Q8ti Woman

The very first impression, we as expatriates have, about Kuwaiti women is that they are an oppressed group without any identity of their own. Arab women are generally portrayed as victimized and subservient. But my  stay at Ahmadi hospital during the birth of my daughter Mehr gave me the opportunity to observe, know and converse with them which is otherwise not possible as they keep to themselves and don’t mix with expatriates. I was quite surprise to know about their society, their rituals and customs that women follow after pregnancy and the position of women in Kuwaiti society. It’s quite contradictory to the common picture we have about them.
The Kuwaiti ladies who know English are very friendly and converse whenever they meet other non Kuwaiti ladies. Of course the conversation doesn’t become too personal but remains restricted to their and their babies health and the common “hi-hello”. But there are some exceptionally friendly ladies that I met and made friendship with and who told me about their culture and customs.

The majority of Arab women dress conservatively. Some women dress in clothes that do not cover their faces or hair, while others cover them. For example, a very conservative woman might wear a long black garment called "Abayah" that covers her body from the shoulders down to her feet. Under this cover she could be wearing a traditional Arabian dress in full body length with long sleeves and filled with beautiful bead work, or she could be wearing the latest style from an internationally known designer. In addition to the Abayah, a very conservative woman would also wear a face and head cover. Some women would wear the Abayah without the head and face cover, while others might wear a scarf-like cover called "Hejab" that covers the hair but not the face. Under this cover the Kuwaiti ladies wear gown of white or cream colour. It appeared strange to me as we commonly wear dresses of dark color during our hospital stay. When I enquired, pat came the reply from one of the Kuwaiti lady that they associate white with purity and happiness and birth with white color.

When a woman has a new baby, her relatives, friends, and neighbors visit her to congratulate her and to present her with gifts. The Kuwaiti’s gift particular things in particular situations. While visiting friends and relatives in hospital, they take flowers, chocolates and fruits and for the new born they gift baby items and flowers. That’s why one can find lot of bouquets in front of the hospital rooms where Kuwaiti woman stay.

In an Arabian family, gender and age plays a big role in specifying responsibilities. The father is usually the head of the family and the provider for its needs, while the mother plays a major role in raising children and taking care of the house. This structure is not always the norm; in recent years, both the father and the mother provide for family needs, while household chores are taken care of by maids and servants. In the past, most major family decisions were made by the father, but recently some of these decisions are made jointly by both the father and the mother. Sons and daughters are taught to follow the inherited traditions and are given responsibilities that correspond with their age and gender. Sons are usually taught to be protectors of their sisters and to help the father with his duties inside and outside the house, while daughters are taught to be the source of love and emotional support in the family, as well as helping their mother to take care of household chores.


Winds of change do not spare any culture; the changes that entered the structure of some Arabian houses is not due to economical needs, but education for both men and women that is mandated by law in the Arabian countries. Education from kindergarten up to university degrees is free to nationals and sometimes residents of these Arabian countries.

Although culture, traditions, and Islam strongly stress the importance of women's roles in taking care of the house and raising children, it is a mistake to think that Arabian women are confined to this role. There are many successful Arabian businesswomen throughout the Arabian region, but because of cultural reasons, they conduct business in an inconspicuous way. A daughter lives at her family house as long as she is not married; once she is married she moves to her husband's home. When a woman gets married there are no changes made to any part of her name.

Thus it wont be wrong to say that they are the backbone of their society and family.

Diwaniya In Q8

The Dewaniya, mistakenly and commonly called Diwaniya, has existed in Kuwait since time immemorial. The term originally referred to the section of a Bedouin tent where the men folk and their visitors sat apart from the family.

 In the old City of Kuwait it was the reception area where a man received his business colleagues and male guests. Today the term refers both to a reception hall and the gathering held in it, and visiting or hosting a dewaniya is an indispensable feature of a Kuwaiti man’s social life. It is a Persian Gulf tradition and has become a fundamental part of Kuwaiti life.

