Month: August 2019

#Recipe | Drumstick And Raw Mango Curry By Lubna Karim From Guntur, Andhra Pradesh

Lubna Karim from Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, started her own food blog ‘Yummy Food’ to journal the recipes she created. Looking at the brilliant response she got from readers, she went on to devote herself full-time into creating recipes, food styling and food photography.  To kick start our weekend, Lubna brings to us one of her most personal recipes. It’s a traditional Andhra recipe made with fresh seasonal ingredients — Drumstick and Raw Mango Curry or Sojni ki Munagakaya Mamidikaya Pulusu. This recipe was passed down from her mother-in-law, whom she bonds over cooking!  Authentic Andhra Cuisine is usually vegetarian/vegan and known for its combination of tanginess and spices. The raw green mangoes available in Andhra during summers have that special sharp-flavour which, when absorbed by the drumstick, tastes extremely delicious. INGREDIENTS: 3 drumsticks (munagakaya), peeled and cut into 3” inch long even pieces 1 onion, finely sliced ½ medium sized raw mango (mamidikaya), peeled and cut into cubes 2 green chilies cut into half 1 tbsp red chili powder ½ tbsp turmeric powder ¼ tbsp …

#FACES | A Farmer Taking Shelter from the Rain Under a Bamboo Umbrella – By Shweta Gupta

“I’m Shweta Gupta, a photographer from Bihar. I was on my way to Jyotirling Mandir, Bhimashankar (Maharashtra) with my friends when we stopped by a paddy field to just observe people and take in the scenery. This particular farmer walked by in the rain with this ‘chatri’ (umbrella) made of bamboo and tarp, and it felt like a moment worth capturing! I was intrigued and went up to say hi. He asked me about why I was taking photos, to which I answered, ‘Everyone should see you and your lifestyle’. He smiled and posed for the photograph. We had a brief chat and he told me he was headed home. I was fascinated with this particular form of an umbrella because usually, in most parts of India, we see burlap sacks but this was different. It turned out to be a great photo!” ~Shweta Gupta from Bihar See some more of her photos on her Instagram!

R&L Folks From Across The Country Share Top 5 Travel Locations in India

First of all, a very happy Independence Day! To celebrate this day, Roots & Leisure has curated a very special list of places that you must visit in India. Not just that – this list has been curated by the R&L community. We got responses from Kochi to Spiti and were amazed to learn about the places from locals.  Scroll down to find out what our friends have to say about their hometowns, and why you should plan your next holiday to these places! (Stand a chance to be featured by submitting your own Top 5 on any subject that you love and are passionate about. Heading over to this link; Fill it out and hit submit!) Fort Kochi, Kerala Hello, my name is Nijil and I’m from Kannur, Kerala. Although I’m not from Kochi, I’ve visited it more times than I can count. It is a place that has my heart and is a must travel spot for anyone visiting Kerala! Fort Kochi is a beautiful island a few kilometers away from Ernakulam. It is …

‘I Live To Sing and Perform’ — L’nee Golay, a 19-years-old Singer-Songwriter From Bangalore

L’nee Golay is a 19-year-old singer-songwriter from Bangalore. She picked up the guitar at the age of 9 and fell in love instantly. With her soulful voice, she’s on her way to make a mark in the music industry. Her music has soul-pop personality, and she defines it as ‘calm and cool but intense and emotional’.  We were excited to sit down and have a conversation with her about her life and the launch of her EP in the coming months. L’nee, we are pleased to have you here! Tell us a little bit about yourself. I’m L’nee Golay, a 19-years-old singer-songwriter/artist. I was born in Nepal but have spent most of my life here in India in a couple of different places. My family currently live in Bangalore, where I lived for the past 8 years. I’ve studied music at Leeds College of Music. In Leeds, I’ve been busy making music, meeting so many amazing musicians from all walks of life and collaborating with them. I’ve released two songs in the past year, and …

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“I Want My Photos to Inspire Hope ” — Wungmaya Lunghar, a Photographer from Manipur

Wungmaya Lunghar, from Manipur, is one photographer who believes in the power and messages that a picture carries. His love for kids, nature and people shines through his heartwarming photos, something that very few artists are able to do. He currently works in the field of child development. His work has certainly helped him connect with children and also travel to various places across India. Whenever he spots a moment or view, Wungmaya makes sure to capture it in his camera!  Continue on to find out how fell in love with photography despite not actually owning a camera of his own. Hello Wungmaya, can you introduce yourself to us? Hello R&L! I am Wungmaya Lunghar and I hail from Teinem Village, Ukhrul Dist. I belong to the Tangkhul Naga tribe. I’m working in a child-focused development organization called World Vision India as the Capacity Manager-Design Monitoring and Evaluation; extending support to the NE-Region and West Bengal. I live in Guwahati with my wife and our two sons. I am from an engineering background but always …

