UNLTD. PEOPLE | ENTERTAINMENT | CULTURE | EVENTS | TRAVEL
September 1, 2014
TRAVEL
Trekking
with the lost Incas
FEATURED
Like Deity Like Devotee
YOGA LOGIK
FOLK ROCKING THE CHARTS
How similar are you to Bappa?
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COVER STORY
EDITOR’S NOTE
Ganpati Bappa Moraya!
T
The festive season is officially ‘ON’! Ganeshotsav is the one festival closest to all Punekars’ heart and not just because it began here. There’s a lot to love about it, but of late, it’s also become a bit of a sore point for various urban reasons.
“We attempt to present our case for these points strongly through various stories in this issue. We highlight how eco-Ganapati can be really celebrated and how it would have long-term benefits for the environment, our city and its residents.” @adityakuber
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Editor-in-Chief Aditya Kuber
Editors Veethi Telang Apeksha Bhagchandani
Contributors Vedvrat Shikarpur Sneha Johari Sharan Garcha
Design
Prasanta Kundu Maddy Kulkarni Sanjali Manekar
One, the traffic jams it causes. There’s a massive growth in the city’s traffic and you would be forgiven for being late for most appointments. But there seems to be no resolution to this problem. Neither the authorities nor the revelers seem to be in a mood to figure out a solution. Perhaps because the problem lasts on 10 days (or 11 at most). Nevertheless, we feel that with a growing city, there needs to be a way that there is an amicable solution found. Two, the pollution that is a result of this festival. Noise, air and water pollution are the unfortunate outcome of 10 days of celebration. While the civic authorities have taken steps over the past decade to reduce the water pollution, and it has shown some results, more needs to be done by citizens themselves. Why take your idols to the river or lakes to immerse? After caring for them for 10 days, you are okay to put them in a waste pit? Instead, opt for eco-friendly idols and immerse them in your own backyard. All the goodwill you yearn and work for shall stay with you. Air and noise pollution are inter-connected. Large generators powering the light and sound cause much distress to residents around such pandals. And the music blaring makes it worse. Especially in hospitals and quiet zones. Why can’t we self-police to ensure that we don’t make a nuisance of the festival? It would also help if item numbers weren’t played, but that’s a whole different problem altogether! In addition, there are more problems that do arise, but these stand out. If these are addressed by the authorities and citizens, there’s no reason why Ganeshotsav won’t be a glorious festival for all. We attempt to present our case for these points strongly through various stories in this issue. We highlight how eco-Ganapati can be really celebrated and how it would have long-term benefits for the environment, our city and its residents. These are simple steps. And we should all be able to follow them. May the God of wisdom grant us the wisdom to do so!
Marketing Anish Sohoni Rekha Achtani
Aditya Kuber
Publisher
Media Sphere Communications Pvt. Ltd. www.mediasphere.co.in facebook.com/Puneunltd
Cover Photo: Arka Mukhopadhyay
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IN THIS ISSUE
September 1, 2014
LIVE
06 A ‘hatke’
PUNE EXPRESS
Ganeshotsav
08 Folk Rocking ENTERTAINMENT
the Charts
Yoga Logik is an Austrian/ Indian band that melts Indian classical and folk with western contemporary music into their unique style. Most lyrics are based on poems by Sufi saints like Sant Kabir and Amir Khusro. I caught up with their Punebased band member Vineet Alurkar for a quick chat!
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07
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#ACTPUNE
INSTAPUNE
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Capturing the soul of Pune on Instagram
Along with keeping the spirit of the Ganesh festival intact, one also needs to spare a thought for our city and the nature. Celebrating the festival in an eco-friendly way can help avoid adverse effects on the environment. Here’s how!
PHOTO FEATURE Showcasing awesome work of Puneri shutterbugs
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‘Eco’operation: Ganeshotsav
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16
GO
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TRAVEL
Trekking with the lost Incas
16 Like Deity COVER STORY
Diabetes tour organised by Sanofi Diabetes and the World Diabetes Tour took 12 diabetics over the world with the help of 3 doctors and guides for a 5-day trek to Machu Picchu in July this year to spread awareness about the disease. Eshaan Shevate was the only Indian (read: Punekar) to scale it with them…
Like Devotee Punekars are so much like their favourite deity! On occasion of Ganeshotsav, here’s a special story on the various similarities between us Punekars and our beloved Lord Ganesha. Read up on!
PLAY
SPECIAL FEATURE The Other Side of Budhwar Peth
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Punekars are so much like their favourite deity! On occasion of Ganeshotsav, here’s a special story on the various similarities between us Punekars and our beloved Lord Ganesha. Read up on!
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SCOR’D
34
Reviewing all you can watch, read and eat in Pune.
EVENTS
28
These are set to rock Pune for the next 2 weeks.
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PUNE EXPRESS
A ‘hatke’ Ganeshotsav! As the city gets drenched in the festivities, we asked a few Punekars on what they do to celebrate Ganeshotsav in a different manner. Is there anything special you plan to do this year? Drop in a mail to us! For now, read up on!