The Diwaniya is usually located close to the outside main entrance, away from the rest of the house. Women guests gather in a room inside the house and sometimes get to their gathering room from an outside entrance specifically assigned for female visitors.
In some parts of the Arab region men and women who are not directly blood related to each other or not married to each other don't mix. That's why there are often separate guest gathering rooms for both genders in the same house. In some Arab houses this rule of gender separation is not followed. Some Dewaniahs open on a daily basis and others once weekly. This regular gathering is a chance for relatives, friends, and invited guests to check on each other and converse in many subjects. It is a form of socializing where people communicate the latest news about other relatives, economy, business, sports, politics, etc. Tea, coffee, and sometimes a light snack are served.

To know more about Diwaniya and its role in Kuwait's culture, check out the following links:

http://www.kuwaitagenda.com/en/uncategorized/254-al-diwaniya-in-kuwaits-culture.html

http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=MTE3ODk1NTA3Ng==

A move by four Kuwaiti women to open a diwaniya (open house) for men and women in Al Jahra has sparked negative reaction among .............For detail news check the link http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/kuwait/mixed-diwaniya-elicits-criticisms-in-kuwait-1.600924

Kuwait Diary

As a child when ever I heard about Gulf Countries, the picture that came to my mind was that of camels, deserts, oil fields, money, men in white long dress / rob and ladies wearing burkha, totally covered. I had never dreamt of coming to Gulf. I got the oppurtunity to come to Kuwait when my husband decided to join KOC-Kuwait Oil Company,a premier oil company of the world. As I landed in Kuwait International Airport and drove to my new house, the thing that struck me first was the greenery all around, as I had imagined desert.

As we drove my husband informed me that Kuwait is a constitutional monarchy and has the oldest directly elected parliament of the Persian Gulf Arab countries. Chief of State is the Amir; 'Amir" is a hereditary title.  The Amir also known as Sheikh appoints the prime minister, who until recently was also the crown prince. A council of ministers aids the prime minister in his task as head of government which must contain at least one of elected members of the parliament. The parliament has the power to dismiss the prime minister or anyone of his cabinet through a series of constitutional procedures. According to the constitution, nomination of a new crown prince or head of state (Emir) by the ruling family has to be confirmed by the National Assembly. If he does not win the votes of an absolute majority of the assembly, the Amir (or the royal family members) must submit the names of three candidates to the National Assembly, and the Assembly must select one of these to be the new crown prince. The parliament known as the Majlis Al-Umma (National Assembly), consists of elected fifty members, who are chosen in elections held every four years. Government ministers, according to the Constitution of the State, are given automatic membership in the parliament, and can number up to fifteen.

We passed by beautiful villa's which indicated the taste of the rich Kuwaitis. They have a well developed road system and drivers drive very fast. I was little worried / nervous as our driver drove at a speed of 120km but slowly with time one get used to such speed. I slowly adjusted to a new life and waited with excitement for the evening when I along with my husband would go out and discover new places,sight and sounds. It had become our habit to go window shopping and later pick up a meal from a restaurant and head to one of the many beaches that line Kuwait on the east.We had spent hours on the beaches just talking and relaxing and often it was late in the night when we returned home.There was no hurry to get home and people lingered out at all hours and traffic filles the roads till late in the night.

Most people all over the world has the impression that Kuwait is a dangerous and insecure place.This is very far from truth. It has a very low crime rate and is perfectly safe to go out even late at night.

The people of Kuwait are widely referred to as peace loving and generous. Although diverse in their make-up, Kuwaitis are united as one entity. Their activities revolve around family life, which is the building block and centerpiece of Kuwaiti society. This family centered approach to life can provoke two opposite reactions: Some visitors or expatriates feel excluded from all Kuwaiti society; but those who develop family centered relationships with Kuwaitis feel exactly the opposite, as if they truly have become 'members of the family.' People who visit Kuwait for the first time leave the country with more or less the same impression about the Kuwaiti people, that they are a generous, hospitable, and sincere loving people who expect nothing in return for such actions. This behavior is a reflection of the third pillar of Islam known as zakat or almsgiving where Muslims are expected to give a certain percentage of their earnings to the poor and needy. Reaching out to help those in need is therefore considered to be a personal obligation and not entirely the government's job.The Kuwaitis are very respectful towards women and they mostly stop their car to allow a lady to cross the road.I have experienced it many times. Kuwaiti families are usually quite large, and many different families are interconnected and related to one another through ancestry and marriage. Therefore, there exists a community of interpersonal relationships in which it seems that everybody knows each other through only a couple degrees of separation. Regular gatherings and lunches are common.For the men, the diwaniyas is a common custom that has existed throughout Kuwait's history. A special room in the house, or a tent set up outside, is designated as a nightly meeting place for the men of a family or the neighborhood to meet to discuss politics, business, and just socialize.The women also hold several gatherings to meet with one another to socialize. Large weddings are a common tradition, where the men and women gather separately, and the women's reception usually lasts through breakfast. This all-night celebration of the matrimony of two people, of the coming together of two families, demonstrates the importance of the idea of family in Kuwaiti society.

