to the door. Swati couldn't believe her eyes. She was holding neatly packed, fresh puranpoli's and the children were jumping around her to get their share.

Grandma closed the door behind her, stared at her happy family, remembered her good old days, and muttered, “Thanks, Khawakee!”





'खावाकी' पुरणपोळी

Let's Celebrate!

We all love celebrations, and look forward to opportunities of celebrating throughout the year. This time of the year - from August to December - is loaded with various types of festivals. Especially, Maharashtrian festivals, starting in month of Shravan and running through grand Diwali celebrations, are incomplete without food. Let it be Puran Poli, Ladoo, Chiwda, Chakli, Bakarwadi, etc etc, all delicacies are prepared, served, distributed, and enjoyed with love and fun.

Catching up with this celebration fever, we started out with supply of the most favorite Maharashtrian item - Puran Poli. Yes, we are the guys behind freshpuranpoli@gmail.com. After several Pune foodies have received our e-mails, and many of you even ordered and tasted our Puran Poli's, we are now officially launching our venture, “Khawakee”.

What is special with Khawakee?
- To start with, we have picked up the most difficult to cook item, Puran Poli. Product details are given below, but you have to taste it once before you believe our words!
- You can order Puran Poli's through e-mail or phone, and get them delivered at your doorstep, at your convenient time.
- No minimum order limit for free home delivery. You can order 2,4,10,30, whatever number of packs you need. We are covering many locations in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad now.
- Our Puran Poli's come in packs of two each, @ Rs.30 per pack.
- For curious and curiouser, our Puran Poli weighs approx 120gms, is made of wheat flour, jaggery with flavor of Nutmeg (jaayfal) and Cardamom (ilaaychi).

We will be supplying many more festival special food items, so keep in touch with us at – http://khawakee.blogspot.com or khawakee@gmail.com.

P.S. - For those wondering what Khawakee means, some other time, guys! Have to prepare some Puran Poli's now, we know how much you all love food :)