Aashi Mehra
Riddhima Sethi
Freelancer
Beauty Salon Owner
Oh, it’s such fun during Ganeshotsav! All my friends come to my house for Ganpati aarti every evening and we have a gala time. It’s such a great opportunity for us to meet and hang out with each other. Work keeps us very occupied, and these 10 days are surely a blessing!
Every year, my society organises a grand Ganpati event. They set up a mandal specially for the residents and we go for aarti every evening. This time, I took charge of the events, plays and games in my society. I also involved other families’ kids to take part in them. It’s great fun to watch them perform on the stage!
Pankaj Chougule
Manasi Deshpande
Business Analyst
Lawyer
I have been in the IT sector for about three years now. Ever since I started earning, I have made it a point to buy my parents a gift every Ganeshotsav. It’s such a warm feeling when you see them happy because of you. I plan to do it for the rest of my life!
Although I wear Indian outfits every now and then, I make it a point to wear only traditional clothes for these 10 days. I know it may not really mean much to others, but it’s part of my celebrations during Ganesh Chaturthi. I plan my outfits a day in advance and look forward to this welcome change each year!
Koyal Patwardhan
5. Sushrut Kulkarni
HR Manager
Student
My mother and me are very fond of cooking and in the past couple of years, I’ve gotten deeper into the art. During Ganeshotsav, I make a special dish for friends and family every evening. It’s a lovely feeling to put in some effort for my dear ones and especially when they appreciate and love the dishes!
I visit one Mandal everyday of these auspicious 10 days! It’s so much fun to do this with friends. We make an evening of it. It includes long walks, cycle rides, some great food, clicking pictures and last but not the least, heartfelt prayers and blessings. Sometimes, my parents join us too! I look forward to doing this every year.
We would love to know your views on the topic.
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Write to us at hello@puneunltd.com
Atul Argade IT Professional Both sets of my grandparents come visit from Mumbai and stay with us for a week during Ganeshotsav. And, because they are here, a number of my relatives come visit us everyday! It’s such a festive few days. Our home is filled with my cousins, aunts and uncles and kids. It’s a wonderful feeling, this bond our family shares.
Kritika Oza Painter I love art. Period. And, every Ganeshotsav, I ensure I paint a new Ganpati idol in the small mandir of my house. For example, this time, I painted a resting Ganpati portrait on the wall of my mandir. Since I’m a painter, my friends look forward to the painting and come to visit me every year.
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FOLK ROCKING THE CHARTS Yoga Logik is an Austrian/Indian band that melts Indian classical and folk with western contemporary music into their unique style. Most lyrics are based on poems by Sufi saints like Sant Kabir and Amir Khusro. I caught up with their Pune-based band member Vineet Alurkar for a quick chat! Apeksha Bhagchandani
AB: What is Folk Rock? VA: It is a very open term to interpret but the basic mean-
ing of the genre is simple really. Folk music is music of any given land and we mustn’t confuse it with classical music. Classical music is derived music; something that is learnt and has evolved. Add a dash of rock elements to the Folk Rock genre and you’ll get Folk Rock.
AB: Take me back to when it all started.. VA:
It all started when one of our members, acclaimed Western Classical and Jazz musician Wolfgang Sambs and Bernard Schimpelsberger came to Pune. They were invited by Suresh Talwarkar to learn more about Indian rhythms and tabla bols. Bernard is one of the very few students of Trilok Gurtu. I was with the band ‘The Blackbirds’ at the time. I caught up with them and invited them over to my place for a jam session. We had a fabulous time! They were
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to leave in 4 days but we decided to get together again whenever we got a chance next. That’s the gist of how Yoga Logik was formed. Our first-ever performance was in ABC Farms, at a place called Soul. That was in the year 2006. We
ENTERTAINMENT
received a great response and our music was much appreciated. Today, the band comprises Martin Berauer, Wolfgang Sambs, Sebastian Weiss, Michael Leibetseder, Bhupal Limaye and myself.
AB: How did you come up with the name Yoga Logik? VA:
I know this probably sounds clichéd but we really wanted the name to represent what our music is all about. I was playing around with words one day and came up with Yoga Logik. Whenever one thinks of Yoga, the word is immediately connected with India. And, in German, the word ‘Logic’ is spelt as ‘Logik’. So, we like the name and it just stuck.
AB: Which bands do you follow? VA: The band that influenced me the most as a teenager/
young adult was The Beetles. I don’t think I’d have been a musician had I not heard and followed them at the time. Other than that, it has to be Bob Dylan and Gulam Ali.
AB: What do you fear the most during a performance? VA: I don’t really fear anything. Yes, I get wary of people
socialising while we are performing. I’m a little sensitive to that.
AB: What do you love most during a performance? VA:
You know, everyone says that one must live in the moment and that’s far from as easy as it sounds. But, during a performance, due to the sheer energy and positivity, we have to do just that. While I’m performing, I cannot be thinking of the past or the future. It’s the most fantastic feeling. I don’t think any other feeling can be compared to it. You’re one with yourself in those moments. Music forces you to be so. It’s beyond anything one can experience in daily lives. Pure ecstasy!
