Celebrating the spirit of Ramazan, Bohra style!

We love food and that is evident from our customs and traditions! PHOTO: MOHAMMAD NOMAN/EXPRESS

As the clock strikes 6:00pm, we jump out of our beds from our two-hour long afternoon nap. It’s time to get dressed; I choose an appropriate Rida from the colourful collection I possess and start to get ready for the masjid. Meanwhile, my dad irons his plain white Sayo Kurto – the same kind he wears every day.   

I always wonder how boring it is for Bohra men to wear the same kind of Sayo Kurto to themasjid every time – no matter if it is a big occasion or just an ordinary day. At least, us, women have the liberty to choose from the variety of colours and floral patterns that are available to us. The latest trends of Ridas include vegetables and fruits, but to be quite honest, I am not interested in looking like a fruit basket or a freshly picked strawberry so, I’ll just stick to my one coloured, standard attire.

Anyway, I check my phone. To my horror, it’s already 6:15pm, and we were still all over the place looking for matching Musallahs (prayer mat) and handbags to carry to the masjid!

Finally, after a tug here for the pink Rida, and a fight there for a blue Mussallah, we have made it to the masjid on time. Right at the entrance  two little children dressed in the traditional crisp, white Sayo Kurto and hand woven white and golden topis, hand us pre-packaged Iftar; a ticky pack of biscuit and a khajoor (date.)

Tucking this modest Iftar in my handbag, I walk to the first floor to take my prayer spot, right in front of the entrance and spread my Mussallah facing the Qiblah. My sister and I had inherited our prayer spots from our grandmother and her sister, and we switch alternatively.

There is still a little time left for the azaan, so I take out my tasbeeh and start reciting a few short prayers that I know at the back of my hand. There are around 10 minutes left and people are still pouring in. Women in colourful Ridas, along with their young kids trudging along behind them, are seen hunting for their fixed prayer spots. Occasionally, there are even a few arguments among women for their prayer spots if they get less space to spread their Mussallahs or if they see someone else taking over the space that they have been praying at for years. These arguments usually only last a few minutes and when it’s time for the Maghrib azaan, the women obediently squeeze in and start praying.

Today is just like any other day.

After the Maghrib prayers and a recitation of a few duas by the Amil Sahab, a few young lads in the traditional Bohra attire come in with crates full of hot teacups and serve everyone individually at their prayer spots. I take out the packet of biscuit and khajoor to break my fast, and return the cup to the boys who wait to fill in the crates with the empty teacups so they can make it back in time for their Isha prayers.

The Isha prayers are followed by a short khutba by the Amil Sahab and right after this, we all rush to the Jamaat Khaana. Over there, we make a circle of at least eight people and get ready to be served our food in a huge thaal.

Food for the Bohra community is essential for all kinds of gatherings. Every time there is a Bohra event in the masjid, there can hardly be a possibility of no food being served, and why should there even be such a possibility? We love food and it is evident through our customs and traditions!

When it comes to talking about food, we have this unique way of seating ourselves and serving the food too. In case you are invited to a Bohra wedding in the coming days, here is a brief guide of your dos, don’ts and must-knows.

Thaal manners:

1)  Make yourselves seated in a circle of at least eight people, as I stated above, or else one of the volunteers might yell at you for committing a major ‘don’t.’

2) Second, once you get your thaal, taste a little salt first and then begin with your meal. And, you don’t just start eating whatever you like first, there is sequence to eating the food – you start with something sweet, then head for the savoury, then again something sweet (a bohra thaal usually has a pair of sweet dishes) and then lastly, go for the rice.

3) You can ask for extra servings of rice along with the curry or soup whatever is served alongside. Usually volunteers carry huge buckets of soup/curry to refill your bowls or hand over plates of rice according to how much you need.

4) Make sure you only order enough food for the whole thaal that can be easily consumed by its members. Wasting of food is loathed among the Bohra community.

5) Once you are done with your meal, you again taste a little salt to end your meal.

