Category: blog

Tis’ the season for carolling and gifting!! Christmas is the time to spend time with your family and enjoy the festive mood around the neighbourhood. This festival is of grave importance to the Christian culture since it celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. We can see houses decorated with vibrant lighting, small statues of elves, snow (of course), Christmas special cakes, and Christmas special Hanging Door Ring!!

Did you know that the term ‘Christmas‘ originates from the words ‘Cristes Maesse‘, which means ‘mass of Christ‘!? Christmas’ history dates back to over 4000 years ago as several customs and traditions were celebrated before the birth of Christ. We can trace Christmas’ origin back to some civilizations that gave way to this festival.

• Mesopotamian (New Years)– Several traditions began from the Mesopotamian culture. The people believed in many Gods, but one chief God- Marduk. In his battle with monsters of chaos every year, the Mesopotamians would assist Marduk by holding a festival known as Zagmuk, lasting for 12 days.
• Scandinavia (Yuletide)– Scandinavia is the Northern part of the European continent where, during winter, the Sun would disappear for months. Villages would send scouts to track the Sun’s first light. After any sightings of the Sun, people would organise a festival called the Yuletide, which would consist of huge feasts and have a bonfire made from the Yule log.
• Roman (Saturnalia)– For Romans, this festival began in mid-December, ending on January 1st. They named the festival Saturnalia as they worshipped their God, Saturn. Celebrations included masquerades in the streets, festival meals, visiting friends, and exchanging gifts called Strenae.
• Persians and Babylonians (Sacaea)– This culture follows a unique way to celebrate where the slaves were the masters, and the masters were to obey them.

Throughout its history, Christmas has had many names. Nativity, meaning ‘birth’, originates from the Latin word, ‘nativitas‘. Christmas also derives from Christenmasse, meaning “Christian Mass“. However, some say it was the date of Winter Solstice according to the Roman calendar, which was nine months after March 25, the date of Vernal Equinox and the date linked to Jesus’s conception. The first recorded Christmas celebration was in Rome on December 25, A.D.336.

But some wonder, how did Santa Claus come into existence?! We all know Santa Claus is a prominent figure wearing red and white clothes and is portrayed with his eight flying reindeers. The American version of Saint Nicholas, or Santa Claus, originates from the Dutch version called ‘Sint Klass‘. Over the years, Santa’s visual forms have developed. According to folklore, Santa Claus’s home situates near the North Pole and has a habit of filling people’s stockings with gifts on the night of 24th December.

Even though the celebrations are grander every year, the traditions remain among the Christian community-

• Usually, Catholics visit Church mass early in the morning for their prayers. According to a study, Christmas and Easter have the highest attendance in Churches. 
• For decorations, usually, red, green, and golden are the primary colours, where red symbolizes the blood of Jesus, shed during the crucifixion. The green colour represents eternal life, specifically the evergreen tree, which does not shed its leaves during winter. The colour gold portrays Royalty and is one of the three gifts of the Magi. People put up different statues of Santa, reindeers, and elves to decorate their houses with colourful lights. Bells, candy canes, candles, stockings, and wreaths are a few traditional decorative items.
• During Christmas, the nativity play is one of the oldest traditions originating in A.D.1223 by Francis of Assisi. The play depicts the birth of Jesus Christ.
• Folk music and carols are the best way to get into the mood for Christians. They sing different songs, which originated in the 9th and 10th centuries. Groups of people roam on the streets and visit various homes to spread the holiday cheer.
• Exchanging gifts is probably one of the most important traditions in recent times. Some say the gift-giving tradition started from the Roman celebration of Saturnalia. According to the culture, gifts are wrapped well in advance and kept beneath the Christmas tree for everyone.

Christmas is time to get together with your family and enjoy the festive treats to satisfy your belly. People enjoy delicacies that are available only at this time of the year.

