Emotions and characterization in TMD

Of course TMDs have a host of words to describe emotions... Here are a few of them...

Raag राग ...Anger

Santosh संतोष ...Happy/Happiness

Vessan वेसन  .. Sad

Laad लाड ... Love

Sandegh संदेघ  Suspicion

Anumaan अनुमान .Suspicion

Sandegh Praani संदेघ प्राणी Suspicious creature

(Funnily, in TMD this description of a suspicious person  as "suspicious creature" is clearly very judgmental displaying a certain scorn by saying "praani" !)

Behe बेहे ...Fear / Afraid

Bhikondi भिकोंडी ..Timid scared person

Garv गर्व ..Pride

Garvisht गर्विष्ट ...Proud person

Jhalkapan  झ्ल्कापण ..Jealousy

Jhamb झंब  Show off

Jhambishta झम्बिष्ट Show off person

Sowmya सौम्या  Soft/Gentle

Moratt मोरट्  Rough/Unpolished

Aavesh आवेश  nearest meaning I can think of is Angry Passion

Dushtapan  दुष्टपण  Wickedness, Mischievous

Gambhir  गंभीर  Dignified

Gambhirtha गंभीरता  Dignity

About 'Oons' and vegetables and fruits!

I decided to write this when some of my near and dear ones were lost when asked, " Shankaranthila oons aanliska?"( Did you bring " oons" for Shanranthi) 
My sister who put forth this question to her neices and nephews got quite a few choice replies.
One asked, " Is that a camel?"
Another said, "It sounds like a camel and fart" how about a camel's fart"
Another two claimed it was "fart" !
So whatever the meaning why would one bring this mysterious 'oons' home  for Shankaranthi?

While names for fruits and vegetables are common enough for many languages with only minor differences, we do have some vegetables and fruits that have unique names in TM. Here I propose to enlist only those that have these names unique to TM and not your Amba, Kela, Batata.

 Oons ऊस SugarCane

Kohla कोहळा  Ashgourd

Khavit  खवीट Wood Apple

Kaarli कार्ली Bittergourd

Mirsinga मिर्सिङ्ग  Chilli

Senga सेन्गा Cluster beans

Naral  नारळ Coconut

Phanas फणस Jackfruit

Limbu लिम्बु Lime

Chinch चिन्च  Tamarind

Aala आलं Ginger

Avale आवळा  Amla

Jhaambla ज्हाम्ब्ला Purple Jamun

Vaangi वाङ्गी  Brinjal

Bhompla भोम्प्ला  Pumpkin

Dodkya दोडके Ridge Gourd

Ratalu रताळे Sweet Potato

ChowChow चौ-चौ  Coyote (also called Bangalore kattrika)

Bhoichane भोइचने  Peanuts , literally Ground-nuts

Kande कांदे  Onion

Suran सुरण  Yam

Paala पाला  Greens 

Baaldind  बाळधिंड Plantain Stem

Bhora भोर Berries

Guava    Jaam-Pandu










 

Kheericha Mhathari Story. ..The Old Woman and Kheer

We used to call this story..Kheericha Mhathari. खीरीचा म्हातारी

Kheericha Mhathari

Ek gaamanth ek mhaathari hothi mana.
Once upon a time, in a village lived an old woman.

Ek divas thila " Aha! Kheer karun khau mana"  manhun aasha vaatla. 
One day she had a wish, " aha! let me make some kheer and eat"

Kheerila  samaan anaala kartan geli.

So she went to get the ingredients to make the kheer.

 Pahila shedaarla gharala geli

First she went to the next door neighbor.

Kivaad badivun vichaarli mana, " Aho mala kheer khaam manhun vaatatha, mala thoda rava dethanth ka?"

She knocked on their door and asked," Hello, I feel like eating some kheer. Can you give me some Rava to make the kheer?"

"Oh baro ka." manhun theni ek vaatintha rava dile .
" Oh OK"  they said and in a cup gave her some rava (semolina)

Nanthar mhathari samorla gharala geli mana.

Next the old woman went to the opposite house.

Thikkadun vaatintha saakhar aanli. 
From there she brought some sugar in a cup.

Thavda ithkyaanth Doodh viknaar aala.
By that time, the milk seller came by.

 Theja kadsun doodh maingitli mana.
From him, she took some milk.

Maadivarla gharanthun chaar vela aanli.
She went to the upstairs house and borrowed 4 cardamoms.

