November 22, 2014 -- Kalagram Cultural Event

We went to a huge cultural event here on Sunday - on for a week - which features handicrafts and clothing from all the states of India as well as food stalls serving up traditional dishes from each of these areas. 

We decided to try a couple of things from the Gujarati stall - a little hesitantly - and both were delicious.  It is surprising how different the spices and dishes can be from state to state.  We had a big stuffed chili pepper called murchi bhajji - full of potatoes and gram flour then battered and deep-fried (with the little stem sticking out one end).  We also had kachauri - a stuffed thick patty-shaped thing (deep-fried, so crispy on the outside) which I believe was stuffed with moong dal (lentils) After purchase, the top  was  broken open by the seller (of course, with his thumbs) who then spooned tamarind chutney and mint/coriander chutney into the hole. Very good indeed.  

Gujarati stall at festival

Many, many stalls had hand-crafted items from all over India – purses, shoes, kurtas, saris, rugs, shawls, etc.   Sort of overwhelming , ( and ALSO, we had neglected to go to the Bank Machine before reaching the Event),  so bought very little.  However, we enjoyed the cultural aspect of the Mela (means Fair, ) – Rajasthani puppet show, dancers from the Punjab, Assam, Rajasthan, etc. 

No pony rides here

One man  (also from Rajasthan) was dancing around in a ring to the sound of flute and drum– wearing a highly decorated horse body (no Silly, not a real horse) I would have loved to own that horse suit.  I will attach a few  pictures of the Kalagram Fair. 

We have been searching for a cribbage board in any store that looks promising – since I got here.  We bought a deck of cards but the actual cribbage board is not to be had (nor understood, to be honest)  Today, Rob and I made one of the homeliest cribbage boards ever fashioned, but bear in mind that we have no tools here,  and no stationery supplies either without hoofing up to the little shop near  us and desperately trying to make them understand what we need.  It turns out that staples are called “pins” here and rulers are called “scales.”  Today’s purchase, push pins, are referred to as “drawing pins”   We’re learning . . . 

Homemade Cribbage Board

We walked down to sector 5 to mail a parcel this afternoon.  That gave us an opportunity to pass the auto market which is just a series of storefronts – none much wider than a roll-front door - in a row(basically the whole block)  which are dedicated to fixing cars and scooters.  There are no garages – just the sidewalk and curb – so mechanics are deconstructing motors or painting cars right out to the street so that to pass, one has to go out into the traffic to get by.  Tools are laid out on the ground, oil pans, grease rags, mechanics, waiting auto- owners, - dozens of each of these things crowd that whole block.  Serious industry at work there.

Curbside touch-up paint while you wait

Curbside car repair

Curbside motorcycle repair

Outdoor motorcycle repair

We had to stop to take a picture of the “ speaker car” which had gone past our house this morning but was still driving up and down  the main street blaring its message this afternoon.  Many, many years ago, I remember that messages were delivered to neighbourhoods by speaker car, but of course, none that looked like this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv4U_NxRXPs&feature=youtu.be

   Proselytizing Rickshaw

I surely have mentioned the dyers who set up shop on a street corner.  All they need is a fire, a big pot and their box of powered dyes.  People bring them articles of clothing to dye – usually dupattas to match a lady’s Punjabi suit or curtains etc.  These dyers are amazingly accurate matching a desired colour.  I have already  told about getting the pillowcases dyed some time ago, but I just had to stop on my way past today to snap a picture.  The finished work gets hung up on a clothesline to dry.

Street Corner Dyer

Hansi