• Pudding is also a popular delicacy which people specially prepare during this season. It is part of almost every Christmas dinner, mainly in the U.K. and Ireland. 
• Christmas brings us different types of cakes (of course) but the main attraction of the cakes are the Rum Cake and Plum Cake. Rum cake consists of dried fruits soaked in rum for at least a month and then baked to perfection.
• Eggnog is an alcoholic and, dairy based-beverage often found at everyone’s home during Christmas. Its origins trace to the United Kingdom and the U.S. The ingredients are mainly sugar, milk, cream, whipped egg, and alcohol of choice.
• Cranberry sauce is also a must at every Christmas party. Also known as Cranberry jam, the first recipe for this dish dates back to a cookbook published in 1796.
• Gingerbreads are a popular snack during this festival and are prepared in two types- Gingerbread man and a Gingerbread house. It’s flavoured using different spices like cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, honey, and molasses.

Well, all this has got me in the mood to decorate my house with all the Christmas goodies and enjoy some festive treats with my friends and family. Let us know how you are celebrating the season of gifting!!

After the celebrations of Dussehra and Navratri, everyone starts planning for the Festival of Lights. From welcoming the entourage of Ramayana to honouring Goddess Lakshmi, every culture appreciates the festival’s celebrations, energy, and reverence. It’s the start of Winter, and the zeal amongst people is starting to present itself.

Diwali’s history has several stories to tell. However, one topic remains common- the victory of good over evil. Since almost every state celebrates it, let’s look at the different legends based around it!!

• It’s the story of King Bali and Lord Vishnu. Even though Bali was a generous ruler, he was highly ambitious and ruled the three worlds- the Earth, the world above the skies, and the underworld. This fact displeased the Gods. So, to keep a check on Bali’s power, Vishnu transformed into a dwarf dressed as a priest. He challenged Bali that if he could cover his three worlds in three steps, Bali would give everything to the dwarf. Bali laughed off the challenge but accepted it. The dwarf transformed into Lord Vishnu and covered the entire cosmos in three steps. This resulted in banishing Bali to the underworld. While celebrating Diwali, some remember King Bali.
• According to folklore, Narkasura was a demon covered with filth and dirt; who used to kidnap young women and force them to live with him. After hearing their cries for help, Vishnu transformed into Krishna, his eighth incarnation. After fighting a five-headed monster, Krishna beat Narkasura. After the loss, Narkasura hoped his death may bring joy to others. For Hindus, this story is a reminder that good can still come out of something evil.
• A village, Gokula, worshipped Lord Indra since his rains helped them grow excellent harvest. But, Krishna convinced the people of this village to worship the mountain Govardhan because of its fertile soil. This fact did not bode well with Lord Indra and resulted in thunderstorms and torrential rains in the village. In the end, Lord Krishna saved the villagers after lifting a mountain with his finger and protecting everyone under its shelter.
• However, the main story of Diwali is the story of Lord Ram. After imposing an exile for 14 years by King Dashratha, Lord Ram, Sita, and his brother Lakshman faced Ravana, a great pundit but with an evil mind. After defeating Ravana in a battle, the three returned to Ayodhya. This victory signifies the victory of good over evil, and because of this, people light rows of clay lamps to commemorate this message.

Diwali celebrations vary in different cultures. For example, in the Sikh culture, people celebrate the return of Guru Hargobind Ji (the sixth guru) from captivity. To commemorate his love for Sikhism, devotees light the route to the Golden Temple in his honour. Whereas, in Jainism, people celebrate the achievements of Lord Mahavira, who established this culture. The Bengali culture worships Goddess Kali, the embodiment of supreme energy. Goddess Kali takes away all darkness, cuts down all impurities, and purifies devotees with her love.

Diwali is a five-day festival with each day having its significance. Let’s look at them, shall we!?