Asga samaan anle var, snaan karun mhathari chool petivli.

After bringing all these things, the old woman took a bath and lit the stove for cooking.

 Ek motha kanch sagdi var thivun, thejaanth doodh rava, saakhar asgi ghalun kheer karli.
She kept a big brass vessel on the coal stove, In it she added the milk, sugar, rava and made the kheer.

 Vela ghaatli ani kheer ghama ghama vaas aala mana.

Then she added the cardamom and the kheer sarted smellin so so good!

" Aha majha kheer kay vaas yethe" mhanun thija thondaanth paani aala.
" Aha! my kheer smells so good" she thought and she started drooling!

Kheer besha kadla ka, utrivli.
Soon as the kheer started boiling well, she got it off the fire.

Anki  Mhatharichaan raakhaal jhala nahi.

 Bhook laagath hotha, kheer gham ghama vaas yeta hota.

Now the old woman could wait no more! She was hungry, the kheer was smelling so very good....

Bara manun, ek vaati kadli,; dona phali unu unu kheer ghatli ;

thasach peeli.

So, she took out a bowl; She added two ladles of hot hot kheer to he bowl. And she drank a sip of it!

Kay Jhaala? Unu unu kheer peelathra kai hoila?

What Happened? What happens when you eat boiling hot kheer?

Mhathari cha jeev polun gela.
The old woman's tongue got burnt!

" oh ho ho! hey kay veda kheer !!" manun mhatharila raag aala mana.
"Oh ho ho! what a horrible kheer is this!" she screamed and the old woman got angry!

Thavda kanch bhar kheer kaadun  laamb javun aadanth taakli.
She then took all the vessel full of kheer and went straight to the well and poured it all in the well!

Paap mhathari bhookantha raagantha thasach jhompi geli.
Poor old woman, hungry and angry she just went to sleep.

Duphara uthun paatra bhandi dhuvala basli.

Kheericha paatra gham gham vaasa ala.

thoda kheer paatranth raahila hotha.

Mhathari thoda kheer kaadun jeevi var layangitle.

" Aha kay rucha ! Kay ruch hey kheer!"

" Anyaaya! thavda kheer aadanth taakle!" vesan vaatla mhatharila.

Kay karthi mhathari!?

Jaavun aadanthla paani peeli! Hoya aadanthla paani peeli

pot bharun gela. Anki paani peeli

Mhatharila naak aanthsu paani, tondanthsu paani , kaananthsu paani aala.

By this time we would be in peals of laughter imagining the old woman with water spurting out of her ears, eyes and nose! and the story would end there!

खीरीचा म्हातारी 

एक गामांथ एक म्हातारी होती मण

एक दिवस त्हिला " अहा ! खीर करून खाऊ मण " म्हणून वाटला

खिरीला सामान आणाल कर्तान गेली मण 

पहिला सेदारला घराला गेली

 किवाड बडीवून विचारली , " अहो मला खीर खांव म्हणून वाटता, मला थोडा रवा देतां का?"

  " ओह बरो, अगत्य  " म्हणून त्याने एक वाटीन्ता रवा दिले .

नंथर म्हथारी समोरला घराला गेली

तीक्कडून वाटीन्ता साखर आन्ळी

तवड इथ्क्यांथ दूध विक्णार आला

थ्यज कडसून  दूध मैन्गिटली

माडीवरला घरांथून चार  वेळा  आणली

 अस्ग  समान आणले वर ; स्नान  करून  म्हथारी  चूल पेटीवली 

 एक मोठ कंच सगडी वर ठिवून , थ्यजान्थ दूध ,रवा , साखर अस्गी घालून खीर करली

खीरीन्ता वेळा घाटली की , खीर घम घम घम वास आल मण

" अहा ! मझा खीर काय वास येत  आहे !! " म्हणून तिज तोंडान्थ पाणी आला

खीर बेष कडला  का ,सगडी वरून उतरीवली

अंकी म्हथारीचन राखाल झाला नही 

 भूक लागत होता , खीर घम  घम वास येत होता !

 बरा मणून , एक वाटी काडली ; दोन फळी उनू उनू खीर घाटली ; तसाच  उनू उनू  खीर  पीलि !

काय झाला ? उनू उनू खीर पीलतरा काई होयिल ?

""म्हथारीचा जीव  पोळून गेला !!!"