 As one visits the various malls,beaches and restaurants one will find them full with Kuwaiti men with their families also proves that they spend quality time with them.A Kuwaiti men can marry four times as allowed by their religion .

Oil transformed Kuwait into one of the richest countries in the Arab peninsula and in 1953 the country became the largest exporter of oil in the Persian Gulf. This massive growth attracted many immigrant labourers and foreign workers.One can find people from America,Phillipine,India,Bangladesh,Pakistan and Afganisthan.There are Bangladeshi Fish market's and few Bangladeshi grocery and vegetable shops at Fahaheel and Kuwait City.The fish comes from Myanmar.The fish market at Al-Kout and Sharq are two big , clean air-conditioned market where one get variety of sea fish.The king size prawns found in these markets are very tasty.One can save money and live comfortably if they plan. But one can become a pauper if one descides to wear only International Brands,which is available easily and eat at the restaurants everyday.

Kuwait's official language is Arabic, though roughly half the country speaks the language primarily. Most foreigners speak English,Hindi, Urdu, Filipino or Bengali. But its not problem communicating in big malls and shopping complex's as English is spoken but to communicate with the local people,its adviseable to know a lilltle bit of Arabic. There are plentiful opportunities in Kuwait to buy modern clothing, household goods, cosmetics, perfumes, and many other items imported from all over the world.

Though many of Kuwait's traditional souks (markets) still exist, the country has an abundance of modern supermarkets and shopping malls. Most areas in Kuwait have a large supermarket operated by cooperative societies. These cooperatives (Jameeyah) usually open early, work till quite late at night and stock a vast range of food and other household items. Some of the basic food items are subsidised. The prices of some other items are controlled.There are also many private supermarkets. Of these, some are open 24 hours a day. The larger ones stock a range of goods such as toys, furniture, car accessories, clothes and accessories and perfumes.Stocked with goods from all parts of the world, their prices are somewhat higher than the cooperatives, though prices of some basic foodstuffs are subject to control.

There are many modern facilities with spacious walkways and attractive shop displays, such as the Salhiya Complex in the city, Al-Watya behind the Sheraton Hotel, Al-Zahra, Al-Bustan and Al-Fanar Complexes and Laila Galleria in Salmiya, Al-Muthanna Complex across from Le Meridien, and Al-Othman complex in Hawally. In addition, there are many major shopping areas, or souks, in districts such as Salmiya, Fahaheel, Hawally, and elsewhere. These offer not only consumer items but may also include opticians, travel agents, and amusement centers for children.Despite the influx of modern supermarkets and shopping malls, some of the traditional markets are still flourishing. The souk area in central Kuwait City retains some of its labyrinths of covered The Gold souks, for which Kuwait is famous, were prime targets for the Iraqi troops during the first days of the invasion in August 1990. Most of these souks are now back in business, with the exception of the old gold souk in Kuwait City centre, which has been shifted to a specially-built building. There are gold souks and gold shops, which both buy and sell gold, in most of the shopping areas in Kuwait. Jewellery styles are mainly Arabic, Indian (which is very popular in Kuwait) and Italian. Most food shops in Kuwait sell a mixture of chilled or frozen products, and canned and preserved foods. However, plenty of fresh meat, fish, fruits and vegetables are readily available. The main large souks for fresh foods (meat, fruits and vegetables) are in Shuwaikh and in Fahaheel. Though these are essentially wholesale markets the vendors welcome all buyers. Prices are cheaper than at the large private supermarkets. Fresh fruits and vegetables can be bought at several vegetable souks, such as the vegetable souk near the Hawalli Immigration roundabout in Salmiya. Most areas of Kuwait have a souk selling fresh vegetables. Bargaining is expected. But in the famous Convenient Shopping malls like Lulu Hyper Market and Sultan Center, its "fixed price" but you get a lot of varities to choose from. One of the things I love here is the cleanliness be it at the markets, roads, shopping complexes or beaches. Everyone dumps in the nearest garbage bin and also there is the Cleaning Crew, vast in number which the goverment appoints.