AB: Describe your personality.. VA:
I am extremely instinctive and usually go by my gut
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feelings. I don’t think too much and go with my core beliefs. I do get introspective but that comes later.
AB: What’s next for you? VA: None of us have made any long-term plans. We consciously make an effort to not give it our all. None of us wants that kind of pressure and we don’t to disturb our personal commitments. We take 6 months at a time and see how things go. Yes, we do make tentative plans; for example, we plan to undergo a studio recording in August next year in a beautiful wine-production county in Australia. But, like I said, they’re just plans. We’ll see where they take us.
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COVER STORY
‘Eco’operation: Ganeshotsav Sharan Garcha
Photo: Rajesh Pamnani Used under Creative Commons License
I
It is that time of the year again when Pune is at its peak of frenzy! Everyone eagerly waits for bringing home their Ganesha idols and decorating it and celebrating the festival with great enthusiasm. But, what we usually forget, amidst the festivities, is that there is a serious impact of this festival on the environment. There was a time when idols were made out of earthen mud and after worshipping them, they were returned back to earth by immersing it in a nearby water body representing the cycle of creation and dissolution in nature. But now, the commercialisation of Ganesha idols has added to the miseries of the environment. The idols made out of Plaster of Paris (PoP), an unnatural material, contain gypsum, sulphur, phosphorus and magnesium. The idols take several months to dissolve in water and in the process poison the water body. Also, the paint used to colour these idols contain high toxic elements and chemicals like mercury and calcium, which further adversely affect the water bodies. We can’t stop buying Ganesha idols but we can be a little more responsible while purchasing them. Immersing PoP idols of Lord Ganesha and dumping puja materials in nearby
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Along with keeping the spirit of the Ganesh festival intact, one also needs to spare a thought for our city and the nature. Celebrating the festival in an eco-friendly way can help avoid adverse effects on the environment. Here’s how!
lakes and rivers are ways to spoil the nature's ecosystem. As we celebrate Ganeshotsav, we often forget how small things we do during the festival can cause harm to the environment. We believe it's time for some eco-consciousness and so, here are some simple ways to celebrate Ganeshotsav in an eco-friendly way:
Use eco-friendly idols Say no to Ganesha idols made of chemicals, PoP, plastic and thermocol and opt for natural and biodegradable materials like clay and papier-mâché instead. Biodegradable materials do not pollute the water body or its surroundings after immersion.
Conserve energy We all love little fairy lights and bright incandescent bulbs. But they are a waste of energy and expensive too. Replace these with compact fluorescent lights (CFL) as they save
#ACTPUNE electricity and your money. You could wrap coloured transparent papers that will lend a festive look.
Use natural colours for rangoli Use biodegradable colours such as turmeric, henna, rice powder, coloured dal and gulaal to make rangoli. These colours are eco-friendly and safe. Also, say no to decorations made of plastic and non-degradable material.
Say no to noise pollution Avoid playing loud music which can cause disturbance in your society. Try playing instruments that are soft and soothing. Loudspeakers create noise pollution and can annoy neighbours as well as people in hospitals and schools. Make sure to turn off the music by 10 pm and abide by the rules. Say no to crackers as well!
Ban plastic There is a lot of delicious food served at home during Ganapati as well as fruits and sweets offered at pandals. Skip plastic and serve food in natural plates such as banana leaves instead. You can use cloth bags to carry prasad and other offerings as they can be reused later.
Artificial immersion tank Using natural water bodies to immerse Ganesha idols can cause health hazards and is bad for the environment. Use an artificial immersion tank to immerse the idol and request your community members to do the same. You can
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even immerse the idol in a tub/large bucket in your home. As a step towards restoring our environment, the citizens of Pune are making a conscious effort to go eco-friendly: Green Ok Please, founded by Rashi Goel and Shweta Foulger, duals as an e-store and a green educational platform. They source all natural and eco-friendly products and use social media as a major platform to share their thoughts and beliefs. Through their ‘Green Ganapati’, they make their customers aware of the advantages of the green initiative and what they do as a whole to bring about a change for the same. Rashi shares how we can celebrate this Ganeshotsav in an eco-friendly manner. “In order to help bring back the old tradition by buying or asking shop-owners for natural clay idols that are painted with natural colours (organic or vegetable dyes), we sell natural clay and papier-mâché idols made by a growing network of sculptors from various parts of India and by mentally and physically challenged youth and adults. This project helps them all earn an income. For decorations, say no to thermocol, plastic and other non-biodegradable materials. If they don’t end up in water bodies, they lie in landfills for hundreds of years. Instead, use wood, paper, cloth and other natural materials for decorations. You can buy eco-friendly decorations from Green Ok Please too. Also, flower offerings could be collected and placed in a compost pit. They would be a natural fertilizer for your garden. If you must immerse them, use newspapers to wrap them instead of plastic bags.” To encourage eco-friendly initiatives among schoolchildren
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COVER STORY
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Photo: Nitesh Bhatia Used under Creative Commons License
#ACTPUNE of their society, Jayshree Shreeram along with a few other homemakers got together to have an activity for the children. “As I always made my Ganesha idols at home with fresh clay, I thought this might be a good idea to teach kids how to make their own idols as they’d have fun and it would let them create something of their own. It also provides a platform for children to exhibit their talent as well as create awareness on eco-friendly Ganesha idols. We have been doing this for the last two years now and the kids look forward to the activity. There are a few specific models that we have but let the children decide what they want to make.