ओह  हो  हो ! हे काय वेडा खीर! मझा जीव पोळून गेला ! म्हणून राग आला म्हथारीला

तवड कंच भर खीर काडून , लांब जावून आडांत टाकली 

पाप म्हथारी! भूकांता रागांत तसच  झोम्पी गेली

दुफारा उठून पात्र भांडी धुवाला बसली 

 खीरीच पात्र  काडली   ...घम घम वास आला

थोडा खीर पात्रान्थ राहिला होता  

म्हथारी ते खीर काडून जीवी वर लायान्गीटली

  " आहा!काय रुच !काय रुच आहे हे खीर!"

 "अन्याय  ! तवड खीर आडांत टाकले !" वेसन वाटला म्हथारीला

काय करती म्हथारी !?

जावून आडांतला  पाणी पीलि ! होय ग  बाई होय ! आडांतला  पाणी  पीलि!!!!

पोट भरून गेला. अंकी पाणी पीलि . पाणी पीत गेली !

काय झाला ! म्हथारीला नाकान्त्सू पाणी येत, तोंडान्सू पाणी , कानान्सू पाणी . पाणी चा पाणी!

By this time we would be in peals of laughter imagining the old woman with water spurting out of her ears, eyes and nose! and the story would end there!

Thanjavur Marathi Story ( Kahaani)

We all as children were told stories by our grand moms. My grandmother used to mix the food/ mostly dinner in a large vessel and have us sit in a circle  while she gave us waran bhath, saar bhath and dahi bhath in our hands, in little handfuls. The dahi bhath would have a little sambar to " thond layangala". ( What a forgotten ritual this has become. Today we sit with our children and grandchildren and watch TV while absently, mechanically transporting food into our mouths. 

There is no romance of a story or a " Aaji Kahaani saanga" Aaji is also watching TV, that too addicted to her show! Well, I guess that is the advent of technology. There is no 'kahaani' even before and after the meals since we are all busy texting!

Anyway, here I wish to take you all to those days when we noticed the moon and stars, sat under the night sky on hot summer days in a circle with our brothers/sisters/ cousins during holidays while aaji " kaalivun ghaatle".

On cold winter days the meal would finish with " doodh bhaat" Rice mixed with milk and sugar as 'dahi' would be cold.

She would regale us with stories told in Marathi.

I would like to share some of these stories told in Marathi with my readers.

I do not remember too many but let me share whatever I do remember.

Kitchen utensils in TMD

Well, here are some words we used to describe vessels and other things in the kitchen.

Jharni Phali

Slotted spoon used in frying

Uchhatni

A flat spoon used to flip the dosas or polis from the Tawa

Phali

A Serving spoon

Thaat

Plate

Paatra

Vessel

Kanch

We used to refer to the brass rice vessel as Kanch in my house

Poli Phaat

The  base to roll out polis and chapathis

Laatni

Rolling Pin!

Ravi

Instrument used to churn butter from Curds

Thel Thava

Frying pan for Deep frying

Rubgund

Grinding equipment made of stone

Vaatach Dhonda

Another grinding equipment

Zaanth

Powdering stone

Korad

Tongs

Paraath

Big plate with an edge

Jharadi

Sieve for flours

thambya

Vessel to hold water

 Gangaal

Was a huge vessel shaped like a barrel with two rings to hold on both sides usually used to hold water.

Handa

Another huge vessel

Ghaagar

A small necked vessel used to hold water

Thaat mande, paani theeve, Asgeni vhaade

Lay the plates, Keep the water ( for serving) , and serve everybody

More proverbs

Here are more proverbs used in Thanjavur Marathi. I have tried to give the best explanation possible, from what little I know. My guide, mentor and my inspiration in creating this blog, my dear Dad is not doing well as old age is catching up on him and cannot guide me....

Ghanta Jhaale aaha, Bhaathala nahi vaata

घंटा झाला आहे , भाताला नहीं  वाट 

This is I think a very simple proverb meaning just what it says... It is time to eat, there is no sign of food. Bhath is Rice. ghanta being Time. Vaat is way.
It is time (for food) and no way for food..is the more precise meaning. 
In a proverbial sense this probably meant about being stuck in a situation with no way out? 

Bhajana Kara Raamacha, Bharitha kara vaangyaacha

भजन करा  रामाचा , भरीत करा  वांग्याचा 

I love this one. Of course it means, 
" perform bhajan to Shri Raama, and make a Bharith (raitha, bhartha) of vaangi (brinjal)"
True meaning is the concentration that is taken in making the food, and not on the worship. The sublime and the mundane!