Kuwait has many places of interest for both the young and the old.

Dominating Kuwait with its 372meters, Liberation Tower is the fifth tallest communication tower in the world. It was named after the multinational coalition that liberated the nation from seven months of Iraqi occupation during the Gulf War. The tower has now become a symbol of resurgent Kuwait. The structure uses ceramic tiles on the facade from the base to the first mezzanine level, which is about 308 metres above the ground. Three light natural shades provide a geometric design from the base.The tower and the telecommunications complex is divided into three working areas : a public communications centre; the revolving observation level and restaurant at 150 metres.

One of Kuwait's famous landmark infact the symbol of Kuwait is the Kuwait Towers. Designed by a Swedish company, the towers consist of two towers and a third pole feeding them with electricity.The tallest tower,187 meters high,holds two spheres.The upper sphere has a revolving observation area,with one full turn every half hour,as well as a Coffee Shop.The other sphere contains a restaurant.The middle tower is a water reservoir containning 2 million galons of water in two tanks.The third tower which is 11.60meters high,is a lighthouse which illuminates the architecture wonder with 96 concealed spotlights.Inaugurated in 1986, the Grand Mosque is considered to be an important landmark of Kuwait,with its Islamic and traditional architectural heritage being inspired by Arabic construction qualities from around the Gulf region. Built in 1985, the National Assembly complex is a must-see official building in Kuwait. It allows access to visitiors and even allows them to attend sessions.The Yaum AL-Bahhar Village is one of the most visited traditional places that reflect Kuwaits history and what Kuwaiti life looked like in the old days. Kuwait is full with museums and to understand its past and its tradition one can visit the Kuwait National Museum ,Tareq Rajab Museum, Al-Hashemi Marine Museum , Kuwait House of National Works , Al Sadu House, The Museum of Modern Art , KOC Display Center, Educational Science Museum, Qurain Martyr's Museum, Bayt Al Qurain and Al Marsam Al Hur. A visit to the Scientific Centre is also a must as it houses the largest Aquarium in the Gulf Region. Visitors can focus on the natural habitats of the sea, with underground passages rich in marine life, natural habitats of the coastal edges and the desert of the Arabian Peninsula, watch a motion picture projection in the IMAX Theatre, visit the Dhow Harbour and explore childhood skills in the Discovery Place and take a break at the Scientific Centre restaurant. For people who love adventure and sea-sports there are lot of facilities to enjoy them.Then there is the Green Island and Failaka Island that one can visit. But one will enjoy more if one forms a group and visit them.The most important historical and archeological locations that go back thousands year in Kuwait are on this island.

The Entertaintment City,  Aqua Park, Al Shaab Park, Sabahiya Garden, Marina Waves, Kuwait Zoo and the Messillah Water Village are few of the places to pass some quality time with the family.

Just 20kms south of Kuwait City is the AHMADI town.Its completely owned by KOC. Residence is restricted to employees only. It is famous for its greenery and British architecture.The town is built on a slope facing the sea which is about 7miles away. Al-Ahamadi forms an important part of Kuwait economy as several of Kuwaits oil refineries are located here. Kuwait City ,the capital is the heart of the state.

Though we have visited many places in Kuwait, I feel there are still lot to explore.With every visit to a place, museum or mall we are getting to learn and explore something new and more.

Procedures To B Followed By an Indian Before Shifting To Q8

I am not from Kuwait but have been here for some time and have started to feel like home here. I would like to share my experiences with people who want to know about Kuwait or plan to come to Kuwait to work.

But it was not the same feeling at first. It took some time as I slowly adjusted to a new life often spending long hours in unaccustomed loneliness while my husband was at work. In the evening though there was the discovery of new places, sights, sounds and excitement. Slowly more families started joining our building. All the thirty two families are from INDIA and our building came to be known as KOC building, as our husbands work in the same company, Kuwait Oil Company. So it was a home far away from home.