Here are the steps to make your own Ganpati:
Ganesh Chaturthi is an ideal opportunity for parents to teach their kids how to celebrate festivals in an environmentally friendly way. Many families now choose to reuse metal or stone idols in their Ganesh Chaturthi rituals, or submerge environmentally friendly idols in specially constructed tanks or buckets of water at home. Everyone benefits from these respectful, modern adjustments!” Nothing can beat the satisfaction of creating your own ecofriendly idol for one of the most-awaited and loved festivals of the city — Ganeshotsav. A few basic things that you'd require would be a block or lump of fresh, moldable, natural and clean clay, a small metal ruler to cut and shape the base of the idol, a couple of wooden barbecue sticks for detailing, a sponge for smoothening and a little water.
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* Step 1: Begin by making the base of your idol. Use a metal ruler to smoothen the edges. * Step 2: Now, take a golf ball-sized lump of clay and shape the torso of your idol. Make it sit on your clay platform by using a drop of water as glue to hold it in place. * Step 3: Make two cylinders of clay and shape them in the form of legs. Stick them onto the torso of the idol. * Step 4: Make a side pillow by shaping a cylinder and placing it on one side. Make the arms of the idol and let one rest on the side pillow. * Step 5: Next, take a small lump of clay and shape the head and the trunk of the Elephant God. Stick it on the torso. Add a small modak on the idol’s hand. * Step 6: Make the large ears of the idol and stick them on with a little water. Finally, add the small details with the help of a toothpick or a wooden barbecue stick.
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TREKKING WITH
The Type-1 Diabetes tour organised by Sanofi Diabetes and the World Diabetes Tour took 12 diabetics over the world with the help of 3 doctors and guides for a 5-day trek to Machu Picchu in July this year to spread awareness about the disease. Eshaan Shevate was the only Indian (read: Punekar) to scale it with them…
“A journey beyond words and an experience to cherish for life,” is how Eshaan Shevate, a 19 –year-old Punekar describes his trek to Machu Picchu. However, not many know that he is a diabetic, a type-1 diabetic specifically. Diagnosed at an early age of 12, Eshaan was taking insulin injections to manage his diabetes until 4 years ago, when he was given an insulin pump by Diabetes Care Research Foundation, a Pune-based diabetes organisation. The Type-1 Diabetes tour organised by Sanofi Diabetes and the World Diabetes Tour took 12 diabetics over the world with the help of 3 doctors and guides for a 5-day trek to Machu Picchu in July this year to spread awareness about the disease. The Machu Picchu (pronounced Machu Pik-chu) is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World - a 15th century Inca site in Peru, South America, situated on the ridge of a mountain above the Sacred Valley. Before Eshaan Shevate was selected for this trek from India, he had to undergo intense physical training for 2 to 3 months. In order to get fit for the trek, Eshaan ran, jogged, swam, cycled and exercised in the gym to build his stamina and increase his breathing capacity in order to walk ~20 kms a day. To sustain that height combined with a low oxygen level and the strength to carry their haversacks was a part of the challenge.
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It was natural then, that he was both scared and excited. We spoke with Eshaan to cover this trek and understand the highs and lows of scaling the lovely but harsh Incan site located 2430 metres above the sea level. “This was my first time travelling abroad. Naturally, I was a little apprehensive but my co-trekkers were very friendly and doted on me because I was the youngest in the group. Lima also turned out to be a very cosmopolitan city, not very different from Indian cities,” says Eshaan. In order to get acclimatised to the temperature, Eshaan and the group went to Cusco city 3 days before the actual trek. Cusco is elevated at 3400 metres above sea level and the oxygen level is lower than that at the ground level.
20 July, Day 1: Cusco: 3400 m “We had to trek uphill for 16-17 kms on the first day. This was especially tricky since the roads leading up were narrow and we had to walk carefully in order to balance ourselves,” says Eshaan. Two people cannot walk side by side. “We reached the starting point at around 8:30 am and during our walk on the first day, all of us had breathing problems (due to low oxygen level) and experienced fatigue. We were told to go slow and take as many stops as needed because the second day would prove to be a challenge,” he recollects. “I took a normal dose of insulin in the morning which was actually suited for a sedentary day. My blood sugar went down and I had to stop to eat some energy bars to bring my blood sugar level back to normal,” he adds. After completing the day’s trek, Eshaan and co. stopped at a camp close to the Salkantay Mountain from where tributaries of the Amazon River flowed. “It was cold and it was raining!”,
THE LOST INCAS
TRAVEL
Sneha Johari
he said. But Eshaan had successfully completed day 1.