Ghante jhaala nau, Anthra (ANTHRUN) chaampa mau

घंटा  झाला नौ , अंथरुण चाम्पा मऊ 

Beautiful proverb meaning, as the time turns 9pm, the bed seems welcoming.
Translation: As the time turn 9pm, the comforter(anthrun) and mat(champa) look soft (and welcoming)
This is used to reprimand someone, who turns to bed when it is barely 9pm, dropping all the work they have to do.

Saaracha raada Angaala chokkot

साराचा  राड़  अंगाला चक्कोट 
Translation; the thick residue of the 'saar' is good for health.
Meaning: while no one likes to eat the thick residue in the 'saar' this saying is used to make the children eat this 'saarach raad'

Pota chirun Meeth bharlaska

पोट  चिरून मीठ भर्लास्का 

Precisely means "Rubbing Salt on a wound"

Bahaar ek kaavla disna

बहार एक कावला दिसना 

Translation is " Not a crow can be seen outside"
Whatever the condition, a national bandh or a bad weather birds are always seen  outside, they know no curfew or bad weather. However, this idiom means the condition is so bad that not even a crow(a bird) can be seen outside., the road or outside was so lonely.

Pot himsa karna

पोट हिंसा करना 

Cooling the stomach? I am guessing this means calming a person who is burning with emotion.
Strangely in TM weddings, after the wedding and entry of the bride into her husband's family, a Saree is given to the bride's mother and this sari was referred to as .." pot himsa karaach lugda" पोट  हिंसा कराच लुगड़ा "
Maybe a token to recognize the mother's feelings as she feels the snap of the apron strings.

Bo Maarna

भो मारना 

Idiom used in anger or irritation. When someone is crying over something repeatedly, the  hearer says this... bho maaruko! ..भो मारुको !

That's all folks for today. I hope I have done a good job of translating these proverbs and idioms. Like I have always mentioned, TM is getting lost and with it we are losing the meaning of all these rich proverbs.  Dear Reader, please do correct any misrepresentations.  Thank you.

Dear Readers

Dear Readers and Members,

I do apologize for my absence from this blog for a while. Due to the Shravan Maas and Bhadrapad maas and the number of festivals, I was unable to concentrate on my blog.
Well, Shravan Maas had the Jivti Puja on Fridays, Lakshmi Narasimha puja on Saturdays, besides the Varmalakshmi, Gokulashtami and Naag Panchami, Naga Chauthi. Adhik Maas was a month of doing good deeds!
And Bhadrapad maas was Hartalika. Swarna Gowri and Ganesh Chaturthi and Jyeshta Gauri.
It has been a busy time. Hope all you readers too had a happy festival season.
Back to blogging again......

TM Words from our Readers......

Our readers have been regularly contributing words that were used by generations of TMDs and which we all seem to have lost or are losing....
This blog post is dedicated to all our readers. May I thank you one and all for your enthusiastic contribution.

Vingal विंगळ .. Burning Charcoal (ember)

Raakh राख ..Ashes

Reshmi रेशमी  Silk

Reshmach Lugda रेशमाच लुगडा  Silk Saree

Dora दोरा  Thread/Yarn

Dorach Lugda दोराच  लुगडा  Cotton Saree

Charante   चरान्टे Coir rope used to draw water from the well

Aad  आड ..Well

Saynde सेंदे  ... Draw (water from the well)

Zaantha जांथा ... Was a circular stone machine for grinding flours.

(This is still used symbolically in our weddings for 'Halkund Thenchna'.)

Varavanta Phaat वरवंटा पहाट ...A slab of stone  with a stone rolling pin used for making chutneys

Rubgund रूब्गुंड ... A two piece Stone contraption used to grind batter for 'idlage' and 'dhirda' (idlis and dosas)

Kondaa कोंडा Husk of Paddy

Bonchane/ Bhoinchane  बोन्चणे /भोइन्चने   Peanuts, (Groundnuts is more precise)

Bharada...like Tandulach Bharada भरडा ... I think this is the grainy texture like idli rava

Kane कणे ...Any cereal like rice , wheat etc. ground to a broken texture.

Ambat Kane आंबट कणे  is made even today for some festivals

Nadvi नडवी ... Verandah  

Will add more.....

