Comments on: That curry smell in outer space

By: roli

roli — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 09:20:50 +0000

Hmm…smells from local dhobi -misty smell of burnt charcoal and wood doused by water, lingering wisps of smoke that hang in the winter air…the halwais at the chauraha with big woks of boiling milk and crisp jalebis – not something to be gulped down on the way to work but savored in a relaxed verandah bathed in morning sun!

By: Maya

Maya — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 01:51:46 +0000

Maybe it’s because I’m only in Madras on family vacations, when I have the time to sit still and take notice of such things, but there is no more beautiful smell than the smell of the ground (“kali mannu”-like) in the middle of a serious down-pour. Perfection! It almost makes me want to go out there and dance in it. Oh wait, that only happens in the movies.

By: Pritha

Pritha — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 20:45:54 +0000

Does anyone know the suitcase smell of India? When I was little and my mother would get back from India, she would open up her suitcase and it would have this sharp, woody smell. Not food at all. It was always so thrilling, I associated it with the presents she brought back.In my mind it became the smell of India. And in India I smell it too–this last time I walked into the airport of Hyderbad and wham, it hit me like a blast–I actually cried out, “Oh, we are here! That smell!” It’s an indoor smell, like cane or Indian paper maybe, and marble dust, and certain kinds of cloth. Sometimes you catch a whiff of it in Cost Plus.

YES. YES. always YES.

By: Ennis

Ennis — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 15:54:55 +0000

And Ennis, if it’s having to do with outer space, why isn’t Abhi posting about it? Or is it that the heavens so vast that you are sharing them between you as bloggable material?

We traded. I told him he could have the next two turban posts if he gave me this one

In any case, I am the blogger without a name, without a face, without a clue and without a portfolio. I blog without borders! I can’t find any pattern in the subjects I’ve blogged about, other than I’ve done a few more of the religion posts (Sikh or non-Sikh) than the others.

By: milli

milli — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 09:12:03 +0000

Re: #33 -- I think the point was that Indian veg diets are not tofu-based, not that Indian diets are vegetarian.

Favorite India smell: the jasmine wafting off of the little strands pinned to girls' hair.

By: Salil Maniktahla

Salil Maniktahla — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 06:20:13 +0000

My mother’s kitchen smells of coriander, mint, and something thicker. Leave the windows open all you like; it will persist. The real estate agent says paint the walls white and broaden its appeal to help it sell. She does not remark on the kitchen, whose smell is what keeps them away– that smell makes me want to buy the house myself.

By: Ponniyin Selvan

Ponniyin Selvan — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 03:23:15 +0000

Who is the dumb ass??

DAC: Do you eat tuna? Me: No DAC: Do you eat a lot of tofu? Me: No, I'm Indian, my vegetarian diet isn't based on that.

Latest surveys show around 70-80% Indians are non-vegetarian..

By: Zen

Zen — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 02:30:24 +0000

Reminds me of a conversation with a dumb ass co-worker:

DAC: Do you eat tuna? Me: No DAC: Do you eat a lot of tofu? Me: No, I'm Indian, my vegetarian diet isn't based on that. DAC: Oh, do you eat a lot of curry? Me: I don't know what that means. DAC: I can't handle it, I went to Indian row once and I got so sick! Me: But what was it? DAC: Food that had curry in it. Me: What is it though? DAC: It contained that spice, you know, curry!

By: chick pea

chick pea — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 01:29:06 +0000

khadi/baath, a gujarati tradition..now you make me hungry...and have defined my menu for tonight! thansk.:

(b) A layered soup made with buttermilk and chickpea flour, with a tinge of spice and ginger/garlic. (Definitely has a fragrance-like top,middle and base note structure!)

By: Anil Rao

Anil Rao — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 23:34:26 +0000

Amitabh on March 10, 2007 04:11 PM â€¢ Direct link Villages and farms in India also have an evocative smell...something related to cows and hay I think, as well as the 'fragrance of the earth'. Probably dung too.

Having lived and experienced the rural life in interiors of Andhra,when we talk about India the most unforgettable smell for me is in the monsoon season -the fragrance of the earth when the rain is pouring.When you add hot Mirchi Bajji to that in the middle of a feild hut...ohh!!

Even the smell of ploughed feilds mixed with cow dung and oranic paddy in the rains has a differenet eartly smell to it.

There is a novel called "Red Earth and Pouring Rain" by vikran chandra.(nothing to do with the smells though).