Flavors of India

Veg-Chili-Paneer

         

Ingredients:

• Paneer (cut into square pieces):-                                250gm.
• Carrot:-                                                                    2 pieces
• Beans (cut into i/2 inch pieces):-                                2 pieces
• Spring onion:-                                                           100gm.
• Cauliflower(small):-                                                   1 piece
•   Capsicum(medium):-                                               1 piece
• Onion(cut into square pieces):-                                  2 pieces
• Tomato(cut into square pieces):-                                2 pieces          
• Mustard/refine oil:-                                                   1/4 cup                       
• Ginger(finely chopped):-                                           1tsp
• Garlic (finely chopped):-                                           2tsp
• Green chilli (finely chopped):-                                   2 pieces
• Soya sauce:-                                                            2tsp.
• Sugar:-                                                                    1tsp
• Salt:-                                                                        to taste

Process:

 

Paneer

 

1. Peel and chop all the vegetables into medium pieces.
2. Heat oil and fry the paneer till brown.
3. Add the onion and then one by one capcicum, ginger, garlic and vegetables in the same oil and mix well. Cook for 5min.
4. Now add the soya souce, green chilli, suger and salt (if need) and mix well. Cook for 2min.
5. Add some water and paneer and let the vegetables simmer well to get cooked.
6. Take it off the flame when the vegetables well cooked. Garnish with green chilli.
7. Serve hot with any Bread or Roti or Paratha.

* You may add more vegetables in it.

Festivals of India in the month of March

Sivaratri or Mahashivratri

 

Shivaratri or Mahashivaratri (Night of Shiva) is a Hindu festival, celebrated all over the country with great enthusiasm. The festival falls every year around 13^th night or 14th day in the Krishna Paksha of the month of Magh or Phalgun in the Hindu calendar. The festival is exclusively dedicated to Lord Shiva who is known by hundreds of names. Mahashivratri is the day to rejoice and pray to the almighty for wellness. On this day, Hindu people offer prayers to the Lord Shiva and also observe fasting (vrata) throughout the day. You can see huge crowd of devotees outside the Shiva temples where they come for early morning prayers.

Shivalinga, symbol of the Lord Shiva

The prayers continue throughout the night of Mahashivratri and Lord Shiva’s followers offer coconut, Bilva leaves, fruits and specially prepared sacred food for the occasion. As this is a dark fortnight, devotees light candles and diyas (a lamp made usually of clay, with wick made of cotton and dipped in ghee) throughout the night. This is signified as a symbol of spiritual manifestation.

Mahashivratri is one of the major festivals in India and everybody from kids to old-age people like to participate in one way or the other. Lord Shiva is also known as a ‘Destroyer’ or ‘Transformer’ according to the Hindu religion and he is worshiped not only in India but also in other neighboring countries like Nepal and Sri Lanka.

This year Mahashivratri will celebrate on 10^th March.

Destination India

West Bengal (PART-VI)

Jalpaiguri (3)

Buxa Tiger Reserve

Buxa Tiger Reserve, in the subdivision of Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri district, was set up in the year of 1982-83 at the north eastern corner of West Bengal bordering Bhutan and Assam. It is declared a National Park in January 1992. The name "Buxa Tiger" has been derived from Buxa Fort - a fort at an altitude of 867 meters on the Sinchula Range guarding the most important of the eleven routes into Bhutan, which once was used for detainees during freedom movement of India. With an area of 759sq km this picturesque reserve with its prodigious Terai, Bhabar as well as Hilly landscape, crisscrossed by numerous rivers and their tributaries, presents a breathtaking landscape. 

Buxa is rich with bio-diversity and has a great collection of rare orchids and medicinal plants. Because of inaccessible terrain some parts of Buxa hills in the Sinchula range are still unexplored. The veritable flora and fauna of these wet forests attracts tourists and nature lovers every year. The Generic diversity of mammals is second highest among all the tiger reserves of India. Astonishing bio-diversity of animals comprise of a reach avifauna of more than 230 identified species, 67 mammals and 36 species of reptiles.

Apart from Bengal Tiger the flagship species, there are plenty of Leopard, Fishing Cat, Leopard Cat, Jungle Cat, Indian Civet, Palm Civet, Wild Dogs, Malayan Gaint Squirrels, Mangooses, Asian Elephant, Gaur, Small Clawless Otter, Chital, Sambar, Barking Deer, Hog Deer, Wild Buffalo, 3 varieties of Pythons, Monitor Lizard and a host of land tortoises. A number of animals like Chinese Pangolin. Regal Python (reticulate) Clouded Leopard are endemic to the region. 

 The Avifauna is rich in both endemic as well as migratory species. The swift rivers of Rydak and Jainti are visited by Trans Himalayan Migratory Goosanders, the beautiful Ibis Bill, resident Fork-tails, varieties of Red-stars, Wag-tails, the Narathali Lake is visited by migratory Common Teal, Gargani Teal, Large Whistling Teal, White Eyed Poachared etc. The Hornbills including greater Pied Hornbill abound the area. One of the rarest birds of India the Black-necked Crane has been sighted in the Reserve during the early winter. The migratory beautiful Black Stork is a visitor of the area. The monsoon ends and beautiful Minivets, Sultan tits arrive, during summer rare Ashyminivet is also sighted.

Jayanti

 

 

A picturesque spot along the meandering Jayanti River forming a natural border with beautiful Bhutan hills Jayanti is a place to stretch your weary legs as the cool breeze brushes away all the exhaustions. Buxaduar to Jayanti is another popular trek in the region. This 13 kms trek passes through the dense forest of Buxa Tiger Reserve. The music of wilderness, the chirping of unknown birds, the song of wild streams, fragrance of nature will never allow you to feel the least stress of a long journey. The journey ends with a warm reception of an old staggering priest at the stalactite cave of Jayanti, popularly known as the Mahakal cave. It is difficult to enter into the narrow, dark, damp cave but trying the same may be another precious adventure.

Rajabhatkhawa

 

 

 

Rajabhatkhawa is only 12 kms from Jayanti and approachable by both road and rail form Siliguri (153kms) and Alipurduar (17 kms). Surrounded by dense forests of Buxa tiger reserve Rajabhatkhawa is an ideal place for the wild life lovers. A watchtower deep inside the forest gives the best opportunity to view elephant, bison and even tiger. The Nature Interpretation Center at Rajabhatkhawa is another attraction. There is a small bazaar and a beautiful small rail station.

Rasikbill

 

 

74 km away from Alipurduar, Rasik Bill is situated on the way of train journey from Alipurduars to Kamakshyaguri. There is a huge lake ideal for eco-tourism activities. What attracts tourists here is the wide variety of avifauna that is seen around here. The bird variety includes cormorants, different varieties of storks, ibis, spoonbill, kingfisher, parrots, owl and many others. There is a large aquarium, a dear Park and a crocodile rehabilitation center at Rasikbill. Tourists who loved to watch the local birds and migratory birds, Rasikbil is the real place for them.

 Image courtesy: https://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&newwindow=1&biw=1280&bih=577&tbm=isch&sa