More TMD words...from a generation past!

 While we know and understand this world of cell phones and satellites, we are not so well versed with words that were used just one or two generations ago!

We know a microwave but have no clue what a 'sagdi' is! We know a Washing machine but have no clue about what a 'sovlaach khaati' is!

What was 'sovla' ... Well, as far as I understood this concept

Soula was  a custom of maintaining purity when worshiping God or cooking the food. 

The woman or grandmother of the house would take bath and would wear a sari that was hung up near the ceiling with a bamboo stick called 'sovlaach khaati'.

This sari would be untouched by any hands other than hers!

Once she wore this, she would touch nobody in the house and in this hyper purity cook the food for the family on a 'sagdi'

Cooking on the sagdi was a process. It was a stove that had a deep cup, filled with coals.

 The coal would be lit like a barbecue and food cooked on it.  Very very tasty food too!

Anyway, here are just a few of those words which were common in that era!

Bethaach Kursi

बेताच कुर्सी 

Meaning: Bamboo Chair

Sovlaach Khaati

सौव्लाच खाटी 

Meaning: Stick used for Sovla

Sagdi

सगड़ी 

Meaning: Coal stove

Kolasa

कोलसा

Meaning: Coal

Podsi

पोडसी

Meaning: When wearing a nine yard saree with Kaasota, the pleats in front  would be rolled up to form a

packet. Women would keep money etc. in this packet called 'podsi'

Neerey

नीरे

Meaning: Pleats in a sari

Phadar

पदर

Meaning: Part of the sari that hangs over the left shoulder.

Nau Gajaach Lugda

नौ गजाच लुगड़ा

Meaning; Nine yards Sari

Kaant

कांट

border of the sari

Vitaalsi

विटाल्सी

Meaning: A woman in menses

Aachare

आचारे

Meaning: Pujari

Laankda

लांकड़ा

Meaning; Firewood

Unu Paanicha Handa

उनु पानीचा हंडा

Meaning: Container used to heat water for bath

Chool

चूल

Meaning; Stove

Chool Petive

चूल पेटीवे

Meaning : Light the Stove

Of Puran Arathi and Thambit Diva

As mentioned before we, TMDs brought in a fair share of festivals and customs and traditions from our land of origin. Along with these festivals came the peculiar traditions and one such is the Puran Arathi and Thambit Diva.

Puranach Arathi.: 

Puran is made with Chanach Dal and Gul (Chana Dal and Jaggery).( Probably this was made for festival to make puran poli). A little of this  puran was taken to form five tiny diyas. Five cotton wicks soaked in ghee is placed on these diyas.

During the puja, these were lit and arathi was done. This was the puran arathi. In most houses paramount importance was given to this Puranach Arathi and its importance was reiterated to all members. (Most of our customs imported from our place of origin was given special importance . Probably our ancestors feared losing these traditions over generations!

Thambitach Diva:

Unlike arathi, this was 2 diyas lit in front of the Kuldevata.

Thambit was made by mixing rice flour(I think) fresh grated coconut, jaggery and vela(cardamom) . This was made into 2 diyas with the help of a little milk or like in my Mom's house all this was mixed and kept in a plate. Two depressions made to hold the ghee soaked cotton wicks and this diya was lit.

Both Puran and thambit had to be consumed afterward.

The Slight Variation and the Wealth of difference!

As all languages have, TM also has its fair share of similar words, if mispronounced change the whole

meaning.

My daughter was trying to learn kannada and was getting foxed by their "hula", "huli", "holu", "hulli"!

For those of you who do not know kannada....

Hula is Insect

Hulli is Sambar

Holu is the vegetable in the sambar

Huli is tiger

There...... make one mistake and you may end up with an insect in your sambar!

In Thanjavur Marathi, we have a lot of similar sounding words. Here are a four of them....

Saena .... Festival

Sena (also said 'shena') ...Cowdung

Mohra...Mustard Seeds

Mohri.... Drain

Daanth...Teeth

Daansch.... Mosquito

vhela/... seive

vela/... Time

Pests around the house...

 Ever wondered what are the Thanjavur Marathi names for all pests around the house? Well, here

are some of them....