In order to come and stay in Kuwait , one should fulfill certain criteria’s. As my husband got a job here and was on work visa, I could come along with him. But the rules and regulations of different companies regarding bringing their families are different. Some allow their employees to bring their families after 45days while few after 90 days while KOC employees can bring their families after three months.

One has to clear a medical test before coming to Kuwait. There are certain medical centers in India recognized by Kuwait Embassy and one has to do the required test in those centers. So one has to go to GAMCA Office where they give you a paper where the name of the centre where one has to do the medical test is written. As my husband had done his medical test earlier we knew the rules and was easy for us. We went to Sanghi Medical Centre, deposited a fee, my passport and urine test, blood test, chest x-ray and physical test was done. We then went to GAMCA Office to collect the paper of my medical centre. Actually according to rule one has to visit the GAMCA Office first and then the Medical Centre but it appeared that in Delhi rules are flexible .I was really tensed though I was physically fit and only when I got a positive result I was delighted .
Its adviceable that one at least do attestation of the educational documents if one desires to do job in Gulf( I mean the wife, if she plan to work after coming to Kuwait). Once you get a job,  you have to do attestation of the educational certificates. For that one has to visit the HRD office at Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Delhi. The ministry of Human Resource Development authenticates only in the back of originalcertificates/ degrees/diplomas. A fee of Rs50/- per certificate is to be paid in the form of postal order.Postal orders are to be endorsed in the name of “Secretary Department of Secondary Education and Higher Education”, payable at the post office at New Delhi. Wrongly filled postal orders will not be accepted.

There are separate queue for ladies and gents.We have to submit the original pass certificates (one desires for attestation).Marksheets are not required .The HRD office return the attested pass certificates after 2pm.Only when the passport is shown, the certificates are delivered. Hurriedly from HRD office one has to go to MEA at Patiala House, Tilak Marg. Again we have to submit the original pass certificates and after few hours its returned to us after attestation.

One should not forget to remove the lamination(if any) before submission of documents for attestation.

FINALLY THE JOURNEY TO KUWAIT…….

With excitement mingled with apprehension boarded a plane from Guwahati my home city to Delhi on 21st March,2007 and finally on 22nd March, 2007 took a Kuwait Airways flight to Kuwait. Finally our plane landed and I was at Kuwait, the desert kingdom.

Kuwait University

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On Thursday evening, we did not have much work and was relatively free. The weather was also pleasant and so we decided to go out for long drive. We reached Kuwait University campus at Shuwaikh. As we had never gone there before, so decided to check out the campus.

Kuwait University (KU) was established in October 1966, five years after Kuwait's independence from Britain, as a result of an Amiri Decree. KU started with only two faculties, namely the Faculty of Science, Arts and Education; and a Women's College. The university had 418 students enrolled and 31 faculty members. By (2005), the university grew to more than 19,000 students and over 1,000 faculty. The University is spread over four campuses: Khaldiya, Adailiah, Keyfan, and Shuwaikh. The Shuwaikh campus is, by far, the biggest one, as it houses many faculties.

For more information on KU, check the following websites :

http://www.kuniv.edu/ku/index.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwait_University

Indian Doctors Forum to conduct seminar on ‘Lifestyle Disorders’ in Shaastrotsav - Festival of Science, Q8

As a part of Shaastrotsav – Festival of Science, Indian Doctors Forum (Affiliated to Kuwait Medical Association) will be conducting a seminar on ‘Lifestyle Disorders’. A panel of Doctors will be participating in the seminar which will be held from 4 PM on Friday, 23rd April, 2010 at GUST Campus near Kuwait International Fair Grounds, Mishref.

For more details check:

http://www.indiansinkuwait.com/ShowArticle.aspx?ID=4649&SECTION=0

Etiquette and Customs In Q8

Sharing with you some etiquette and customs that one needs to know when in Kuwait:
Meeting Etiquette:
. Kuwaitis are hospitable; however, it is important to behave according to their cultural norms.