Following this guide of thaal manners, I successfully finished my dinner. My meal included a jalebi and a small bowl of rice pudding for dessert, a plate of white karhai and biryani with clear soup for the savoury bit.

I, along with my sister and mother quickly made my way out of the Jammat Khanna to wash my hands and head home.

This was just a usual day in Ramazan.

Sigh, how much I love this sweet month of blessings!

This blog was originally posted here: http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/18347/celebrating-the-spirit-of-ramazan-bohra-style/

Tanzania - My love at first sight

After having lived in the city of Karachi, Pakistan for the whole of my life, I could think of no other place that I could call home, until I got married and stepped into the lands of Tanzania. Tanzania, at first sounded like one of the poverty driven countries in the African continent, that I did not even know existed on the world map, (please excuse my lack of geographical knowledge) before I got to know my husband.

However, having travelled to this beautiful place, all my preconceived notions came tumbling down, as I was completely wow-ed by the natural beauty, and the great food of this amazing place; truly it was love at first sight!

While talking about the things I love about Tanzania, here is a little list of the things that made me instantly realize why I love to call this beautiful country my home now.

1   1) The delicious food – Of course, while you are travelling to a new country, how can you miss out the food and the unique flavours that speak of the country’s culture. The same goes for Tanzania. When I newly stepped into the lands of Tanzania, my husband made sure I had a taste of the wonderful local food, and so he took me to the famous Oyster Bay, in the city of Dar es Salaam, to have Mishkaki (small pieces barbequed meat) and baked Cassava with Cassava chips, along with the spicy, yet refreshing Kachumbari. Although, while living in Karachi, I had a huge share of spicy food, and I absolutely loved it, but when I had a taste of these delightful locally made snacks, I was certainly left craving for more. 

That’s baked Cassava with Cassava chips and some Swahil style spicy Kachumbari – Pure delight! PHOTO: ADNAN NANABHAI

And that’s some freshly grilled Mishkaki in a bowl of flavoursome Chutni that you dip your Mishkaki pieces in before stuffing them in your mouth. PHOTO: ADNAN NANABHAI

 2)      The wildlife! – Whenever Africa’s name is mentioned, one of the first things that clicks into one’s minds has to be the amazing wildlife, and I was no exception. Never having travelled to the continent of Africa before, or never having gone for wildlife safaris, the most closely I had seen animals were in zoos or man-made artificial environments, and that is why the idea of going for a wildlife safari sounded really exciting to me. So, my husband planned our honeymoon to the Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater.

Our wildlife safari, then certainly become the highlight of my Tanzanian experience. Witnessing the animals in their natural habitats, and observing them in the wild, in all, added up to be a great honeymoon trip for my husband and me.

If that was still not being lucky enough, we were certainly carrying a whole lot of lucky charms with us to witness a lion attack! Yes, we could not sit back in our Land Cruisers for a bit, as a pride of lions attempted to attack a bunch of buffaloes and zebras. Although, the attack remained unsuccessful, we still managed to capture some great pictures and witnessed it through our eyes what the life in the wild is likely to be like! 

The beautiful Ngorongoro crater, from the top. PHOTO: ADNAN NANABHAI 

The Ngorongoro Crater –  A haven to all kinds of wildlife! PHOTO: ADNAN NANABHAI

Entering Serengeti National Park, for more wildlife adventure! PHOTO: ADNAN NANABHAI

This young lioness looked quite bored at first, but she was actually up to something that kept us and a bunch of other spectators hooked for quite some time! PHOTO: ADNAN NANABHAI

A little ahead, a whole pride was sitting. Something fishy for sure! PHOTO: ADNAN NANABHAI

Yes, this hungry pride of lions was on a lookout for some fresh meat! PHOTO: ADNAN NANABHAI 

But sadly, the afternoon lunch ran away after a little tussle with the lions! PHOTO: ADNAN NANABHAI 

 3)      The beaches of Zanzibar! One of the first few places to pop up on the search engine while I was back in Pakistan, trying to learn more about Tanzania, were the beautiful beaches of Zanzibar. And, soon we made a trip to this beautiful island to take a dip in the clear turquoise blue waters of the Zanzibar beaches.