UNDIR... उंदीर  .. Mouse/Rat

VINCHU... विंचू  ... Scorpion

JHURAL.. झुरळ  ... Cockroach

MUNGYA... मुंग्या ... Ant

THAMDA MUNGYA ....थमडा मुंग्या ...Red Ants

KAALA MUNYA.... काळ मुंग्या  ....Black Ants

CHUCHINDRI ... चुचीन्द्री  ..  Shrew

DHENKUNA ... ड़ेंकुना ... BedBug

DAANCHA .... डांच ...Mosquito

MAASHA ... माशा  ...HouseFly

 KIDU ... किडू  ... Insect

ALLI.... अली ..Bee

ALLE  ....   अळे .... Tiny worms found in foodstuff

UDEY.... उदेय ... Termites

PAAL ... पाल ... Lizard

VAND.... वंड ...Beetle

KUMBHAAR KIDU.... कुंभार किडू  ...A Brown insect that jumps with a 'flap-flap' sound.

BARAMAR... बरामर ... Bee

TOLLE .... टोळ.... Cricket

Try your Grocery list in Thanjavur Marathi.....

In continuation to my encouraging more and more TMDs to write your lists in Thanjavur Marathi,
here is a list of grocery items.

Grocery is called...Mahinaach Samaan

Tandool..  ठान्दुल .. Rice

Turich Dal...  तुरीच दाल .. Split Red Lentil

Udidacha Dal.. उडदाच दाल  .. Black Gram Lentil

Moog Dal... मूग दाल .. Green Gram Lentil

Chanach Dal... चणाच दाल .. Split Chick peas

Gahoon....  गहूं ... Wheat

Ghavach Peeth.... घवाच पीठ .. Wheat Flour

Tandalaach Peeth.... तान्दुलाच पीठ ...Rice Flour

Chanach Peeth....  चणाच पीठ .. Gram Flour

Udadaach Peeth.... उडिदाच पीठ ... Black Gram flour

राव.. रवा ..Farina (Tamil word Rave was probably adopted from TMD as Rava is a word for grainy)..

Chinch.... चिंच .. Tamarind

Meeth.... मीठ .. Salt

Vaala Khobra ... वाळा खोब्र .. Dry Coconut

Thamda Mirsingha.... थमडा मिर्सिंघा ..Red Chillies

Mohre.... मोहरे ..Mustard Seeds

Dhane.... धणे ... Coriander Seeds

Methi.... मेथी ..Fenugreek Seeds

Oma.... ओमा ...Caraway Seeds

Jire... जिरे ..Cumin Seeds

Mire... मिरे ..Pepper

Til...तीळ   Sesame Seeds

Saarach Pood.... सारच पूड ..Spice Powder for Rasam

Sambharach Pood... साम्भाराच पूड ..Spice powder for Sambhar

Bhaajich Pood.... भाजीचा पूड ..Spice powder for vegetables

Marathi Masala... मराठी मसाला .. Special Marathi Spice Mix

Laahe... लाहे ..Puffed rice type of grain

Pohe.... पोहे  Beaten Rice

Semia .... सेमिया ...Vermicelli

Saakhar....साखर ..Sugar

Gul.... गूळ ...Jaggery

Shengdana ... शेंगदाणा .. Peanuts

Vela.... वेळा ..Cardamom

Lavanga.... लवंगा .. Clove

Lavanga Patta.... लवंगा पट्टा ..Cinamon Stick

Badaam..... बादाम ..Almonds

Bibbe.... बिब्बे ..Cashew

Draakshe.... द्राक्षे ..Raisins

Doodh.... दूध...Milk

Dahin.... दहीं... Yogurt

Thoop.... तूप ..Ghee/Clarified Butter

Loni ... लोणी ..Butter

Chakot Thel ... चकोट तेल .. Til/Sesame Oil 

Khobraach Thel .. खोब्राच तेल ... Coconut Oil

Rave Thel and Maida seem to span across many languages and are not unique to TM


I think I have covered most of it. If I have missed anything, dear Readers, please add them. Thank you.

TMD Popular Food Combinations.

For a TMD nothing can be more popular than good ambat bhaji had with phodni and kaathrecha 

mirsinga! Aha!  Over time, perhaps due to a yearning for the land we had come away from, the TMDs 

took Food combinations to a level of ....dare I say it! Here are some of the ones I grew up with ....

I hope readers come out with a few of their own!

Ambat Bhaji with Phodni and Kaathrecha Mirsinga

Well, for the TMDs this mouthwatering combination has no equal in culinary history!