21 July, Day 2: Salkantay pass: 4630 m “This was the hardest pass in the entire trek,” says Eshaan, “We had to cross this pass to go to a lower altitude of 3000 metres before it got too dark. We were walking in a line when we heard a loud thundering sound.” There was an avalanche ahead of them. Thankfully not in their path, the team trotted along the snow-clad area. There were landslides and the remnants, i.e. stones and gravel had fallen on the road making the path slippery and dangerous. “The valley on the other side was 150-160 feet deep. Had we fainted or slipped, there’s no saying what could’ve happened!”, he says. Despite these harsh conditions, the group managed to cover 23 kms in 9-10 hours. “We could see the mountain behind us and we were at the highest point then. That was a joyous moment for all of us! We hugged each other, cried and took a lot of pictures”, quips Eshaan. The tough pass was done and now the mountain was coming to the Mohammed!
22 July, Day 3: Rest Day “This was actually a ‘rest day’ for us. We were going to trek for only 14 kms on the third day. All of us got the much-needed sleep and rest after a hectic second day,” he says. “I got a small blister in my foot. I bandaged my fingers and toes immediately to prevent blisters and the cuts that follow thereafter.” After reaching the ground, the group played football and celebrated the fact that half their trek was now accomplished!
23 July, Day 4: 27kms and going On Day 4, the trekkers were given an option of either taking a bus to the campsite or trekking all the way. The group split up into trekkers and bus-goers. Eshaan, the adventurer, chose the former bearing in mind that he had to walk for 27 kms! Despite three days of trekking up the mountain, they had not covered such a huge distance previously. After reaching uphill, Eshaan saw the remains of the structure built by the Incas for noble people. The group passed through a tropical forest to get there and were able to see the back side of the Machu Picchu structures. “This sight encouraged us tremendously. I wondered how beau-
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tiful it would look at the structures up front if it was so beautiful from a distance!”, Eshaan’s voice rings in excitement. From there, the group had to go downhill after going uphill for 9 kms and were understandably tired. “We reached a hydroelectric point near the foot of the hills where a huge waterfall refreshed us with its water spray more than 300 metres away!”, Eshaan recollects. They were now near the checkpoints beneath the Machu Picchu and had another 12 kms to go along the railway route. This railway takes many tourists up the Machu Picchu every year. The group bid goodbye to their porters here but were accompanied by two guides. “This was the easy part so all of us (reunited with the other half of the group) walked at our own paces.” After a long and arduous walk of ~80 kms, the desire of wanting to just sleep overcame Eshaan’s desire to eat and he went to bed without dinner. Waking up at 1:30am, he realised that his blood sugar was below 50 and this was cause for alarm. He did not panic. He remedied the situation by eating sugar and his food, let the blood sugar come to a normal range and went back to bed. There was another day to climb the peak!
24 July, Day 5: Behold Machu Picchu The group took a bus to the base of the Wayna Picchu Mountain which has trails built by the Incas coming up from its side. Wayna Picchu is actually 360 metres higher than Machu Picchu, not to forget its sharp peaks. There was a steep valley in the climb and one could not afford slipping here. “We would see this valley again during our descent but we were ecstatic about having scaled the Wayna Picchu! All of us were afraid and it took us a long time for us to scale down but it was done successfully,” says Eshaan. It was the joy of completing the trek which all the team members felt. They did not face any problems and the best part was that nobody got hurt. “We took group photos and basically freaked out after the trek! We had a dinner party to celebrate our success and could not wait to share this experience with our family and friends,” Eshaan beams. The encouragement from his doctor, his team members and his own resolve had kept him warm during the long walks of Machu Picchu. These steely diabetics had turned out to be fitter than the rest of the non-diabetic population!