Although, being a non-swimmer came up to be a great disadvantage for me, but snorkelling in the waters of Zanzibar and getting to see the colourful fishes of all kinds, and then going for a dolphin safari ride was certainly one of the many reasons why I couldn’t stop smiling throughout the trip. 

A lone boat makes its way across the waters of a Zanzibar beach.  I love how this picture has a melancholic tone to it. PHOTO: ADNAN NANABHAI

Sunset at a beach of Zanzibar – Utterly breathtaking! PHOTO: ADNAN NANABHAI

Truly, Tanzania became my love at first sight. The serene natural beauty, loving people and the tantalizing local food are just few of the many things that I have started to love about this wonderful place. However, being a girl, the only thing that I wish for is that there were a few more beauty parlours and bigger malls to satisfy my beauty and shopping needs! 

Yes or No...

PHOTO:  VERA CURNOW.

Yes or No he asked her

Making her life complicated than ever

How could she say “Yes” when she did not feel anything for him

Or should she say “No” and steal away his grin

She thought it to happen never,

But she knew it was going to end their friendship forever

For him, it was only her

And so, anxiously waited for her to answer

He was ready to take it whatever she would say

But instead she asked for a few more days

Handing over her the bouquet,

He said it was okay

He knew either her answer would blossom his life,

Or throw him from the maximum height

A few days gone…

He called her on the phone,

She wished a “Yes” she could say

And make his day,

But she said a “No” instead,

He said it was alright,

And his tears he hid

Feeling broken inside,

He wiped his wet eyes

For him she was a need

And he wished she had agreed

Seeing him sad,

She wished a “Yes” she would have said

Like a bee and a flower

We have been around like a bee and a flower

I don’t know what is stopping us

Why can’t we just be together?

Why do you have to hesitate?

Why do you have to stop?

Baby, just tell me

And all the problems we can solve     

I will be your friend,

I will be your mate,

I will be your love

Baby, I will be your fate

I am dying here,

I want a hand to hold,

A shoulder to cry

And endless talks

That would never end with Good-bye!

Why am I living like this?

Why don’t you just give me a few hints?

You know I might hurt myself

Here playing with swords,

When I don’t even know if you love me or not

Afghan Burgers: A moody cook’s way to success

For a moody cook like me who lazes around as much as they can before entering the kitchen and would rather resort to the yesternight’s leftovers than recycling them or making something completely from scratch. When they actually make an effort and get their aprons on, it certainly is a big deal. And the biggest motivation that is leading me to share this easy to make recipe was the never ending “Wows” and “Yums” by my family members that came with every bite.

It all started after a late night chat with a friend living in Islamabad who could not help talking about Afghan Burgers that he gets near his locality. However, being a Karachite and never having heard about this wonderful delight, and thinking from my growling stomach, I made a point to try my hands at making this dish, just the next day. And so I did!

Okay, before you judge me while looking at the picture that I claim to be Afghan Burgers, let me make it clear these burgers are actually more like a wrap. So probably that is why they look more like a kebab roll, what we Karachites may call. Nevertheless, below is the recipe that I thought to share with everyone who wishes to make these easy to make snacks at home.

Ingredients:

For bread/roti:

All purpose flour - 1 cup

Whole-wheat flour – 1/2 cup

Salt - 1 teaspoon

Water - As required

Oil - As required

For filling:

Chicken - 1/2 Kg

Lemon juice - 1 tablespoon

Soya Sauce - 1 tablespoon

Worcestershire sauce - 1 tablespoon

Chili powder - 2 teaspoons

Salt - to taste

Black pepper - 1 teaspoon

Oil for frying

(As a secret, I also added a teaspoon from the ready to make masala packets I could find in my kitchen cabinet).

