Yes! Car Pooja is a thing. Many of us desi folks value and treasure our cars and being able to afford one and buy one is considered a blessing. These traditions and rituals are simple and you don't have to dress up like I am in this picture. This just happened to be on the same day we had a Satyanarayan ni Katha at our house so I am all decked out. Many Hindus around the world perfrom this ceremony to bless the vehicle that will take them safely from one place to another. Of

The first time I got my period, my best friend Aditi and I were going up the stairs at school. She said to me, "I think you sat on something, you have a little stain on your uniform". I moved my palm across it to shake whatever was stuck to my skirt and saw that my fingers had blood on them. We looked at each other and knew what this was, we ran to our teacher and told her what happened. I went to an all girls school in India so in our sewing class the teacher had showed us h

by @laviextraordinaire Loving this recipe collaboration with Pankti @laviextraordinaire. She is an amazing momma of two with a love for cooking and sharing her passion. Here is her Chanaa Methi Pickle recipe: Making a pickle is really a step-wise approach. This one is not an instant pickle so it takes time to get the final product, but trust me it's very easy and delicious. The best accompaniment to your rotis, puris and everything. Ingredients - 1 large mango (or 2 small man

Bell Pepper Sabji Need: 2 large Green Bell Peppers 2 large Red bell peppers 2 tbsp oil (yes this one takes oil but the chanaa no lot will soak it all up) 1tsp Cumin seeds (Jeeru) 2tsp minced Garlic 2tsp minced Ginger 1tsp Dhaanaa Jeeru (dry coriander powder) 1tsp Haldi (Turmeric) 2tsp Red chili powder 2tsp or more salt based on your taste 1tbsp Chickpea flour (Chanaa no lot) 1tbsp roasted peanuts grounded (Sekelaa singdaanaa no bhukko) 2tsp Sesame seeds (Tal) 1tsp Poppy seeds

What if I tell you, Gluten Free folks can also enjoy this Gujarati Treat?⁠ .⁠ 🔆 GOR PAAPADI - Gluten Free⁠ .⁠ I grew up eating Sukhadi and did not know about Gor Paapadi's existence until I got married. They are similar and different. This is normally made with wheat flour, ghee and gaud.⁠ .⁠ 🔆⁠ .⁠ When you get to go to India next time and are traveling around Gujarat be sure to go to Mahudi and visit the Jain temple there because the "SUKHADI" Prasad there is really good a

Do you… Unconsciously take your shoes of when you enter a home? Bow down your head when you meet older family members? Greet them with “jai shri krishna” or similar God names? Offer pani and tea when someone comes over? Take your tikhi puri and thepla when traveling? Love your keri no ras (Pulpy mango juice) Have a Tulsi plant in your front yard? Eat gaud and dahi before any important work? If you do, it is because you grew up in a Gujarati house in India or anywhere in the w

In the afternoon, sitting with your friends on “otla”(front porch), playing games, singing songs, laughing your hearts out, eating snacks, telling and listening to stories while the adults took their afternoon naps (siestas)! Aaah, hearts and minds filled with wonder, curiosity, excitement and tranquility. These were my summers growing up in India. Many of you likely have similar caches of fond memories. We waited for the mailman to bring our report cards with such anxious mi

Out of the 65.5 million speakers of the Gujarati language in the world, the majority live in the western state of India, Gujarat. As with any language, it sounds different in different parts of the state as people have their own accent and ways of speaking Gujarati in their own regions. Here are some common and popular accents in Gujarati: Surati Gujarati: This is spoken in the southern part of the state of Gujarat. It can sound a bit harsh and is known to have many bad words

Superstitions are in every culture and language. They are especially prevalent in Gujarati culture and Gujarati language. Some save their lucky rabit’s foot and some don’t wash their hair on Saturday. Why do people follow these? Because it gives them a feeling of control. If I avoid this, bad things won’t happen to me. I must follow this to avoid any bad things happening to me It is also fear-based. Indian people in general are highly superstitious and many do not know why th

Shimant: Gujarati Baby shower Gujarati blessings and traditions begin with the conception of a child. The arrival of a new baby is auspicious and fortunate for everyone in the family and everyone rejoices in it. The traditional baby shower in a Gujarati household is known as Shrimant ( literal meaning of the word is wealthy, for the baby shower it means the abundance & wealth we wish upon the baby and the family) or Khodo Bharavo ( Literal meaning is to fill the mother to be’

Namkaran – Naming the Baby In Gujarati and many Indian families, the rituals begin with the conception of a baby till their passing to another world in their old age. Last month you learned how a Gujarati family celebrates the arrival of a newborn into the world. Through a very special ceremony called Shrimant or Khodo bharavo, the blessings are placed upon the mother to be and the baby growing inside her. After the baby is born, in many Gujarati households, the right to name