Maghe Sankranti

Today there was a hustle of buyers on the streets  of my locality or rather whole city  for the upcoming festival , “Maghe Sankranti”. Festival food was on the streets and I was too,with my camera to capture some moments.  A  short info about the festival given below;

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Maghe Sankranti is the beginning of the holy month of Magh, usually the mid of January. It brings an end to the ill-omened month of Poush (mid-december) when all religious ceremonies are forbidden. Even if it is considered the coldest day of the year, it marks the coming of warmer weather and better days of health and fortune.

[Chaku (molasys) and Till laddoos (seasame seeds ball cakes) being sold,Boudha Street]

Auspicious foods like till laddoos (seasame seeds ball cakes), chaku(molasys), ghee (clarified butter), sweet potatoes, khichari (mixture of rice and lentils) and green leaf spinach are taken on this day. Families come together and share these delights. Married daughters and families are invited to parental homes for festivities and blessings. Yet another occasion to renew family ties. Many homes have pujas (religious ceremonies) conducted by priests with chanting from holy books, for which they receive alms.

[Sweet potatoes being sold,Boudha Street]

Text Courtesy : nepalhomepage.com

© Kushal Goyal Photography 

‘Chiya Pasal’ – Tea Shop

‘Chiya Pasal’, Nepali name for a tea shop.  ‘Chiya’ is Tea and ‘Pasal’ is for shop. As I mentioned about Tea culture in my previous blog post about Tea. These places are popular spots during morning and evening. This one below,is a multi-purpose store you see. He has managed to fit in a chair and table for the customer, a telephone to talk off with the Tea sips and a lot of things you might figure out yourself in the picture. oh! and how could I miss, Certain dishes like noodles soup which is available on request. Possibilities  and hidden opportunities, look for them. This is place where you get the Tea I was talking about. Enjoy.

[Tea shop ,Kathmandu,Nepal]

© Kushal Goyal Photography 

‘Sekuwa’

Another popular Nepali street food, ‘Sekuwa’ which is Barbecued meat. In Kathmandu you will find a plenty of dedicated restaurants which serve Sekuwa. In the picture, the guy you see is not a Nepali guy. He is someone from an Indian origin. Barbecued meat dishes are regionally varied. So there is an Indian regional version of it too. So this Sekuwa you see in the picture is not typical Nepali sekuwa . This is a regionally originated dish from some part of India.  Though the local one and this one may have similar looks but spices used is what makes it different. Specially these Sekuwa stalls are scarce but don’t miss out on these too for that difference from local delights. Enjoy.

[ Sekuwa Stall in kathmandu’s street, kathmandu,Nepal]

© Kushal Goyal Photography 🙂

‘Makkai’ and ‘Badam’

‘Makkai’ and ‘Badam’ , Makkai is the Nepali word for Corn and ‘Badam’ for Peanuts. Makkai and Badam are very famous and traditional time pass chew in Nepal here. Especially in the winter seasons, people enjoy these under the pleasing warmth of the sun. Below a typical Makkai stall found in streets of Kathmandu.

[ A typical Makkai and Badam stall in Streets of Kathmandu , Kathmandu,Nepal]

And an interesting thing to note here is. Lady such as in this picture are often called by the locales with the name “Makkai Bechne Didi” ( Corn seller sister) rather than the normal local denotation of “Didi” (sister).

[The ‘badam’ (peanuts) which was on sale with that women on previous photo]

A street treat to be enjoyed on the lovely summer day of winter season in Kathmandu. Don’t miss it for tasting that touch of typicalness.

© Kushal Goyal Photography 🙂

Fresh fruit seller

A street fresh fruit seller sitting idle in the noon. You will find a plenty of these kind of vendors in streets of Kathmandu mostly during the year with fresh treats of seasonal fruits. Be sure to watch out for proper care taken to cover the fruits as they are more likely to attract road side dust because of their moist nature.

[Fresh fruit seller in Streets , Kathmandu,Nepal]

© Kushal Goyal Photography 🙂