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Photo: Arka Mukhopadhyay
Like Deity Like Devotee
Ganapati is Pune’s favourite deity and my inquisitive mind asked, ‘why’? There were reasons like ‘the Peshwas, Pune’s administrators, worshipped the deity’ to others like, ‘Pune had various temples dedicated to the God and most Ashtavinayakas are located in Pune district or close to it’. However, those answers did not suffice my quest for information. And then, a crazy thought entered my mind; Punekars are so much like their favourite deity! On occasion of Ganeshotsav, here’s a special story on the various similarities between us Punekars and our beloved Lord Ganesha. Read up on! Vedvrat Shikarpur
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COVER STORY
Bigtime Foodies Ganesha’s love for the modaks is legendary and so is a Punekar’s love for a wide array of Maharashtrian dishes. And, we have a huge appetite, don’t we? Much like our God. According to a mythological story, Kubera, treasurer of the Gods, went to Mount Kailash to invite Shiva to his city Alakapuri, to show off his wealth. Shiva
explained his inability to visit but promised Kubera his son Ganesha would visit in his stead. He also warned Kubera of his son’s appetite, which Kubera casually dismissed. On the day of the feast, Ganesha arrived and began devouring everything that was put in front of him. Soon, all the food in Alakapuri was over, and Ganesha began eating the decorations too, warning Kubera, “If you do not give me something to eat, I’ll eat
Photo: Arun Prabhu Used under Creative Commons License
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COVER STORY you as well.” A frightened Kubera ran to Shiva for help, and was given some roasted rice. Kubera doubted it would satiate the lord’s appetite, to which Shiva replied, “If offered with humility and love, even a handful of roasted rice will suffice.” Punekars are quite like Ganesha in this aspect. We may embrace biryanis, shawarmas, tandooris, noodles, nachos, quesadillas, bruschettas and other dishes with tongue twisters for names. But, in the end, we love the ‘gharatla jevan’ (homemade food). So it’s no wonder that the best food is always homemade, prepared by our loving mom or grandma. No matter how spicy, tangy or tasty outside food is, puran poli, waran bhat tup mith limbu, dahi bhat, kadhi khichdi, sabudana khichdi, pithla bhakri, shrikhanda/amrakhanda puri, the various bhaajis (vegetables, not to be mixed with kanda bhaji), pohe (and not poha as most pronounce it) and other homemade dishes remain our favourite. Most of the dishes I just mentioned are also prepared during Ganesh Chaturthi, and offered as naivaidya to the lord along with his favourite, modaks!
Wise Beings Ganesha is the ‘God of Wisdom’ and Punekars love this attribute of him, and themselves. More than intelligence, it is important to be wise, for only the wise can think of smart ways to deal with their problems. As another mythological story goes, Ganesha and his brother Kartikeya challenge each other to complete a pradakshina or an orbit of the world. The confident Kartikeya was sure of his win, for the rat (Ganesha’s vahana) was no match to his peacock when it came to speed. While Kartikeya got a head start and went about his journey, Ganesha calmly walked a full circle around his parents. When Kartikeya completed his journey and came back, he was aghast to see Ganesha there. When he asked if his brother had completed the challenge, Ganesha explained how ‘the world is contained within Lord Shiva’ and also stating ‘that parents are the world to a child’. Kartikeya was displeased and asked his parents to be the judge. Their mother Parvati agreed with Ganesha and left her younger son enraged.
Photo : Gopal Sardeshpande
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Photo: Arka Mukhopadhyay
COVER STORY The episode shares an important message, ‘shakti peksha yukti shreshtha’ (ideas overpower physical strength).
Vighnahartas (Problem Solvers)
Mhatre Bridge, their answer will be the same. They’ll point in a particular direction and say, “ithun saral”. To know your road further, you’re expected to bother the next Punekar you meet. Annoying it may be, but you definitely won’t be lost or confused! Ganapati is much like the second Punekars. Pray to him for help and he won’t take you by the hand to your desired destination, but he will definitely point you in the right direction. Hence, while singing the aarti to the lord, we use the words, ‘Sankati pavave’ (not Sankashti pavave) to convey the lord to be with us when we’re in trouble.
Prosperity over richness
Photo: Krystian “Krane” Schneidewind Used under Creative Commons License
Although, we cannot really attribute Punekars to be ‘the destroyer of Obstacles’ like Ganesha, we can be helpful. Punekars take pride in themselves and are happy to give suggestions and solutions to people, regardless of whether they asked for it. However, there’s one quality about Punekars that can go against this statement; our inability to give directions properly! But as I have come to understand; there are two types of Punekars:
Punekars are not really known to show-off money. That’s something people from Delhi and Mumbai are known for (yea, yea, stereotypes. Well, whatever!). Nor are we seen chasing money and trying to be rich without thinking of the consequences of our actions. Go to the busiest shopping destinations of the city, and the Punekar will promptly close shop in the afternoon, to enjoy his siesta or afternoon nap! Puneri shopkeepers will rarely be seen handing out discounts (and Puneri women will never settle unless they get some. It’s an epic battle!). The shopkeepers will seldom resort to deceiving advertising to bring in more customers. Riches may be lost in a while but prosperity stays with you forever. Punekars focus on quality of work and are extremely particular of the way things are done. It is such qualities that make our bakarwadis and missals perfect, and it is the reason why various shops and restaurants around the city have been in business for generations!
The confident bunch. Ask them for a patta and they’ll direct you in detail. They’ll use pathetic landmarks like napping dogs, a line of beggars, overgrown banyan trees, etc. to explain the address. The left-right will be replaced by ‘var’ (up) and ‘khali’ (down) and even if you follow his/ her instructions obediently, you’ll surely be lost!
Prosperity is also about learning, for prosperity brings happiness. Ganesha is known to be a consort of the arts, and though the sitting idol of Ganesha is the most popular, there are various others that depict him dancing, singing and writing. Ganesha was a scribe to the Vyasa and is said to have written down the Mahabharata as narrated by the sage. It shows his love for poems, for the sacred text is written in a poetic form and narrated likewise. There are also paintings that show Ganesha playing a tanpura, and thus, like most Punekars, Ganesha surely is an art lover (which is why I doubt he really enjoys the sounds of loudspeakers compared to that of the dhol-tasha).
