Durga Puja festival comes to an end in West Bengal

Kolkata: Bengal's four-day-long extravaganza, the Durga Puja festival, came to an end on Saturday with immersion of the idols of Goddess Durga and her progeny as people celebrated Vijaya Dasami.

The immersion of idols in the city at the ghats of the Hooghly was made amidst tight security, police said.

The immersion marks the symbolic return of the Goddess and her children to Mount Kailash, the heavenly abode of her husband Lord Shiva, after her annual sojourn on earth.

The immersion of idols in the city at the ghats of the Hooghly was made amidst tight security, police said.

"Around 1700 to 1800 idols will be immersed today. The immersion is overseen by speed boats, watch towers and police personnel in strength," police said.

Besides the community pujas, many household pujas were also scheduled for immersion today.

However, there would be no immersion tomorrow because of Bakri-Id and it would resume after 8 PM on October 6, police said.

"According to a government notification there will be no immersion on Sunday because of Bakri-Id. It will resume at 8pm on Monday (October 6) which is the last date for immersion," they said.

Several big budget puja committees have decided to keep their idols for a day to give puja enthusiasts a last chance to have a look at the gorgeous pandals and extravagant lighting.

In districts towns and in the city, thousands of people bade a tearful farewell to the Goddess. Young revellers, middle-aged puja committee members and women in finery danced down the streets escorting the idols to the immersion ghats as drums rolled and bagpipes played full throttle, police said.

Bystanders lined the streets of the metropolis along the procession routes cheering the processionists who chanted "Durga Maiki Jai".

Before the immersion ceremony, married women in white and red-bordered saris engaged in 'sindoor khela' (smearing of vermillion on each other's forehead). Men and children exchanged greetings and the state fondly bid adieu to the Goddess imploring with her to visist again next year --

"Aschche Bochhor Abar Esho, Ma."

Karela with Capsicum

Link to the recipe: http://www.tarladalal.com/Karela-and-Capsicum-Subzi-4311r

Image by Tarla Dalal
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Bitter though it is, karela has a unique taste that transforms it into a delicacy if prepared in the right ways. Here, an innovative combination of bitter gourd, onions and colourful capsicums are sautéed with a traditional tempering, resulting in a flavourful and aromatic subzi that goes well with rice and rotis. Although prepared with everyday ingredients and the simplest of cooking methods, the Karela and Capsicum Subzi is a super hit mainly because of the thoughtful combination of vegetables.

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Preparation Time: 10 mins
Cooking Time: 18 mins
Makes 4 servings
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Ingredients

2 cups bitter gourd (karela) strips , cut approx. 2”
1 cup coloured capsicum strips (green and yellow)
2 tbsp oil
1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
a pinch of asafoetida (hing)
1 cup sliced onions
1/2 tsp turmeric powder (haldi)
1 1/2 tsp chilli powder
2 tsp coriander-cumin seeds (dhania-jeera) powder
1 tbsp sugar
salt to taste

Method

1.    Combine the karela strips and salt in a deep bowl, mix well and keep aside for 10 minutes.

2.    Squeeze out the excess water from the karela and keep aside.

3.    Heat the oil in a broad non-stick pan, add the cumin seeds and asafoetida.

4.    When the seeds crackle, add the karela strips and onions and sauté on a medium flame for 2 minutes.

5.    Add the turmeric powder, mix well and cover and cook on a medium flame for 6 to 8 minutes, while stirring occasionally.

6.    Add the capsicum and salt, mix well and cover and cook on a medium flame for 5 minutes, while stirring occasionally.

7.    Add the chilli powder, coriander-cumin seeds powder and sugar, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 2 minutes, while stirring occasionally.

8.    Serve immediately.

BABY CORN MASALA | SIDE DISH FOR ROTI

BABY CORN COOKED IN RICH TOMATO GRAVY.

Last week when we all went to a North Indian restaurant  for lunch we ordered a Baby Corn Masala which we have never tried before in that place. We all liked it very much and we went for veggies shopping and my daughter picked the cute baby corns in the vegetable section and asked me to make a masala with that.
I tried to recreate the same taste but i almost it was like that(my daughter said) and we had a great dinner with rotis and a salad(recipe coming soon)

Picture updated.



SERVES : 4-5
INGREDIENTS:

BABY CORN	2 PACKETS(15 NO. APPROX)
ONIONS	2 NO AND 1 NO FOR GARNISHING
CAPSICUM	1/2 NO
TOMATO	2 BIG RIPED
CASHEW NUTS	5-7 NO.(OPTIONAL)
REDCHILLI POWDER	1/2 TSP
CORIANDER POWDER	1/2 TSP
CUMIN SEED POWDER	1/4 TSP
KASOORI METHI	1/4 TSP
TOMATO SAUCE	1/4 TSP
GARAM MASALA/KITCHEN KING MASALA	A GENEROUS PINCH
CUMIN SEEDS	A PINCH
MILK	1/2 CUP
SALT	AS NEEDED
TURMERIC POWDER	A PINCH
OIL	2 TBLSP

METHOD:

• Wash the Baby corn and cut them into big pieces .

• Roughly chop the 2 onions and saute them in a kadai(add a few drops of oil) till it turns into a nice brown colur.