. Although women play a greater role in Kuwaiti society then women do in many other Gulf countries, they seldom socialize together in public.
. Greetings are therefore between members of the same sex. In all cases they are given with a sense of enthusiasm and general pleasure at meeting or seeing the person again.
. Kuwaitis take time during the greeting process to converse about their health, family, mutual friends and acquaintances, and other general matters of interest.
Naming Conventions :
. The first name is the personal name and used as we would use ours.
. The second name is the father's personal name. It is used with the connector "al- ".
. The third and fourth names are the grandfather's personal name and a name that denotes the family lineage. Both names generally start with the prefix "al-".
. The name of Suleyman Al-Ahmed Al- Mustafa Al-Sabah means Suleyman, son of Ahmed, grandson of Mustafa of the Sabah family/tribe.
. Women do not take the husband's name upon marriage.
Gift Giving Etiquette :
. Extended family or very close friends may exchange gifts for birthdays, Ramadan, Eid, Hajj and other celebratory occasions.
. If you are invited to a Kuwaiti home, bring a houseplant, box of imported chocolates, or a small gift from your home country.
. If a man must give a gift to a woman, he should say that it is from his wife, mother, sister, or some other female relative.
. Do not give alcohol unless you know for sure he/she partakes.
. Gifts are not opened when received.
Dining Etiquette :
. Kuwaitis socialize in their homes, restaurants, or international hotels.
. If both sexes are included, they may be entertained in separate rooms, although this is not always the case.
When going to a Kuwaitis house:
. Check to see if the host is wearing shoes. If not, remove yours at the door.
. Dress conservatively.
. Show respect for the elders by greeting them first.
. Accept any offer of food or drink. To turn down hospitality is to reject the person.
. If you are invited for a meal, there is often a great deal of socializing and small talk before the meal, and the evening comes to an end quickly after the meal.
Watch your table manners!
. Eat only with the right hand.
. Meals are generally served family-style. Guests are served first. Then the oldest, continuing in some rough approximation of age order until the youngest is served.
. Honoured guests are often offered the most prized pieces or delicacies - so be prepared!
. Hospitality and generosity are showered on guests with abundance. 
. Leave some food on your plate when you have finished eating otherwise they will fill it with more.
. When the host stands, the meal is over.
I have come across a very good website http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/ can check it for info. Source of the above post is http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/

BIHU @ Fintas Park,Q8

The Assamese Community of Kuwait celebrated Rongali Bihu, the most important festival of the Assamese people of India at Fintas Park, Mahboula on 16th of April 2010. Lot of families gathered bringing with them home made, variety of traditional Bihu snacks and foodstuff’s. Games were organized for both children and couples. We all enjoyed them and the celebration ended with a nice homemade dinner . Hats off to all the ladies who prepared all the tasty Bihu snacks and dinner items.


Bihu snacks are very tasty and easy to prepare. Some of the popular Assamese Bihu snacks are Til Pitha, Narekol Ladoo, Ghila Pitha, Til Ladoo, Besan Ladoo and many more. Sharing with you some of Bihu receipes.....


Til Pitha Recipe

Til Pitha is a very popular Assamese recipe. Learn how to make/prepare Till Petha by following this easy recipe.
 

Ingredients:
• 2 cups Glutinous Rice

• 100 gm Jaggery

• 80 gm Black Sesame Seeds

• 4 cups Water
How to make Til Pitha:

• Soak the rice overnight in water.

• Drain excess water and grind it carefully.

• Roast sesame seeds and pound them to remove their outer shell.

• Cut Jaggery into small chips and combine the sesame seeds with it.

• Heat the griddle and spread the rice batter over it to the size of Puri with the help of a ladle.

• While it is being roasted, put the stuffing of jaggery and sesame mixture in its middle.

• As and when the rice batter gets firm, fold its sides to cover the stuffing.

• Turn it over and heat lightly before taking it off from the fire. Ensure that jaggery doesn't melt and flow out.

• Til Pitha is ready to eat.

Narikel Laddoo Recipe

Narikel Laddoo is a sweet delight savored during Assamese Festival, Bihu.

Ingredients:

• 2 Coconuts

• 2 cup Sugar

• 1 tbsp Ghee
How to make Narikel Laddoo:

• Grate both the coconuts in a plate.

• Take a saucepan and put grated coconut and sugar in it. Stir them well, over medium heat.