• The first day of Diwali is Dhanteras, where ‘Dhan’ means money and ‘teras’ means 13th, marking the 13th day of the Hindu month Kartik and the beginning of Diwali. Many clean their homes and business premises and decorate them with several elements. Diyas, rangoli, lamps, unique strings of lighting patterns culminate to give it a vibrant feel. In the evening, families devote their time for prayers to Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi. This day also marks a shopping day to purchase new items for yourself and your family.
• Narak Chaturdashi, also known as Chhoti Diwali, marks the second day, where ‘Narak’ means hell, while ‘Chhoti’ means small and ‘Chaturdashi means the 14th day. The story of Krishna defeating Narakasura relates to this day. The day’s rituals signify to liberate any souls from Narak (hell) and remind its spiritual importance. While some perform Hanuman Puja, people also celebrate the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya. During this day, people purchase different sorts of Mithais and visit their friends and relatives for celebrations.
• The third day belongs to Lakshmi Puja or Kali Puja, wherein the festival reaches its peak festivities. It’s the evening that lights up (literally). Everyone wears brand new clothes and gathers for Lakshmi Pujan. Devotees use the lamps from the puja to light more earthen lamps, which are lit in houses, while some set the lamps adrift in lakes or rivers. Some signify it as a way to avoid any evil spirits. After Lakshmi Puja, everyone lights up their Patakhe (fireworks) to celebrate, along with sharing Mithais with friends and family. On this day, even shops and small businesses either keep their shops closed or close soon so that employees can enjoy some family time.
• Annakut, also known as Balipratipada (Padwa) or Goverdhan Puja, constitutes the fourth day. Some remember this day for Vishnu defeating the demon, Bali, while some relate it with the story of Parvati and Shiva playing a game of dice on a board of 12 squares and 30 pieces. After Goddess Parvati wins, she asks Lord Shiva to surrender his garments and adornments. Ritualistically, this day celebrates the bond between a husband and wife. ‘Annakut’ means ‘mountain of food’ since some communities prepare over 100 dishes with several ingredients offered to Lord Krishna before distribution.
• The last day belongs to the siblings. Also called Bhau Beej, Bhai Duj means ‘brother’s day’ and celebrates the brother-sister bond. Somewhat similar to Bhai Duj, some relate this day with the legend of Yama and Yamuna, as Yama travels to Yamuna’s house and is greeted with a tilaka on his forehead. The tale of Krishna visiting Subhadra after defeating Narkasura also relates to this day. Here, the brother visits the sister, and the sister feeds Mithais to her brother with her own hands before receiving a gift.

While the celebrations go on, the festive feast also attracts several people. During Diwali, the main food items are the ‘Faral’, which consists of Chakli, Chiwda, Sev, Shankarpale, and laddus. Although they are available year-round, they gain the maximum demand during this festival. Some other Mithais and snacks to explore during the festival include-

• Chirote,
• Nariyal Barfi,
• Karanjis,
• Lapsi (a candied fruit in Nepal),
• Kaju Katli,
• Anarsa,
• Choddo Shaak (14 different types of leafy vegetables, found in West Bengal)
• Murukku,
• Different types of Halwas, and many more!!

All this has got me excited for the festive season of Diwali. So, I am going to quickly plan everything for the celebrations and celebrate it in the best possible way with my friends and family. Wishing everyone a happy and safe Diwali!!

Safe and hygienic food is a fundamental right for every human on this planet. But according to a study, more than three billion people (approximately 40% of the world’s population) don’t have access to a healthy meal. For developing countries, this leads to a rise in numerous food-related diseases among the lower class.

To reduce these issues, the United Nations commemorates International World Food Day on 16th October. It’s the date for founding the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in 1945. Moreover, the World Food Program celebrates this day to combat hunger and food security, which led to winning the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2020. It was a result of fighting against hunger, bringing peace in conflict areas, and stopping the use of hunger as a form of a weapon for war.

However, many countries celebrate this day who want to reduce hunger-related issues. Since 1981, World Food Day adopts a theme to present areas to improve and a common focus. For example, the theme for 2020 was “Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together”, or in 2019, it was “Our actions are our future, healthy diets for a zero-hunger world”. Usually, the themes depend on agriculture since only with investment (education and monetary) can this industry scale to new heights.

A study by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation) indicates around 190 million people in India are undernourished. Furthermore, the Global Hunger Index ranks India 94th out of 107 countries. Moreover, nearly 1/3rd of the food produced in India goes to waste. This factor adds to the existing problem of malnutrition in the country and shows that India still needs to improve.

Celebrated in over 150 countries (including India), everyone has their way of commemorating World Food Day. Some choose to remain hungry for the day with respect to the millions of hungry stomachs that need food and nutrition. Some hold marathons highlighting the significance of healthy living and eating habits; while some hold stalls in exhibitions to satisfy any poor souls’ hunger. There are even a few who donate meals to the needy.