Making Soaps Look Like Desserts ⁠— Meet the Owner of The Sass Bar, Rishika Nayak From Mumbai

Rishika was never one to settle on a conventional job. She knew that she wanted to create something of her own, something different yet a reflection of her personality. And then inspiration hit! Meet Rishika Nayak, a creative soap-maker from Mumbai. She is the owner of The Sass Bar which makes dessert-looking soaps — yes, soaps that look like cupcakes, pastries and everything sweet! Even though you can’t eat it, the soaps are truly a dessert for the skin, as they are made with organic ingredients. Her soaps are unlike anything we’ve seen so far and it was a great fun getting to know her and her brand. Read our chat with Rishika on our blog. Tap on the link in bio or below.  Hello Rishika! Tell us a little bit about yourself. Hi! I am Rishika Nayak from Mumbai. I’m the owner of Sass Bar – a company that makes handcrafted dessert-looking soaps made from raw ingredients. I I began experimenting with soap making when I was 19, which inspired me to take up …

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#RECIPE | Desi-Manipuri Fusion Chicken Curry ‘Yen Thongba’ by Robinson Ningombam

Yen thongba is a chicken curry dish from Manipur brought to us by one of our readers, Robinson Ningombam, who has put his own spin on the traditional Meitei recipe. He says, “It is one of my favourite recipes as it involves a fusion of both desi spices and traditional Manipuri ingredients. Whenever I am in Delhi, I cook this chicken curry. It isn’t as tasty as the one I make in Manipur because the ingredients I get in the city is different from the organic ingredients I get back at home. Nevertheless, I am always reminded of home whenever I cook it, even though I am miles away. All my friends, including my non-north east friends, really like this particular style of chicken. “ It’s a great story of how food-cultures from different parts of India are blended into one and we are able to come together to share something yummy. Enjoy!  Cooking Yen Thongba, with potatoes and spring onions.   Ingredients— 700 g country chicken. Washed and Chopped (young organic chicken is highly …

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“Live a Little and Maybe Feel a Little More” – Indie Musicians Atuzo and Kuotsho from Nagaland Talk About Their Original Single ‘Patterns’

Finding some amazing locally produced music isn’t always easy, but lucky for you, we have discovered the duo Atuzo and Kuotsho! These young promising Indie artists from Kohima are creating music that is rustic, contextual, and hauntingly beautiful— the Folk and Indie Genre has spoken to them clearly and transcendentally. Staying true to the Indie genre, the duo has self-written, produced, and released their first single ‘Patterns’ on YouTube. Join us as we discuss with them life, their work, and how it all came to be.  Hi Atuzo and Kuotsho! Please introduce yourself to our readers. Hello there, my name is Atuzo Theluo. I am  21 years old. I was born and brought up in Kohima. I am a passionate musician and presently I am pursuing my Bachelors Degree in Music in Nagaland College of Music and Fine Arts (NCMFA), Kohima. I am Kuotsho Koza and I am 21 years old as well. I was also born and brought up in Kohima and have recently completed my BA degree course from St. Edmund’s College, Shillong. …

Meet Karuna Mira Sah, A Glaciologist In Training and A Rock Climber, From Nainital

Karuna Mira Sah, a 23-year-old from Nainital, has chosen a rare yet exciting path in life. She’s training to be a glaciologist, and is also a rock and ice climber and a passionate photographer. It was her love and deep-rooted connection with the mountains that led her to this path in life. Her college allowed her to study and discover remote areas across the world, and all exposes her to some breathtakingly picturesque views! She recently graduated in Earth Sciences from the US and plans to do her Masters and research in Glaciology. Her expeditions have taught her much about life and further inspired her to work for environment issues. We chatted with this charming young woman in detail. Tap on the link in bio and below to give it a read!    Hello Karuna, thank you for chatting with us! Please introduce yourself to our readers.  Hey! I’m Karuna, an aspiring glaciologist, a mountain climber and most of all, a nature lover. I grew up in Nainital, Uttarakhand. I have been hiking with my …

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“I Dream to Travel The Whole of Northeast India” — Apen Tanujang From Mokokchung, Nagaland

“Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.” – Jennifer Lee Apen Tanujang might be one of the few people who’ve explored almost every part of Nagaland. An adventure and nature lover at heart, Apen belongs to Mokokchung in Nagaland. After a trip he took in 2015, he was inspired to travel and explore his homeland and all of Northeast. So far, he has covered Meghalaya, Assam, Sikkim, Mizoram and Manipur, and dreams to travel to more places here.   Born and brought up Nagaland, he was always curious and adventurous about exploring every part of his homeland. This led him to explore most of Nagaland and Northeast. His Instagram feed is a visual treat that is sure to inspire you to grab your backpacks and go on an expedition. Read on to find out more about him!  Hey Apen, it’s a pleasure to have you here. Please introduce yourself to our readers! Hello, my name is Apen Tanujang, and I’m from Mokokchung Nagaland. I like to think of myself as a …