• Once the water from coconut starts making lumps, remove the mixture from fire.

• Grease your hands with a little ghee and roll the coconut mixture into small laddoos (balls).

• Make sure that the mixture is not allowed to cool, as it would prevent you from making laddoos.

• Serve when the laddoos come down to room temperature.

Ghila Pitha Recipe


Ghila Pitha another very popular Assamese recipe prepared in the festive occassion of Bihu.
Ingredients:

• 1 kg Rice Flour (sieved)

• ½ kg Jaggery (grated)

• 200 g of Cooking Oil

• 1 cup of Warm Water

How to make Ghila Pitha:

• Add jaggery to a cup of warm water and mix well.

• Let it to stand for some time.

• Fold the rice flour into the jaggery water.

• Now knead well till the dough is smooth.

• Keep it covered aside for 10 minutes.

• Divide the dough into equal portions and make small balls.

• Flatten them into half-inch thick rounds.

• Finally, fry them on a medium flame till they are brown on both sides.

Til Ladoo

 Method

Step 1: Lightly roast the sesame seeds. Heat the jaggery in a pan till it melts and then add the roasted sesame seeds to it.

Step 2: Once the jaggery starts to firm up, remove from fire.

Step 3: Lightly grease your palm with some ghee and roll one tablespoon of the mixture into a ball.

Step 4: Be careful with the hot jaggery but the balls should be made while the mixture is still hot.

Step 5: Serve when the balls come to room temperature.

Ingredients

Sesame seeds 40 gm

Black or Brown Jaggery 50 gm

Ghee 1 tablespoon

Try making them.....You will surely love it.





























 

Fintas Park, Mahboula, Q8

Fintas Park at Mahboula is a very popular picnic spot and is located just opposite the new Coast Guard base. It’s a very big park with lot of greenery. While you relax with your friends and family, kids can play cricket, volleyball and football in the big fields or play area. We had visited it many times and our Assam Association Bihu get-togethers and “Khel-Dhemali”(games) are organized here. The entrance to the park is free and there is a Mc Donald’s here.

National Emblem Of Q8

The Emblem of Kuwait consisted of 'a helmet with a falcon and two intersecting flags over it' until the middle of 1963, when the Council of Ministers decided to replace it with a new one. The present emblem of Kuwait is a falcon with outspread wings embracing a dhow (boom) sailing on blue and white waves. It is a symbol of Kuwait's maritime tradition.
The inscription is Dawlat ul-Kuwait (State of Kuwait).

Flag Of Kuwait

The flag of Kuwait was adopted on September 7, 1961 and officially hoisted November 24, 1961. Before 1961, the flag of Kuwait, like those of other Gulf states, was red and white. The present flag is in the Pan-Arab colours ( for more details on Pan-Arab colours, check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan-Arab_colors); but each colour is significant in its own right.

Kuwaiti flags came in all shapes and sizes from the establishment of Kuwait until 1961, when on gaining full independence the government decided to replace the old flag with a new design. This was promulgated by a law issued on 7/9/1961 (27 Rabi 1 1381 AH). The first article stipulated that Kuwait's national flag should consist of a horizontal rectangle which is twice as long as it is wide. This is divided into three equal horizontal stripes, the top one being green, the middle white and the bottom red, with the side next to the flag pole forming the base of a black trapezoid protruding into the stripes.

The colours' meaning came from a poem by Safie Al-Deen Al-Hali:

White is peace.
Black is our oil.
Green are our lands.
Red is our blood.

Rules of hanging and flying the flag:

Horizontally: The green stripe should be on top.
Vertically: The green stripe should be on the right side of the flag.

In 2005, it became the design of the world's largest kite at a size of 1019 square metres. It was made in New Zealand by Peter Lynn, launched to the public for the first time in 2004 in the United Kingdom, officially launched in Kuwait in 2005, and has not been surpassed since.

Thank You

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Enchanting Dehradun, India

Once during our stay in Duliajan, I terribly wanted a BREAK; wanted to be away from the household chores and responsibilities. And it did come at the right time. One day my husband informed me in a hushed tone that we will go to Delhi. As reticent as he is, he did not disclose the details. It was only after a lot of persuasion he informed me that he has to go to Delhi for training and that I would be accompanying him. And without doubt I was thrilled by the news. Thus my planning for the trip started right away. I also decided to go to Dehradun where my brother-in-law and his family stay.

