Kanji Day-2015

Cheers to the most divine kanji on earth! 

They call it 'winter’s parting bite' – an unusually cold March morning, marked by occasional blasts of wind and intermittent showers. But all that was fine till a huge dark cloud appeared over the Garden and left us drenched to the skin within minutes. The exercises were instantly disrupted. No one came prepared, least of all with umbrellas. Arora grabbed a plastic chair and held it above his head to shield himself. The rest of us simply took shelter in the dripping bushes, bones rattling in the freezing downpour. In such foul weather conditions, what could have been more god-sent than a stiff glass of kanji, shaken and not stirred?
Santosh Tyagi conjured this miracle with four big bottles of the crimson, body-warming drink – enough to go for all of us twice over.

Santosh personally serves the crimson drink

Arora protects his head with a chair

Made mainly out of fermented beetroot and carrots, this spicy, lip-smacking herbal concoction is considered an antidote to cold, not to mention its other health properties. But not everyone can make kanji. The trick lies in the fermentation and here, Santosh holds some kind of a copyright. A little this way or that, the kanji could taste horribly bitter or unbearably sour. Today’s kanji was just perfectly balanced and blended -- better than anything Santosh has been treating us to on our annual Kanji Day.

Mohar Singh shivers in the rain

Navin Shah (in white)

Whether or not this had to do with a ‘trade secret’ she holds or the weather conditions we were caught in, it must be said that kanji has never tasted better from any other kitchen.
Significantly, we found a new admirer of Big Laaf in Navin-bhai Shah today. A regular at the Garden, he had been observing us from afar, occasionally commenting on our dress code (eg. wearing green on Wednesdays), the sense of discipline (Ho-Ho), the way we conduct ourselves freely regardless of community or faith and so on. Today, he made bold at complimenting us and with pronounced humility, offered to treat us to idli and tea on Saturday morning (March 7). “It is not much, but should you all agree, I would be very happy,” he explained.
He must be joking. Who can refuse such an offer? Anything to make anybody happy… and our tummies happier!
Jagmohan Papneja:
A big thanks to Santosh-ji for hosting the kanji drink. Really, it was wonderful, having good taste which refreshed everyone. We now look forward to Saturday (7/3/2015) for the idli-tea party, sponsored by a good-hearted man, Naveen Bhai Shah.
Kiran Prakash:
BIG LAAF keeps on surprising me. Thank you very much, Santosh-ji for the delicious kanji. Sometimes I feel that the way Santosh-ji conducts herself, cares and treats us, only a mother can do. Navin bhai's invitation too teaches us a lesson in human relationship. If anybody needs proof of UNITY IN DIVERSITY, he should visit our Garden.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
The unexpected rains left everyone feeling sticky. The excellent treat of kanji prepared by Santosh-ji came as a great relief. Everyone enjoyed it. Many thanks, Santosh-ji. It is nice of Navin Bhai Shah to invite everyone for idli and tea on Saturday. Good luck to him.