Tomato Sauce:

Tomato Ketchup - 2-3 tablespoons

Chili flakes - 2 teaspoons

Soy sauce - 1 tablespoon

Garlic Mayonnaise:

Mayonnaise - 3-4 tablespoons

Garlic cloves finely chopped - 4-5

French Fries:

Medium Sized potatoes - 2

(Makes 5 Afghan Burgers)

Although you might need to multi-task while preparing these Afghan burgers, nevertheless, everything nicely combined will give you just the right snack to help satisfy your between meals hunger. I do not claim to be a great cook but once I had these made, it was certainly a moment of pride for me. I do not know how do actual Afghan Burgers taste like but these surely were amazing.

Method:

Chicken filling:

Start with chopping your chicken into small pieces that could be easily folded into a wrap, so make sure you have your chicken defrosted and you chop them to make just the right chunks. Next, marinate your chicken pieces with all the mentioned ingredients and set aside for a bit to settle down. Now, once that is done, take out your frying pans and fry in oil, until the chicken is nice and tender. 

Bread/Roti:

Now, the tricky part. You will actually have to make your roti round or else no one marries you. Just kidding! But yes, round roti is a must.

In order to prepare for this, get your dough ready. Mix in all purpose flour and whole-wheat flour together, add in a teaspoon of salt and make sure you add a little bit of oil before you add the water. This will make your bread soft. Next, mix in water and work it until the dough is nice and smooth. Take out your rolling pin and start rolling a piece of dough until it looks fine to be cooked on a pan. You can make at least five medium sized breads with these ingredients. 

French Fries:

These French fries actually go as a filling inside the Afghan Burgers, so make sure that you have them thinly sliced and just the right size to stuff as many as possible in one burger. Fry your French fries on medium heat until golden brown. 

Sauces:

I made two sauces, the tomato sauce and Mayo garlic sauce. The method is simple, just combine all the ingredients for these sauces together and you will have some really great flavours to add to you Afghan Burgers.

Filling Time!

Now comes the fun part. Take a roti, place it on a plate, drizzle some tomato sauce, place some chicken pieces on top, couple them with French fries and then add some Mayo garlic sauce, and roll it up. Preferably, microwave your Afghan Burgers for a while and serve them hot!

Bingo, and give me credits for the “Wows” and “Yums” that you will hear from your family members as they relish this treat. And don’t blame me if you are inundated with farmaish once too often. 

Also published at: http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/15855/afghan-burgers-a-moody-cook%E2%80%99s-way-to-success/

How can you possibly ignore Veena?

What do you get when you put two Veenas in one place? Well, I would say daal mein zaroor kuch kaala hai! 

Not one, but two Veena Maliks are going to star in the upcoming film,“Daal Mein Kuch Kaala Hai”. Veena has been working on this film since her appearance in the “Big Boss” series on Sony TV. Playing a double role, Veena is to portray a sharp and witty woman that we’re all familiar with as well as a softer side to the ‘always-in-news-for-every-wrong-reason’ diva.

I'm sure controversy queen Veena will not disappoint us in her film. You may love or hate her, but can't ignore her! PHOTO: PUBLICITY

Spoiler alert: This comedy flick starts off when Dabu (Anand Balraj) – a middle-aged film director, madly in love with his upcoming film actress Veena Malik - hits a jackpot and becomes filthy rich.

Dabu, having only the starlet on his mind, goes to her to win her over with his new found wealth. The sly Veena, though, is not so easy to get hold of. Instead of reciprocating his love, she devises a plan with her boyfriend to rob Dabu and elope. This, however, is  not a piece of cake for the couple and what awaits them is lot of twists, turns and a bumpy ride.

Then, another Veena Malik makes her entrance as a beautiful angel, taking the movie to a whole new level of comedy and entertainment.

Being in a film with actors like Jackie Shroff and Shakti Kapoor, Veena is adamant not to be overshadowed by all the stardom that tails these actors.

According to her:

I have worked with big names; just look at the cast of ”Daal Mein Kuch Kaala Hai” – but I am not someone who would stand in someone’s shadow.

With a number of catchy item songs like, “Mumbai Money hai” and “Madam Malai”, the movie is definitely worth a watch.