World Food Day iterates that every living being has the right to enjoy nutritious and safe food. So, let’s celebrate the day by enjoying some nutritious food and donating to those in need!!

In India, different communities celebrate their cultural ‘New Year’ with their age-old traditions. Just like that, the Islamic community celebrates their new year in the Monsoon Season. Although a festival of sorts, Muslims don’t celebrate this festival with much joy because of its history. Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar and is one of the four sacred months after Ramadan. It begins after the sighting of the full moon on the final day of the Islamic calendar.

Furthermore, during this month, devotees avoid warfare or any violence since it’s one of the holiest months. It’s the month of remembrance as people honour the martyrs and abstain from joyous events. Also known as the Mourning of Muharram, the Tenth day of Muharram is called the Day of Ashura. While the Shia Muslims mourn the tragedy of Imam Hussein’s family, the Sunni Muslims practice fasting on Ashura. Ashura means ‘Tenth‘ and refers to the tenth day of Muharram. The mourning begins from the first night and climaxes on the tenth night of Muharram.

The last few days, until the day of Ashura, are highly significant because during these days, Hussein Ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad, along with his family and followers, starved without food and water. From the seventh day, they started suffering, and on the 10th day, the army of ‘Yazid I‘ killed Hussain and 72 of his followers at the Battle of Karbala on Yazid’s orders. The surviving members marched to Damascus and were imprisoned there. Hence, in their honor, followers consume less food, while some don’t even drink or eat until Zawal (afternoon) as part of the mourning.

However, during Muharram, some people can still enjoy festive delicacies specially made for the day. Fakia, a food platter that consists of nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and some sweets, is gifted to loved ones during Ashura. Devotees consume a dessert porridge called ‘Ashure’ and popularly consume it across the Middle East, Turkey, and Armenia. The porridge consists of whole wheat, dry fruits, rose water, spices, and sugar. It’s a wholesome porridge that family and friends share among themselves. Khichda is a variation on the dish, Haleem, which is popular with Muslims in India during Muharram.

Festive treats also include ‘Muharram ka Sherbet’. Originally popular in Hyderabad in India, it’s a milk-based sherbet flavoured with dry fruits and cardamom. The flavour of the drink comes from the ‘smoking’ of Oudh bark, which gives it a unique and enchanting aroma!! Those who participate in the processions and those who are fasting consume this exotic drink. Zarda rice is another delicacy that consists of rice cooked in orange flavour along with nuts and spices. Lastly, Poha Kheer also is a popular sweet for Muslims. It’s healthy because it contains iron coming from flattened rice flakes.

If you want to explore more, check our website, where you can choose from delectable Mughlai and Bohra delicacies. We wish you all have a safe and healthy Muharram. So, to all reading this, Muharram Mubarak!!

Food is an integral part of our lives, and we have the affinity to try something new. Back from when man used to hunt for food with crude tools to the present day where food reaches your home within 30 minutes after ordering it. We have seen lots of advancements in terms of food and its components.

However, in the present world, food fusion is a common culture among the masses. ‘Westernisation’ of different cultures has led to people losing their grip on their roots. Traditional delicacies that have been in the families for generations are slowly disappearing. But after the pandemic, people have realised the importance of home-cooked food; this has bred a new demand, and slowly, there’s a concept of home-chefs popularising in today’s world. But for Leena Dixit (founder- Nativ Chefs), it was a pre-conceived notion that home-cooked food is the best. We are celebrating our third anniversary. So, we thought, why not provide the readers with some insight on Nativ Chefs’ journey from our founder’s point of view?!

Leena Dixit realised the concept for home-chefs about 15 years ago, when she was a home-chef herself. After working in the corporate world for more than 12 years, she realized she wanted to have a business of herself. Being a fan of traveling, she wanted to try the local cuisines of the places she visited. For instance, she stayed for two years in Thailand and noticed the Indian diaspora craving for homecooked and traditional food.

Being a decent cook herself, Leena was always trying to cook new stuff in the kitchen. She had the thirst to expand her horizons and wanted to know more about this particular concept. We call it a concept because she wanted to provide an experience to her customers that made them realize their hometown delicacies. Furthermore, she realized that this type of market was not explored by many people and had a huge potential for success.