Waran Bhath with Thoop

This simple combination of hot rice, homemade ghee(thoop)  mixed with soft cooked Turi dal boiled 

with haldi and with a hint of phodni is a great 'Comfort Food' . When feeling low, getting over 

sickness, when upset try this and you will feel the warmth of your mother's love in this simple food!

Saar Bhath

I call this another 'Comfort Food' . Saar by itself is a great South Indian delicacy. Saar bhath for 

TMDs is a basic. It is so basic that "kheer poli nahithrina, saar bhath " "खीर पोळी नही 

तहरहीन सार भाथ" is popularly used to describe this simple food in comparison with rich food like

kheer poli.

Thoop Meeth Bhath

A baby food that is enjoyed by all adults at all times! Just hot rice mixed with homemade ghee and

salt and mixed very well!

Kheer Poli

As mentioned before this is the opposite of Saar bhath. While saar bhath is everyday food, kheer poli

graces special occasions.  It is made on sanach divas, festival days., special puja days.

Perhaps, this is one more tradition we carried from our origins! The tradition of making Kheer Poli.

This is in total contrast to the Tamils, whom we emulate in language, due to living with them for so long!

Tamilians make "vadai payasam" whereas we never make "vadai and payasam combination

except on inauspicious days!

PURAN POLI..A special mention.

 All over Maharashtra making puran polis for festivals is important, so it is for us.

For festivals, Puran poli is very often made and enjoyed with ghee or milk or just plain!

Goddu Saar with Roasted pappad

This used to be a popular combination when one has had a heavy lunch outside, maybe a wedding or so 

and dinner is at home. This existed in the days before a refrigerator became a household name and 

keeping food in the frig and having the next day was unknown!

So it was unwise to make a full evening meal and have to deal with leftovers, that is when this combo 

of  Godde Saar with bhaajalthe pappad became popular! This combination is I think lost by the advent 

of the refrigerator and Take Out meals!

Kadhi Ambode

This is even today made during festival days. Kadhi is made in combination with Ambode

and the ambode is soaked in the khadi and had. 

This Ambode, soaked in Kadhi has no equal in taste! It is also called Korada Ambode.

Pitla with fried oil and fried pappad.

Strange? Well, strange it may sound but tasty it is! This typical TMD dish pitla is had with

thallathe thel and thallathe pappad! 

From Trees to Fruits and finally to Tastes!

As I go on admiring our ancestors' zeal in preserving our language so far away from our mainland,

I chew on and examine the some words we use which probably is still used in Standard Mararthi.

Here I examine the words we so commonly used for trees going on to its parts and ending with the

taste of its fruits. Hope all you readers find this as interesting as I do!

Jhaad.. झाड for Tree

Vel .. वेल for Creeper

Jhudpa ..झुड्पा  for Bush

Gavat .. गवत for Grass

Paanta ..पांटा for Branch

 Kaadi ..काडी for Twigs

Paan... पान for Leaf

Phula...फुला for Flower

Pandu ..पंडू for Fruit

Saalpat ..सालपट  for Skin of Fruit

Magass ..  मगस for flesh of the Fruit

Bihin ..भिं for Seed

Paankoli ..पांकोली for Segment of Fruit

Ras.  .रस for Juice

Magass ..  मगस for flesh of the Fruit

Naar ... नार for Fibre ( was this derived from Tamil? I wonder!)

Koula ...कौला for Tender (fruit or vegetable)

Nibbar .. निब्बर for Stringy and tough (vegetables)

Kayi ... कायी for Raw (Under ripe)

Pikalthe... पिक्लथे for Ripened.

Now Tastes!

Khaarat.. खारट ..Salty

Ambat... अंबट..Sour

Gulcheet .. गुलचीट ..Sweet  (This is peculiar to only TMD . Standard Marathi uses Goad or Meetha.)

 Probably derived from "Gul" which is sweet. So "Gulchi" was made of Gul !)

Thurat.. तुरट .. Astringent  ( Like Jhaambla (  झाम्बला) and even pomegranate is Thurat astringent)

Thikhat .. तिखट ..Spicy

Kadu... कडू ..Bitter

Sappak ... सप्पक ..Tasting Bland

and finally this is the mild allergic reaction that occurs with eating of certain fruits and vegetables...

Khavatha ... खवता ... causing itchiness in throat and mouth. Some vegetables like elephant yam can

cause khavna in throat.

Making a Ganapathi/ganesh Idol with clay.....