• Roughly chop the tomatoes and the capsicum into cubes.

• In a pan cook the baby corn till it becomes soft.
• It took 10 minutes for me to get them cooked.
• Add a pinch of turmeric and little salt while cooking.

• When it is done, drain the excess water and keep the corns aside.

• In a mixer jar, add the sauted onions, tomatoes, redchilli powder,coriander powder,cumin seed powder,tomato sauce , kasoorimethi, cashew nuts(if adding and i didnt add) into a smooth paste.

• In a kadai add the oil and saute the capsicum and cubed onion for a minute.
• Keep it aside.

• In the same oil throw in the cumin seeds and add the ground masala.
• Saute them in a low flame for 5 mins.

• Add the cooked Baby corns and the milk to the gravy.

• Now add the capsicum and onions to this.
• Put off the flame.

• Serve it hot with Roti/ Naan.
• It tasted even so yum with Peas pulao also.

Tomatoes can be replaced by 1/2 cup of store bought tomato puree.
I used the Everest Kitchen King Masala and it gave a wonderful flavour to the curry

The US now knows who Narendra Modi really is

Last updated on: October 01, 2014 07:29 IST

Narendra Modi's positive engagement with Barack Obama has well and truly washed away the doubts and slights of the past.

Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com reports from Washington, DC.

US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the National Martin Luther King Memorial on the National Mall in Washington. Photograph: Larry Downing/Reuters

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has successfully launched himself in Washington, DC.

During his first-ever summit with United States President Barack Obama, the prime minister was looking for more than just political partnership; he sought American help to accomplish his development dreams for India.

What India can do for America or what America can do for India had become outdated questions. What both can do together was what was discussed at the Oval Office at the White House.

Modi not only shared an editorial byline with Obama, but both leaders even walked together at the memorial for Dr Martin Luther King Junior, the legendary American civil rights leader.

The denial of a US visa to Modi was majorly due to the human rights-related issue in Gujarat as perceived by the State Department in Washington.

By his presence with the Indian leader at the memorial, Obama, and in turn the United States, has embraced Modi to uplift India-US relations.

The US is well introduced to Modi now.

Nothing more could be achieved because nothing less than a proper burial of the visa issue was necessary in the first round.

Washington, the city of daily intrigues and many myths, did it in style. No apology or regret, but Modi got enough when Obama shared a byline on The Washington Post article jointly written by him and Modi.

US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi interact during their summit at the Oval Office. Photograph: Ministry of External Affairs

Vikram Doraiswami, Joint Secretary, Americas, ministry of external affairs, briefed the media before the joint statement was made public.

The talks between Obama and Modi were conducted against the background that this relationship was just not transactional but that "there was a great deal of understanding on how can we do something together."

On India-US cooperation on terrorism, Doraiswami said the two leaders had agreed to make joint and concerted efforts to dismantle safe havens for terror and criminal networks, disrupt all financial and tactical support to the Lashkar-e-Tayiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, the D Company, Al Qaeda and the Haqqani network.

This was mainly done to cater to the domestic audience in India.

Already high-level intelligence is shared between India and the US and a lot is being done to fight these terror groups.

In the last 10 years, the US has helped India dismantle safe heavens of terror. In cyber security too, both countries have helped each other.

Importantly, Doraiswami said the US acknowledged that India met the requirement to be part of the Missile Technology Control Regime and that it will help New Delhi get membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group as well.

Both countries decided to set up an inter-agency contact group to expedite all pending issues, including that of civil nuclear liability to implement US-origin civil nuclear power projects in India.

US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Oval Office. Photograph: Paresh Gandhi/Rediff.com

India and the US also agreed to renew the bilateral defence agreement for ten more years.

Modi's 'Make in India' vision was central in the defence-related talks. A special task force will be set up to highlight the items which can be produced jointly.

The US also reaffirmed its support to India's membership of the United Nations Security Council, which President Obama had first declared in Parliament during his visit to India in Novembver 2010.

India, Doraiswami pointed out, wanted American help in challenges that India has been facing on its path of development, economy and in urban infrastructure.

The two leaders, Doraiswami said, spoke a lot about the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene initiative launched by the United Nations and how India is looking forward to the US to help provide clean water in urban areas.

Modi has put his political weight behind the cleaning of cities, rivers and rural areas in India.

Modi believes that all urban centres in India should clean waste waters with the help of modern waste management technologies imported from the US, Israel or China, and then supply the water for agriculture purposes in surrounding rural areas and keep fruits and vegetables prices under control.

Doraiswami also spoke about how India sought help to develop small and medium scale industries and improve their manufacturing hubs.

The US Federal Bank and the Reserve Bank of India will join hands to share trans-border capital market issues and information.

The tri-lateral partnership involving the US, India and Afghanistan too came up during discussion between the two leaders.

Also part of the 90-minute discussion were topics like education, women's empowerment, combating the Ebola epidemic and cancer, alternative energy and improving the e-governance digital partnership between the two nations.

When asked to identify three factors that suggested that India-US relations had gained momentum, Doraiswami asked, "Why three? We have 30 factors between us, which means that India-US relations are on the fast track now."

• Please click here for full coverage of Prime Minister Modi's US visit.