However, while working for a company, she noticed very few women work compared to men. She also saw that there’s a lot of talent in the culinary world that does not have a platform to showcase it. So, with the idea of women empowerment, highlighting the chefs, and demonstrating the local cuisines of India, Nativ Chefs was founded.

“I wanted to give the home-cooks a sense of independence by helping them earn money with the help of their passion of cooking”. Leena was shortlisted in IIM Bangalore because of her concept and was able to make it a scalable model over the course of three years. Now, Nativ Chefs has a stable team with over 60 ‘Nativ Chefs’ and around 160+ delicacies delivered to more than 10,000+ customers!!

We are also proud that we have organized events like Indian Treasures which also presented the traditional delicacies of India. We even helped the people during the pandemic by providing free food to those in need. These three years have taught us a lot and we have grown as a team to deliver the best experience to our customers.

All the dadis and nanis recommend having traditional home-cooked food; so, why not try Nativ Chefs?! Experience the authentic taste of our delicacies at the comfort of your home and connect to your Nativ delicacies with your loved ones!!

Did you know that the largest Yoga class was held in India and it involved over one lakh participants?! Did you also know that Lord Shiva is deemed the Lord of Yoga?! Well, all these facts make yoga an ancient practice that has been born and brought about for more than 5000 years!! Now, it’s time to take out your yoga mats, exercise, and relax as the ancient gurus of India did!!

Originally, yoga was practiced as a form of healing but it has grown to be so much more than that. The word ‘Yoga’ derives from a Sanskrit word meaning ‘union’, symbolizing the unity of body and consciousness. It’s a combination of physical, mental, and spiritual practices to interconnect a person’s mind, body, and soul. The practice of yoga traces back to the time of Lord Shiva, also known as ‘Adi Guru’. According to legend, it’s believed that Lord Shiva began imparting the knowledge of Yoga to the world on the day of the summer solstice. In pre-Vedic times, yoga was a part of the Indian lifestyle and Maharishi Patanjali wrote yoga practices in the Yoga Sutras. Yoga asanas have difficulty levels among them, however, we are listing 5 easy poses for you to kickstart yoga day!!

1. Sukhasana (Easy Pose) – An amazing pose for beginners as it does not include any physical dimension but helps in spiritual bliss. Reducing anxiety, stress, and mental tiredness are some of the best benefits of this asana.

 

2. Naukasana (Boat Pose)  – This pose stretches the abdominal muscles, helping improve digestion and reduces belly fat. Another benefit is to improve the efficiency of the abdominal muscles.

 

3. Dhanurasana (Bow Pose) – Stretching the entire body, it aids in weight loss and boosts digestion. It helps make the back flexible and also helps increase the blood circulation in the body.

 

4. Vakrasana (Twisted Pose) – An intriguing pose, it helps in making the body flexible and reduces belly fat. As it regulates digestive juices, it also helps in improve digestion

 

5. Bhujangasana (Cobra Stretch) – This pose basically corrects your posture and makes your spine flexible.

 

Yoga has several benefits. It not only keeps your body healthy but also improves your mental wellbeing. Because of this it has gained a lot of recognition in Western countries and is often used to treat patients with mental and physical illness. The message of yoga in promoting one’s mental and physical well-being keeps gaining relevancy each day. More people are practicing yoga to stay healthy and rejuvenated to fight social isolation and depression during these tough times.

With all these benefits from Yoga, an idea stemmed to propose International Day for Yoga. It was India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi who put forth this concept during his speech at UN General Assembly. Out of the 193 countries, 177 countries approved the idea. June 21 was established as International Yoga Day because it’s a summer solstice, where the sun out for the maximum amount of time compared to the rest of the year. On Jun 21, 2015, approximately 36,000 people participated

in performing 21 asanas along with Prime Minister Modi to commemorate the first International Yoga Day.

This particular day encourages people to adopt a new lifestyle and attune themselves to the yogi lifestyle. Newbies try some of the poses which they can perform easily. Those with experience try new poses to improve their flexibility and refreshment. There are particular themes for each year. In 2020, it was ‘Yoga at Home, Yoga with Family’, and this year, 2021, it’s ‘Yoga for Well-Being’. This year’s theme aims to tackle mental issues because of the current situation. It’s a virtual event that people can join and will be broadcasted on UNWebTV.