My list of expectations for this movie starts and ends with ‘controversy’. I am sure Veena – being the queen of controversy – will surely not disappoint on this front. Be it her nude photo shoot or her infamous debate with Mufti Sahib, there is no stopping the limelight from dogging her footsteps.

This Lollywood to Bollywood star is our very own pied piper; she marches on playing the tune that she likes and all the rest, willingly or unwillingly, follow her. Like her or not, it is undeniable that Veena hypnotises you and pulls you in her ever increasing list of followers with her grace, charm and masala-ridden stories.

How can you possibly ignore her?

This is one question that I am sure even Mufti Sahab would fail to answer. I am positive that with the increasing restrictions of PEMRA the movie is not likely to be showcased in any of our local cinema halls. Regardless, I am sure that many in Pakistan will watch her with ardent delight.

Releasing today, “Daal Mein Kuch Kaala Hai” has me rubbing my hands with excitement.

Also published at: http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/12441/how-can-you-possibly-ignore-veena/

Don't let the dogs out at the University of Karachi

Looking after a pet is just like caring for a baby; understanding their unsaid words, feeding them and putting them to sleep – it’s just the same. After giving all your love, and making them a part of your family, when they die in front of you, the pain is unbearable.

These words were uttered by an inconsolable student and a resident at the University of Karachi (KU), as she tried to suppress the sorrow that clearly overwhelmed her.

It wasn’t the first time she had lost a pet which she had nurtured and cared for as though it were a part of her own family. It was Babloo this time. She showed me his pictures as she recalled the wonderful time she had spent with Babloo and her other pets.

Babloo was just one of the many innocent victims of the process of dog poisoning at KU.

Death of all living things is undoubtedly an inevitable truth of this world. Nonetheless, watching a loved one die an unnatural death in front of your eyes, is something one does not even want to imagine. Sadly, this is exactly what the residents at KU have been experiencing for the last four years.

Apart from dealing with the loss of their much adored pets, the biggest grief that distresses and haunts the pet owners is the fact that their pets were never meant to be killed. They were, in fact, the innocent victims of the process of poisoning stray dogs that takes place every year in the campus.

Wild dogs and their problematic wandering had become a major issue for the students and the management of the university. The difficulties created by the increasing number of stray dogs included the transmission of diseases like rabies, a growing number of dog bite incidents on campus, barking and howling that disturbed the atmosphere of the campus and the list goes on.

For these reasons, the idea of poisoning the dogs, and completely eradicating them from sight came as the easiest solution for the management.

Unfortunately, the methods adopted by the university management bear the worst and the most ineffective results. The low quality poison used in this process takes at least 5-6 hours to kill the animals, who die after suffering a great deal of pain.

The pet owners and residents at the university campus completely disapprove of the methods used by the authorities. The worst aspect of the poisoning process taking place is the fact that the pet owners never know for how long it will continue. Although the residents were notified of the poison being spread in their area, they remained clueless as to the duration for which they must keep their pets inside the house.

The only concern of the young pet owner, after losing her beloved dog, was how to bring this issue to they authority’s attention.

Of course, many precious lives have already been lost, but the question arises, how should we completely put an end to this sequence? A few petitions and articles have already been written, and painstaking efforts have been made to bring this issue to the notice of the concerned authorities. Nevertheless, the attempts to improve the situation went down the drain when the cries of the residents and the deceased animals were not taken account of.

This act of barbarously killing the animals can never be justified. The process of poisoning is too painful and inhumane to kill even stray dogs. Making them go through hours of suffering, just because their existence is not welcomed is terrible, to put in a word.

Moreover, this process hardly produces the desired results; instead of killing the stray dogs, hundreds of other animals consume the poison and die every day, including birds and various other animals that inhabit the campus.

Other methods, like shooting stray dogs on sight, or availing the services of dog catchers could be seen as a more humane and efficient way of fulfilling the purpose.

Being a part of the university, I hope this time the authorities will consider the issue, and improvements will be made in order to avoid the inevitable heartache that many residents repeatedly suffer.

Also published at: http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/14380/dont-let-the-dogs-out-at-the-university-of-karachi/