The relaxed ones. If you wish to be ushered to your destination properly, these are the guys you should be questioning. No matter how far you want to go, be it going to Chinchwad from Kothrud or going to Nal Stop from
There might be many other attributes that link us to our God, and though Punekars refrain from comparisons, especially with a God, it’s crazy how many similarities we have. Don’t you think?
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PHOTO FEATURE
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Photographer: Arka Mukhopadhyay
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Photographer: Gopal Sardeshpande
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Photographer: Arka Mukhopadhyay
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Photographer: Gopal Sardeshpande
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Photographer: Arka Mukhopadhyay
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PHOTO FEATURE
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Photographer: Shantanu Prasade
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Through the streets of Pune. Photographer: Arka Mukhopadhyay
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PETHS
THE OTHER SIDE OF BUDHWAR PETH
Vedvrat Shikarpur
Budhwar Peth is infamous as the red light district of Pune, said to be the third largest in India. However, there are many hidden and famous gems of the area that remain unknown. For instance, did you know it is also a residential area with a wide variety of businesses and food stalls? Yes, it’s a peth we’re talking about! Moving our series of Peths forward, we discover the various aspects of Budhwar Peth, which is located near the heart of the city, very close to the Shaniwarwada.
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SPECIAL FEATURE
Heritage There was a brief moment in time, when the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb attacked the city of Pune and inhabited it in 1660. The area he stayed in is today known as Budhwar Peth. Although he renamed Pune as ‘Moheyabad’, Pune was soon recaptured by the Maratha forces and given its original name again. Budhwar Peth was given its name and developed by Thorale Madhavrao Peshwa. Budhwar in Marathi and Hindi means Wednesday. The Tambadi Jogeshwari Mandir, which is the gram devata (prime deity) of our city, is located here. Shivaji Maharaj is said to have visited this temple after being married to Saibai, to seek the goddess’ blessings. Another famous monument in the area is the Vishrambaug Wada, which was built in the year 1807. The mesmerising building is now taken care of by the Pune Municipal Corporation, and the 20,000 sq. ft. wada houses a museum of Maratha artefacts put together by historian Babasaheb Purandare. The luxurious wada with amazing wooden arches and typical Maratha architecture was the residence of Peshwa Bajirao II. It was used by the PMC and several departments and offices would function here till 2003. The wada is located on Thorale Bajirao Road and a delight for those looking to discover the heritage of the Peshwas and the city.
pati, which is one of the richest Ganpati Mandals in the city, is also located in Budhwar Peth. During the Ganesh Festival, worshippers throng the place to seek blessings of the deity, and the Ganpati idol is decorated in all its glory. It is a must-visit especially during the time of Ganeshotsav. Bhidewada is where Savitribai Phule started the first school for girls in India, in the year 1848. The wada once
Did you know? The Dagdusheth idol that we see today was created in the year 1967. The first idol can be seen at Aakara Maruti Temple, Shukrawar Peth. The second idol was sculpted in 1896, during the first Public celebration of the Ganesh Festival. This idol is now installed at the temple in Pitashree Old Age Home in Kondhwa.
The famous Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Gan-
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SPECIAL FEATURE
covered a huge area between Budhwar Chowk and Samadhan Chowk, but most of it has been demolished to make way for new buildings. Thankfully, the portion of the building where the school was started still stands. Also located near Appa Balwant Chowk is Pune’s oldest theatre, Prabhat Talkies, which is over 75 years old. The theatre screens Marathi movies and is revered by the Marathi film industry.
Did you know? The theatre had a ‘cry-box’ specially created for parents to console their child so that the baby’s wails wouldn’t disturb others in the audience.
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Businesses Ask any Punekar where you can buy textbooks or research books, and you’ll be promptly told to go to Appa Balwant Chowk, no matter which part of the city you live in. The reason why Punekars do not mind the long travelling distance is basically because whichever book/course material you may want, it will surely be available here. Also known as ABC, the chowk has
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innumerable book shops that sell all kinds of textbooks, notebooks, stationary items, and basically everything a student could want. It might be the only place in the city where you can buy textbooks by a dozen, and there are shops that deal in second hand books as well.
the Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple. Thus, there are various shops in the area that sell items required for pooja like incense sticks (agarbatti), flowers, durva grass (which is offered to Lord Ganesha), Ganpati idols, photo frames, sacred threads, etc.
Very close to ABC is the Tambadi Jogeshwari Temple and
Also, close by, is the electrical goods market. Although most customers today prefer to buy electronics from recognised dealers or electronics malls, the market here finds a customer base amongst those looking to buy electronics for cheap rates. One can also find wires, speakers, television sets and also automated taxi and rickshaw meters here. Most shops also specialise in repairing very old electronic products like television sets, radios, cassette players, and even non-electronic products like typewriters, gramophones, etc.