In the words of one of its most famous practitioners, the late B. K. S. Iyengar, “Yoga cultivates the ways of maintaining a balanced attitude in day-to-day life and endows skill in the performance of one’s actions.”

So, stretch your body and relax your mind this World Yoga Day. Let’s all connect together virtually and make the best of this day!!

“Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food!!” A quote to remember when you are handling your food. We enjoy different delicacies with our loved ones and like to explore new types of cuisines. But does anyone pay attention to the safety of ingredients?

Food is a necessity for all living beings in this world. However, ‘food safety’ is a critical stage in guaranteeing that food stays safe at every stage of the food chain. Access to a good chunk of hygienic food is key to maintaining a long life and promoting good health. It’s estimated that there are about 600 million cases of food-related diseases every year. Unsafe food poses a grave threat to human health as illnesses are usually infectious or toxic in nature. These are often caused by different types of bacteria, viruses, or chemical substances and enter the body through various means.

Hence, to reduce food-related illnesses, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations facilitated the observance of World Food Safety Day on 7th June. The year 2018 saw the first year for World Food Safety Day in an effort to reduce the burden of foodborne diseases.

With governments, producers, and consumers sharing the responsibility for food safety, everyone plays a vital role in ensuring the reach of hygienic food from farm to table. Member states of the WHO also participate in food safety drives and raise awareness in other countries, which face food-related issues.

Five steps that call for action, laid out by WHO, in every country are-

1. Ensure It’s Safe- Governing bodies should ensure hygienic food for everyone

2. Grow It Safe- Farmers and food producers need to adopt good practices for healthy crops

3. Keep It Safe- Businesses should ensure safe storage of food products

4. Know What’s Safe- Customers should be aware of safe and healthy food products

5. Team Up For Food Safety- Everyone should work together to ensure the safety of our food products.

In India, the first World Food Safety Day was celebrated on 6th June and was kicked-off at the FSSAI headquarters to commend the remarkable work of food businesses and individuals to promote food safety. Awareness for food safety has risen in recent times and everyone strives to procure safe and hygienic food. Foodborne diseases are gradually decreasing and we will be able to tackle this situation in the near future.

In recent times, following a particular diet has gained a lot of popularity and people are forgetting about certain health repercussions of not eating fresh and home-made food. Skipping certain meals, restricting certain types of foods, not eating past a certain time, etc. are some of the few ‘dieting myths’ that people follow. To stay healthy, enjoy some treats in between and make sure you eat freshly prepared food. Even FSSAI and local doctors promote eating freshly cooked food.

We at Nativ Chefs believe exactly that. Our home-cooks make sure to get fresh ingredients from the market and sanitize fruits and veggies without losing their taste and benefits. We make sure to provide you the authentic taste without compromising on food safety!! So, from everyone at Nativ Chefs, we hope you all are staying healthy and ensuring safe food for your loved ones!!

We all are busy with our lives every day, trying to make the best out of it. But we hardly ever pay attention to the one thing that gives us life- Earth. This planet is a breath-taking place offering us various elements to live life to the fullest!! But to thrive, Earth needs special care that will help sustain it.

In all honesty, learning to co-exist with natural beauty is not our forte. We always seek to develop ourselves and our surroundings without paying attention to what effect it will have on the flora and fauna. Keeping this in mind, we set aside a day where we nurture and celebrate the natural beauty offered to us- Earth Day. Every year, 22nd April marks the anniversary of a modern environmental movement.

The year 1970 saw the birth of a movement that shed light on the problems impacting the planet. Unknowingly, we were all using toxic gases for the available machinery. At that point, industrialization and infrastructural development were at their crude stage. While people were using brand new machines, the companies that manufactured them were belching out sludge and smoke with little to no concern for the impact on the environment.

Silent Spring, a book by Rachel Carson, was released in 1962 and was a defining moment in human history. Showing concern for the environment and the effects of pollution on human beings, is the book’s main motive. America, in 1969, witnessed a massive oil spill in California. Because of this, a movement rose, realizing the threat to the planet. College students protested across the country in 1969, wherein an American Senator and some politicians encouraged the masses. Soon, the movement caught the attention of the world, leading to protests all over the country.