 Dehradun has always fascinated me. Not that I will be visiting it for the first time. I had been there and roamed its streets. I had seen its flowers growing in the wild and felt its thin winter air kissing me on my cheeks as a child tourist. Once the famous writer Ruskin Bond as a child, who has made Mussoorie his abode, asked his father what is Dehra like? His father told him-“It’s a green place. It lies in a valley in the foothills of the Himalayas, and it’s surrounded by forests. There are lots of trees in Dehra”. This sums up and completely describes the soul of Dehradun. A place surrounded by trees, forests and greens.

As my husband had eight days training programme , I decided to stay with my hubby for couple of days and then proceed to Dehradun where my hubby would join me. While I was taking leave from my hubby with a heavy heart to board the Shatabdi Express I still found some excitement and contentment to be at the place of my childhood dreams. My co-passengers were IAS officers who were on their way to Mussoorie for training. The start itself was edifying as we discussed various topics. To be in company of this group of illustrious people cannot be anything but educational. I came to know that Dehradun is bounded on the west by the Yamuna and on the east by the Ganges. According to the epic Mahabharata, Guru Drona founded the city. During the 18th century the area was succumbed to successive invaders, the last of whom were the GORKHAS. When the Gorkha War ended in 1816, the area was ceded to the British. It is now a political seat, commercial centre, resort and the terminus of a road and a rail line from the south. The section called the Dun is a valley between the Himalayan foothills and the Shivalik Range. A popular item that has made Dehradun known across the world is "Dehradooni basmati rice". Within India it’s famous for its Lychee. The city has a salubrious climate throughout the year. It boasts of the famous Doon School and Welham’s High School.

We were chatting endlessly for six hours as our train chugged into the Dehradun station. I saw my bro-in-law waiting to receive me. As I recounted my travel experience, he said that it has outgrown its size in recent years after it has become a capital city. Yes, I could feel it as he maneuvered his car through the busy roads. We finally reached home where my sis-in-law gave me a warm welcome. The next five days were hectic as every day we used to visit its various places of interest.

We visited the ancient Tapkeshwar Shiv Temple, situated on the banks of a rivulet, in the Garhi Cantt. Area, 5.5kms from the city bus stand. It is named Tapkeshwar as water droplets originating from a rock, fall on the Shivling placed in the shrine. Another place of immense attraction to visitors is the Sahastra dhara ,literally meaning, the “thousand fold spring” which makes an ideal picnic spot and the caves provide a breathtaking view. There is also a sulphur spring in which visitors often take bath. Its water is said to cure skin infections and possess other medicinal properties. Then there is this place of cultural and spiritual value,the Sai Darbar Temple. Near this Temple is a huge and colorful temple of Lord Buddha. They took me to Tapowan, which according to legend is the area where Guru Dronacharya had done penance.

As there were so many places to visit, we would wait eagerly for my bro-in-law to return from office and take us out. One evening he took us to the majestic Forest Research Institute, which is situated in a sylvan surrounding. It trains forest officers in India and has six museums that display the best species of flora and fauna to be found in India. The impressive Mindrolling Monastery ( one of the six major monasteries of the Nyingma school in Tibet) situated in Clement Town is worth visiting. Established in 1965 by His Eminence Khochhen Rinpoche and a small band of monks as the new seat of Minrolling in exile,it is one of the largest Buddhist Centers in existence today.As we sat discussing what more is left to visit, my sis-in-law reminded about the Temple of Lakshman Siddh, which is believed to be the place where Lakshmana had undergone penance for killing the demon king Ravana. While driving to the various places of interest my bro-in-law did show the Institutes like Anthropological Survey of India , Botanical Survey of India, Survey of India, Indian Institute of Petroleum, RIMC, IMA, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing and Zoological Survey Of India.

My hubby joined me as planned .We planned to go to Mussoorie(34kms) but due to heavy rain abandon the plan. The few days spent at Dehradun will be always memorable and with thoughts of coming to this enchanting place again I bade good-bye to my bro-in-law and his family.