Festive appetite

Varied religions, states and their diverse food habits have brought a richness and depth to India’s cuisine. On vacations during Durga Puja, go enjoy every possible delicasy that will generate a lust for the adventurer in you, says Swaati Chaudhury

There’s a festival to every working day in India. Two things, which come as a package deal with every festival are new clothes and – you guessed it – food. Almost every festival in India has a special dish, or dishes, as the case may be, associated with it.

For those who would be traveling during Durga puja vacation to the Himalayan land of Sikkim this festive season, here’s some information, which can be used. With just two weeks left for the grand spectacle to unfurl, the mountain folks are preparing to bloom in colourful attire and enjoy the festive ambience.

Sikkim happens to be the only state in the country where Durga puja is observed by masses of diverse faiths. Pandals are set up in the market areas of towns like Gangtok, Ravangla, Reenock, Pakyong, Singtam, Rongpo, Namchi and Djorthang. However, the five-day event makes a major splash in towns like Gangtok, Pakyong and Rongpo.

At Gangtok, the only prominent puja pandal is the one at thakurbari that is incidentally the oldest puja dating back to the reign of Chogyal or the king of Sikkim during the pre-Independence era. Says Madan Pradhan, deputy director, Sikkim Tourism, “The Buddhist Lamas or monks join the celebration at thakurbari pandal that draws a huge crowd of devotees. Bhajans or devotional songs are sung during the festive days. The pandal is done up in bamboos, flowers and pine leaves that make it quite impressive. The mountain folks observe the puja in their homes and an aura of festivity rents up the ambience. The Dashami is commonly called the tikka day when greetings are exchanged among the devotees. They seek blessings from the goddess and smear their foreheads with tikka made by mixing rice, curd and colours. Gifts are offered to elders on the puja occasion.”

Festivities come with tempting food like rice, kheer and seal roti, a speciality of the mountain state that is prepared by mixing rice powder, butter, cashew nut, sugar, coconut and raisins. The eclectic dish is cooked during Durga puja and Diwali. Some of the other chief attractions of the puja fare are fish items, chicken and mutton delights and sweet delicacies like ladoos, pedas, rasgulla and halwa. Adds Madan Pradhan, “ Tourists can take pleasure in visiting the puja pandal all across the state and get to relax with some comfort cuisine offered in popular hotels. Hotel Royal Plaza, a deluxe hotel in the capital town is organising Bengali Food Festival begining from 1September to 31October. In an effort to pull the puja revellers, there are a wide array of tantalising Bengali fares like Bhapa Ilish, Chingri Malai Curry, Ruimacher Patisapta and chicken delicacies.”

Besides, there is nothing like authentic Sikkimese items to spice up your meals that are prepared in hotels and Bengali thali meals are also on offer. Organisations like Travel agents Association of Sikkim, Tourism Development Society of Sikkim and Hotel Association of Sikkim are going to welcome travellers with customised tours. Taxi drivers have been imparted orientation training to educated them and make them deliver better services to tourists. source: http://www.thestatesman.net