In 1990, the Earth Day movement went global, mobilizing millions of people from hundreds of countries and lifting environmental issues to a global stage. Like a raging fire, this movement spread to corners of every country, making it a large-scale mission to save the Earth. While the movement went global, it gave a big boost towards recycling and helped pave the way for a United Nations Summit. However, this was only the first step towards a long and conserved future for coming generations.

In 2000, Earth day marked its 30-year anniversary, but this time the focus had a broader perspective. Clean energy, global warming and many other issues were taken into consideration. Soon enough, there were 5000 environmental groups in 184 countries to help spearhead this mission to save our planet. However, after a decade this movement faced some new problems. In 2010, oil-lobbyists and a disinterested public led to a new challenge but, earthday.org re-establishes the movement on a digital platform.

People recognize Earth Day, today, as one of the largest secular activities in the world. We mark this day as a day of action to change our ways of living and fight for a sustainable environment. With developments on the digital frontier, the new generation is making a major impact on others by using social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and others.

With these developments over the years, one this is for certain- the ravages of climate are more apparent than before!! Large scale fluctuations in weather affects flora and fauna. But with the help from the new generation, we can have a fiercer movement to save the natural beauty of our planet. Only with small changes today, can we have a large impact tomorrow. Let us all save the environment today, so that the next generation may have a better future!!

‘Chocolate‘, the word has such power that it can make a person’s day. Hearing it instantly brings energy and happiness that no other sweet brings. Whether it be any festival like Diwali or a special occasion like Valentine’s day, chocolates are the epitome of gifting happiness to your friends and family. Although, we all crave chocolates 24×7, let’s also know how chocolate came into being and some of its benefits!!

Do you know that chocolate is one of the oldest sweets in the world? The history of chocolates dates back to the Mayans, Aztecs, and Olmecs of Southern Mexico. According to some research, there are traces in the Olmec culture that are from around 1500 B.C. They passed their recipes to the Mayans, who not only consumed it but also revered it. The Aztecs believe the Gods presented them with Cacao. They used cacao beans as a form of currency to purchase their groceries and valued it ‘more than gold’!! Interestingly, chocolate is extracted from the fruit of cacao and the fruit or pods consists of 40 beans. Cocoa beans are made after drying and roasting to bring out their flavour, however, some question about their nutritional values!!

We all love chocolate and consuming it isn’t as harmful as you think. There are some benefits to consuming chocolate, some are-

• One research suggests that consuming chocolate helps reduce bad cholesterol.
• It also helps in cognitive function, which means, it helps in keeping the brain healthy by improving the blood flow in required parts.
• It also helps in lowering the risk of any type of heart disease and reduces the chances of any stroke.
• A little consumption of dark chocolate helps in boosting antioxidants and oxygen availability during any workout.
• Certain amounts of chocolate help your skin protect it from harmful sun rays.

So, for all those fitness enthusiasts, you can easily add chocolate to your diet!!  Chocolate is one of the most loved sweets in the world and there is a never-ending demand for it in different forms.

Over the years we have seen chocolate in various forms and companies developing different types of products to attract consumers. We have common chocolate bars, which are available readily in all types of stores. Chocolate cakes are some of the most common forms for any festive or celebratory occasions. People use chocolate powder and mix it in hot or cold milk to make a sweet beverage. There are also chocolate balls, fudge, and coating (used on cakes as a glaze) as well among other forms. Among its various forms, there is no single type of chocolate.

Chocolate as a term is ambiguous and can be divided into different types according to its taste and use. The first and the most common is Milk Chocolate, which is sweet and contains milk with cocoa powder. Then there is White Chocolate, which doesn’t contain any cocoa. It consists of milk solids which gives it that white colour. A bitter taste of Dark Chocolate is not everyone’s forte as it consists of a high proportion of cocoa and less milk. Lastly, there is Unsweetened Chocolate, which is pure chocolate liquor and is called baking chocolate. The chocolate industry is vast and there are several competitors vying for the top spot.

But what are some of the top chocolatiers?? European countries like Switzerland and Belgium are the chocolate capitals in the world. Also, leading brands like Cadbury, Ferrero, Guliyan, Hershey’s, Lindt, just to name a few are some of the best brands and have the finest quality of chocolates.