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SPECIAL FEATURE
Food Budhwar Peth is a foodie’s delight and there are various options to find a wholesome tasty meal. To start with, those looking for conventional Puneri Maharashtrian food, Poona Guest House is a must-visit. Located
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near Ganapati Chowk on Laxmi Road, it has been serving Punekars for decades and has maintained its quality of food till date. It is still housed in the old building, and even the interiors have the feel of an old eatery. Our recommendations: Dadpe Pohe & Mirgunda (a very uniqueyet-classic dish), Thalipeeth (typical Marathi breakfast
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item), Dahi Missal (or the normal missal, you decide), Puran Poli (a must-have) and Mango Modak (prepared exclusively during the Ganesh Festival).
Did you know?
For a wholesome meal, we suggest City Café, located in ABC Lane, opposite Tambadi Jogeshwari Temple. The vegetarian restaurant is mostly packed and serves everything from dosa, idli, pav bhaji, Punjabi food items and Maharashtrian dishes. Their pav bhaji is a hot favourite amongst the regulars, but we had the Paneer Kadhai which was extremely tasty and is enough to feed 3 people. The rates are pretty regular, and a meal for two will cost not more than Rs. 200. For desserts, there are two options; Cold Drink House or Kawre Ice Cream. Gujar Mastani or Cold Drink House has been operational since 1923, and one is transported back in time with the vintage paintings, old photographs and advertisements seen inside. The neon bulbs of various weird shades like red, blue and green, add to the feel. Their Bajirao Mastani, Mango Mastani and dry-fruit kulfi are a must-have. It is located near Dutta Mandir in Budhwar Peth.
Contrary to popular belief, Cold Drink House was the first to serve the drink ‘mastani’ in Pune. The now-popular Sujata Mastani started out much later in the year 1966.
royal rose, keshar pista and even peshwai. It was started in 1952 and has been Pune’s favourite ever since. Musthaves: Matka Kulfi, Pista Mastani, Mango Mastani, Kesar Mastani, Deluxe Cassata and Alphonso Cool Sundae. Their softy and ice cream scoops are bestsellers too.
Kawre Ice cream is where you’ll find everything related to ice cream and cold drinks. They serve ice creams, sundaes, kulfi, falooda, shakes, mastani, softy, and maybe a few more items I might have missed out on. For ice creams they have innumerable flavours ranging from the usual vanilla, chocolate, strawberry to green pista,
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EVENTS
06
03
September
Global Photo Walk
September
Freakin Highlarious presents Global Desi Tour! They’ve got Raj Sharma making us laugh uncontrollably this Wednesday! He is an original member of The Gurus of Comedy, Pundits with Punch lines, and The United Colors of Comedy. When: Wednesday, September 3, 2014 Where: High spirits, Survey no 35a/1, Ghorpadi Gaon, Pune Time: 9 pm
500px is organizing the Second Annual Global Photo Walk. Get involved, get swag, promotion and support from 500px. The theme for this year’s photo walk is Patterns and Symbols. So, capture everything around you - crowds of people, cars stuck in traffic and patterns in nature. When: Saturday, September 6, 2014 Where: Shaniwar Wada, Shaniwar Peth, Pune Time:
6:00 am
Contact: Anis Shaikh – +91 9158800807
Karaoke Boys Night Irish Village Brewery announces “Boys Night” for all you boys in town. March over!
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September
When: Thursday, September 4, 2014
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September
Anish Sood (Electronica) at Blue Frog
Where: Irish Village Brewery at Chilli’s restaurant, Ahead of Koregaon Park Plaza, Mundhwa road; Pune
‘Anish Sood’ is part of a new generation of path breaking DJs and producers who have taken the Indian dance music industry by storm. Catch him perform live!
Time: 8.30 pm to 11.30 pm
When: Saturday, September 6, 2014
Up The Irons! – An Iron Maiden Tribute
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Iron Maiden is one of the most successful heavy metal bands in history! This event is a celebration of their music – after all, what’s better than 4 hours of pure heavy metal?
Be there early enough to enjoy Happy Hours (6pm - 8pm). PS: This event is a September Video Tribute. You won’t get this feast from the beast anywhere else. Get surprises at the console. (Limited for the true Iron Maiden Fans). When: Thursday, September 11, 2014 Where: Apache, The Fluid Lounge - Unofficial, NDA Road, Banjara Hills, Chandni Chowk, Bavdhan, Pune, India Time: 7:30pm - 11:30pm
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Where: Ishanya Mall, Arcade 6, Opp. Golf Course, Off Airport Road, Yerwada, Pune Time:
9:30 pm
Nds & Blue One of the most talented dance music producers in India at the moment, Nds & Blue have releases on top international labels and a lot more in process. Catch them perform at Miami! When: Friday, September 12, 2014 Where: Miami Club at JW Marriott Pune, Senapati Bapat Road, Pune Time: 9 pm
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September