Upasana's Blog!!!

     "Bedu Pako" is Uttarakhandi Folk son g which as conceptualized and written by Brijendra Lal Shah. It was composed by Mohan Upreti and B. M. Shah and to date has been come out in numerous versions, seen and heard by Uttarakhandis across the globe. It was played on stage for the first time in 1952 at Government Inter College, Nainital. The song became popular when it was sung and played in Teen Murti Bhavan in honour of an international gathering. Then Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru chose this song as the best of folks among other participants from India and Mohan Upreti, became  Bedu Pako Boy . The recording on HMV were given to the guests as Souvenir. This depicts the Culture of Hills and true picture of the Region that is why it seems new every time it is heard. बेडु पाको बारो मासा, ओ नरण काफल पाको चैत मेरी छैला – २ बेडु पाको बारो मासा -२, ओ नरण काफल पाको चैत म...

Once a Daaju (Kumaoni Man) was selling Kaphal in Pithoragarh Road.  As we all know that Kumaoni people's are very friendly so he started friendly Discussion with Tourist. Both were very comfortable with each other. Then Daaju tried to sell Fruit to Tourist by sharing it to taste. He liked it very much & asked for more Daaju happily made a leaf boul & handed it to him as Tourist asked him: "Kaa phal hai ye ???" Daaju was happy that Tourist already know that its "Kaphal" so he joyfully answered : Ha bhai Kaphal hai. Again Tourist Asked : Hum poochte hai ka phal hai ye? Daaju Again Answered : Haa wahi to hum bata rahe hai k ye Kaphal hai. Then Tourist lost his cool & asked iss Phal ka Naam kya hai hum ye Pooch rahe hai? So Daaju informed him about the Fruit That its Name is "Kaphal" So Thats a  Humorous Story of Kaphal. But it is told that there is a Trag...

Story of Samju God!!! The legend of Guru Gorakhnath (Saim-Jyu) goes like this. Hail Guru Gorkhinath, yours alone is the name. Having worn his clothes, Samji stated he was going to Uttrakhand - Byoli Samji is now preparing to go to Uttrakhand. While travelling astride his horse, he reached Haldwani. As he travelled from there he reached Kathgodam. From there, he set up camp at Gogan Godam, Sitam Chaupal and Khatduva Godam. He reached Silang Chaurari in the morning, their riding his house non-stop from morning till evening he reached Ranibag. After this, in Ranibag, the ring on his finger falls off Travelling from her, he reaches Bhimtal. As he rode from here, he reached Harija Vinayak. Upon his horse again he rode and came to Chaphi Ghjingrani. His sister lived in Chaphi Ghingrani. On that day, all of a sudden, she happened to be going to Dhurra. At that moment, Saimji explained and convinced her to go and offer sweets? To the Gods. Samji called out. As he called, again and ag...

Diwali!!! The Most Important festival of Hindus!!! Diwali means a lot to us, it means new clothes, it means sweets, it means crackers, it means celebration, it means best wishes in from of blessings from elders!!! In short it means Celebration called life!!! We in India celebrate this festival in many different ways!!! In my native we celebrate it in some different manners as follows: Aipan:  The  Aipan (Alpana)  is a popular art form of Kumaon, and walls, papers and pieces of cloth are decorated by the drawing of various geometric and other figures belonging to gods, goddesses and objects of nature. Pichhauras or dupattas are also decorated in this manner. At the time of Harela there is a tradition of making clay idols (Dikaras). 'Aepan' or Aipan or Alpana is an art which has a special place in all Kumaoni homes. The word "Aepan' is a derivative of 'Arpan'. A commonly used word for it is “ Likhai ” (writing), although it is a pattern made with ...

This is very Famous Recipe in Gujarat where I live. Its made of leaves of Colocasia called Arbi in Hindi. The main ingredient of recipe Arbi k patte is found in abundance in Kumaon so it will be available easily in the market everywhere. Lets begun to cook.   Ingredients:  6 Colocasia leaves (Arbi k patte) 60 gms Bengal gram flour (Besan) 4 Green chillies 2 tsp Chopped ginger (Adrak) 2 tsp jaggery (Gud) 1 tsp sesame seeds (Til) 3 tsp Tamarind (Imli/Lemon for Tangy Taste) 1 tsp crushed Coriander (Dhania) seeds 1/2 tsp Mustard seeds ( Rai / Sarson) 2 tbsp Oil Salt to taste  Method: Remove the Stems of Arbi leaves to get a smooth surface wash & keep aside. Combine the green chilies and ginger and blend in a mixer till smooth and keep aside. Sieve the besan and set aside. Mix tamarind/Lemon and the jaggery and keep aside. Combine the besan, and the tamarind pulp and mix well and add water to make a smooth thick batter. Add the salt, spices an...

Ingredients: Chu (Rajgira) 100 gms   Jaggery 50 gms A bowl of water 1.) Roast or pop the Rajgira seeds well in a wok  & keep it aside Chu ke Laddoo 2.) In other nonstick wok add the Jaggery & stir it well so that it do not burn until the colour is brown. 3.) Add Rajgira to Jaggery & keep stirring until it mixes well with it. 4.) Remove it from stove & take some water in a bowl & soak hands in it  and make laddoo’s of the mixture as fast as you can as Jaggery can be moulded well when hot. Make rest ladoos similarly. Laddoo’s are ready to serve. If you can not make laddoo's don't worry there's a trick u can just grease a thali with a little bit of ghee/oil & spread the mixture very evenly & make a markes on it when hot and let it cool properly. Then demould it and here they are ready to eat. So easy & simple.  You can add the other ingredients in it to change the falvour ...

Ingredients: 1 kg Wheat Flour 500 gms  Jaggery Fennel Seeds as per taste Oil to fry Method: 1.) Melt  Jaggery  in 500 ml of water. 2.) Roast fennel seeds & add it into Wheat Flour add 250 ml of oil (to make it crispy) & mix it well in the flour. 3.) Now add the  Jaggery  water in flour & kned it into hard & well dough as we have for parathas  if required add  more water. Kumaoni Ghughuti 4.)  Now the most important step is to take a little amount of dough in your hands & roll a thick string out of it & twist is according to your wish like 8 number or like a Jalebi. You can make any shape as per your wish as to interest childrens. But mainly these two are the signature shapes to make in our Kumaoni culture. Beside these two u an make utensils like thali, katori, glass or any animal or birds & the very famous Huduka (A musical instrument looking as Damru of Lor...