 TMDs always celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi with great pomp and splendor. Why not, after all Ganapathi

with his huge ears and long trunk is the in the form of a favorite animal...Elephant! Ganapathi in every

TMD home is a favorite visitor, loving modak and laadoos!

Another factor that adds interest to this festival is the buying of a new clay idol each year;

we bring him home with a 'mangalaarathi' and seat him in the 'devghar'. With equal fanfare is he also

sent away at the end of the puja. With bells ringing, we take him outside to do the 'visarjan'.

Here, in USA and other places out of India, we find it difficult to find an idol of clay that we can

do'visarjan' also. My solution to this has been make my own tiny clay Ganesha and do the visarjan.

Here is the method....

Here's how to make Ganesha from clay.

YOU WILL NEED:

1) Please buy clay making sure it is soft and mouldable. Amaco is good so are a few others....but do

ask to open the pack and check that it is soft....

2) Wooden skewers will be required..or chopsticks. Also a  few toothpicks. 2 aritificial flowers

Some decorative beads, zari, glitters etc.

3) Next spread a plastic sheet on a large working area.

Have ready  the 'phaat' on which you will place Ganesha.

4) Now you are all set to start....

METHOD:

Take some clay, knead it a little and shape like a rectangle. this is the clay 'phaat', your Ganesha will

sit on.

Place this on the wooden plank (or whatever phaat) you have ready.

 LOWER BODY: Next, take enough clay to make a ball shape in the size of a tennis ball.

Knead this a little so it is easy to shape.

Now make a round ball out of this and place on the clay rectangle.

UPPER BODY/TORSO: Now repeat the above process ONLY THE SIZE of the ball should be about

half or 3/4 the size of the first ball  you just made.

UPPER AND LOWER BODY : Place this second ball on the first one and with slightly wet fingers,

shape like the torso (upper body) of Ganesha. While doing this shape you will be JOINING the

two rounds together to form a upper and lower body of Ganesha.

Lower body will be a liitle bigger than upper body with a big stomach. If stomach looks too small

add patches of clay and make it protrude. All the while shape with moist fingers, so that no cracks

are visible.

LEGS:

Take enough clay and make two thick legs and feet. The upper leg /thigh shd be thick enough in

symmetry to the body of Ganesha.

Attach the legs to the back of Ganesha and once again mould with wet fingers. At the back, in the

center of where u attached the two legs, add a strip of clay like a 'kaccha' You would have placed

the legs like"sitting like Ganesha'.' Ganeshaaska baslaahe' गणेशास्का बस्लाहे

HANDS:

make two long shapes to shape the hands. Attach the thicker part of the hands to the top of the

second ball( the torso) on both sides..

Bring the hands to the front and and attach the upper part of the arms to the body of Ganesha.

The lower part of the arm will stand alone  (attached at the upper arm). \

SHAPE PALMS:

Shape the palm...one in a blessing posture and the other holding a laadoo or modak.

TRUNK AND HEAD:

Take clay about enough for a little bigger than tennis ball. Knead very well.

Make a round slightly longish in front

Now start shaping a short trunk to the face.

Shape ears.

Now with wet fingers, smooth the shape you have made.

ATTACHING HEAD:

Poke the skewer on to the body of Ganesha on top of the upper body. this will be on top of

where you have attached both the hands.

Place the head on to the skewer. (Make sure ur skewr is cut to the right size...it should not peek out!)

With wet fingers ease out and shape the attached neck..so no lines are visible.and it looks one piece.

TWO MORE HANDS:

Cut a skewer to 1/3. Shape the second pair of hands...just a short longish roll and poke the skewer

on the thicker part of the hands and attach with the skewer to the back of the upper body(in the back)

Repeat on other side.

Place the artificial flower in each hand.

TUSKS:

Snip off apiece of toothpick and roll some clay around and poke and place as tusks on both sides.

SNAKE:

Be sure to shape a long long snake and tie around Ganesha's waist.

CROWN:

Shape any type of crown...

MOUSE:

Shape a body, pointy face, 4 legs, and a tail!

EYES:

Place two clay dots and two lines as eyebrows..and paint black after a little dry.

Decorate Ganesha with clay or decorative beads, zari etc.   bangles, earrings, painjan, decorate his

trunk and crown or even with just a toothpick.

Add a paper panche and anga vastra. do all this while clay is still wet.

After puja,  Ganesha comes alive, you feel He is smiling!