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Published: February 19th 2015
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Rahul-My hubby and his team mates along with Families were invited by a team mate – Bhakti for a Hurda Party at her Farm in Nannaj, Solapur. The plan was set for valentine Weekend. This was going to be a super fun–filled weekend.
A batch left early morning in Pooja’s Wagon R to visit Akkalkot, a temple near Solapur. Virat and Nikhil left from Pune on their Thunderbird…
Rest all of us, i.e. Rahul, Me, Parag, Rohit and Mrudula set-off in Rohit-Mrudula’s Volkswagen Polo on Saturday afternoon towards Solapur from his home in Bibwewadi, Pune. The 4-lane Pune – Solapur Highway is newly built and is in good condition. We stopped at Lamboti for tea break and moved towards Nannaj through the Vadala road, took a left turn from Lamboti. We reach Bhakti’s home – a big wada, within 4 hours from Departure, around 6:00 PM; all thanks to Rohit’s cool driving skills…J
We were warmly welcomed by Bhakti’s Mother and were served hot steaming tea immediately. Then we all went to see the farms which were 2 KM from her house. When we reached the farms, the sun had already set, and it was getting dark. We
parked our vehicles in the farm and started walking towards center of her park, marked by a big tamarind tree through the grape vineyards. It was really awesome experience to walk through the grape vineyards in evening, after sunset. We reached the tamarind tree and met Bhakti’s Father there, who is really awesome and gracious. He told his men to serve grapes to us, and the men served us with many grapes in big containers…I took a grape from the bunch and ate it, and oh my god…what the heavenly taste it had…I was super pleased by that very single grape…and I ate as many grapes possible for me to eat at a time…. J
We stayed there, chatting for long time….Enjoying with friends and enjoying the Grapes…. In the meantime, Virat forced Mrudula, who is a trained in music, to sing a song; she sang a romantic hindi melody -
Lag ja gale, and gave our ears the best musical treat ever…
We all girls left from the farms and reached Bhakti’s home in Mrudula’s car and had a yummy homemade dinner there…and then started playing cards and doing Gtalk, wink wink… Boys had their drinks and dinner at the farms. They arrived home around 11:00 PM… We divided ourselves in 2 teams and started playing dumb-charades… Parag – Rahul’s Team Lead, was the most active player in the game and was very well enacting the movie… He is an encyclopedia of Bollywood movies as he also guessed the movies so quickly when others were enacting... J Later at around 4:30 AM, we went back to our rooms, not to sleep, just to gossip more… J
We woke up around 7:30 AM and were served hot tea and yummy breakfast by Bhakti’s Mother. Around, 9:00 AM, the India-Pakistan Work-Cup match started and we all were glued in front of the TV Set till the Lunch time of the Match. We went to Bhakti’s Farm again today, to have Hurda.
We parked our cars in the farm and now for the first time, we were able to see the grape vineyards clearly. It’s a pleasure for eyes to see the bunch of grapes hanging over the vines. We reach the Tamarind tree, and went to see the well in the farm. Seeing the clear waters of the well, boys decided to go swimming in the well. Rahul Jumped in the well, and was followed by Virat, Rohit and Nikhil. While boys were swimming, we girls were enjoying video shooting them and encouraging them to swim more.
After a long swimming session, everyone was hungry and excited to snack upon Hurda.
Tender, moist, green, farm fresh, aromatic and wholesome – that is what hurda all about. Hurda is the Maharashtrian name for the roasted green millet. Dec, Jan and Feb are the only exclusive months, when hurda delicacies are available to tantalize your taste buds. Hurda makes a super, healthy seasonal cereal grain in your snack platter. Around this time of the year, the jowar chaffs are freshly plucked by the farmers and roasted on coal or dried cow dung in the mud ovens. A few minutes after this slow and natural cooking, you will hear a crackling sound, indicating that the roasted delicate seeds are ready to make their appearance.
The hurda was then served hot, sprinkled with peanut- garlic chutney, accompanied with jiggery and dry coconut. We were enjoying the way of eating hurda… J Believe me, as soon as you pop up one spoon of hurda and its accompaniments in your mouth, you will experience a melting burst of every flavor and texture– sweet, savory, tangy, spicy, juicy, earthy, crunchy and nutty.
After a long Hurda Session, We started snacking on freshly plucked grapes and tamarind. Then, we set-off to the Grape gardens to capture some snaps…and afterwards went to Bhakti’s home to have Lunch. We were served Wheat Kheer – a Solapuri special Delicacy, Vangyachi Rassa Bhaji – Eggplant Gravy, chapatis, Varan-Bhaat accompanied by Cucumber Salad and Special Solapuri homemade Shenga Chutney. Really, Bhakti’s Mother is Superb… J
We again sat in front of TV watching the India-Pakistan Match. Yippee…We won the match by 76 Runs…Cheers…!!!
Bhakti’s Father gifted us a box of grapes and a packet of hurda. After a nice weekend in Nannaj, we left for Pune in our Cars…Now Mrudula was in Driver’s seat and I was accompanying her in front seat. We were enjoying good songs while driving towards Pune. On the way, we stopped by at Hotel Atithi in Tembhurni, had tea and sandwiches there. It is a decent restaurant.
With all the enjoyment, memories, new friends and great tastes lingering on tougue, we reached Pune by 10:30 PM.
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