All in all, we all know that chocolate is a sweet that is loved by all age groups and we all consider it as one of our best friends!! 

Did you know that the stones of the Great Wall of China are held together with sticky rice? Workers apparently mixed calcium carbonate with rice to make a porridge and used it as mortar to lay stones! Well, if it can hold a mighty 21000 kilometer long wall together, we have no further questions on its ‘super’ food status.

Rice is by far the most versatile staple food. There is a rice dish for every mood! Want something spicy? Have biryani. Craving for something sweet? Have Kheer. Had a bad day and need comfort? Dal-Chawal to your rescue! This one cereal grain is used ingeniously in multiple cuisines- in a Sikkimese kitchen to make their savory-sweet flatbread Sel Roti, or in a South, Indian kitchen to make our beloved Idlis and Dosas.

Today, come with us as we explore the many rice variations across North-Eastern, Central and Southern kitchens of India.

North-eastern cuisine –

Despite its picturesque location and Instagram-worthy holiday pictures, there is a lot about this region that we still don’t know- including its cuisine. For instance, did you know that this region alone is the largest contributor of tea to our country?

Since 70% of their terrain is covered by hills and receives heavy rainfall, north-easterners rely heavily on rice; seafood, and meat (chicken, geese, pork, and beef) being their major source of protein. Although not spicy, their cuisine is hot. Although not oily, their food is fatty.

Kabok, a Laddu made from puffed rice and sugarcane syrup is a traditional dish of Manipur; while Apong, a healthy drink made from rice and millets is a local favorite of Arunachal Pradesh. Here, you will also find powdered rice used in Wungwut Ngam- a slow-cooked chicken side dish flavored with local spices.

 

Steering towards Nagaland, Assam, and Meghalaya- one will find the tastiest varieties of seasoned and dry-aged pork in their kitchens for round-the-year usage. Dishes thus prepared are often served with steaming hot rice and use plenty of ginger, garlic, and Bhut Jhalokia- the spiciest chillies in the world. The most beloved dish of Meghalaya is ‘Jadoh’, a type of pork biryani cooked in its fat with a different set of spices. Assamese, although not big on meat, widely use chicken, fish and duck meat in their diet along with rice, of course!

Central and eastern India kitchen-

People living in the heart of our country are huge fans of rice, with many dishes being common between states. Rice is a major part of their diets, right from breakfast to dinner. For instance- Poha, which is rapidly gaining national popularity, has its roots tied in Indore Madhya Pradesh, and Bhajias are a Chhattisgarhi native!

Rightly known as the rice bowl of India, Chattisgarhi cuisine revolves around rice dishes. Although it has many dishes to offer, their most famous contribution to breakfast- the Mona-Lisa of breakfast if you may- is the rice Chila. Made from rice and Urad dal batter, this is a quick, light and healthy start to your day. Other must-try dishes are Farra and Dubki Kadhi Chawal.

Talking about famous contributions, one can hardly overlook Maccher Jhol and Bangali Chingri curry that go just as well with steamed rice. Hailing from West Bengal and Orissa, these stand out dishes are packed with their quintessential flavors of turmeric, garlic and mustard oil. Another must- try from the eastern kitchen is Litti Chokha from Jharkhand and Bihar. (It doesn’t have rice, we just love Litti Chokha!)

South Indian cuisine-

While rice definitely forms the base for almost all south Indian dishes, the cuisine, however, is packed with spicy flavors. They have Pulihaara (tamarind rice), Pesarattu (rice batter pancake), Bisi Bele Bhaat (rice dish cooked with spices and vegetables) and the oh-so-famous Hyderabadi Biryani– all having their distinguished taste.

The rice we find while traveling down south is fluffier and lighter. It is a common practice in south India to strain the water from rice mid-cooking, which removes excess starch from it. This is also the reason why they don’t feel sleepy after a hearty lunch! Rasam, curry, and curd are some of their favorite accompaniments to have with rice- curries can be both vegetarian and meat-based.

The most famous curry from Tamil Nadu- Chettinad chicken curry is a spicy blend of coconut, black peppercorns, and red chilies. This curry is also amongst one of the spiciest in our country!

 

 

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