One thing predictable about Intelligent Freaks is their unpredictability. And same would be explained in this blog.
Delhi is a city of politicians, political supporters, businessman, call centers, govt. employee and unemployed groups. All in considerable population, complimenting each other.
You'll find all kind of people over here and from each part of the country and surrounding. South- North- West- East- North East and Bangladeshis too.
Delhi has everything that you can ask for. The real beauty of being in Delhi is that you get almost everything from every part of country over here.
This city is not just limited to it's versatility, it is in fact a heritage city too, with a vast and interesting history.
A business center and capital city of several kingdoms since 8th century.
Anyway this blog is not about Delhi or it's heritage and existence.
This blog is about Intelligent Freak events and their visit to Odeon paan Shop: A famous paan waala in heart of Delhi- Cannaught place area, inner circle, situated along Odeon cinema complimenting cinema hall's existence over there.
Paan has its own traditional, cultural and ethnic image.
It holds it's unique unchallenged importance in life of each Indian. At least of the generation born before 80's.
And due to it's importance in Indian's lifestyle a paan waala is always expected to be neat, clean and hygienic.
No matter what kind of locality you come from, but you would want your paan waala to be up to the mark.
Although the standards have fallen down these days, still there are places where you'll find a paan waala running a shop the way it is supposed to be run.
Most of the paan waala in delhi (at-least the older ones) would be found wearing white dhoti-kurta or white kurta payjama with a red striped towel resting on their shoulder. Lips red with katha (an ingredient in prepared paan) and color of paan leaf.
An orange or red tillak (teeka) on forehead. Often referred as pandit-ji, these people are respected by youth and elders both.
The best thing about these paan waala (the experienced ones) is that they have a collection of home remedies and Ayurvedic treatments for small-big and common diseases.
Preferably listening to old songs or news on radio, these vendors would most of the times found smiling and preparing some or the other thing.
A conventional Paan waala look like this.
:- A counter of - 4ft * 2ft * 3ft (H*L*B) or 10ft*4ft*4ft (H*L*B) not exact dimensions though.
Though a bigger shop can vary as per the size of shop in market.
Several small (usually steel) boxes, containing ingredients for preparing paan, an agarbati for constant essence in air and to keep away the mosquitoes and a photograph of Hanuman ji (A hindu god) resting on counter.
Odeon:
Having one of the best locations in Delhi, Odeon gets good business from regular as well as random customers.
Situated almost opposite to the Odeon cinema hall, but on the same lane, it gets a good business from people who come for movie.
Constructed in circular shape, it is divided into four arcs giving births to four different counters easing handling of large no of customers at the same time. Each arc measuring 90 degree.
The man who holds seat at one of the counter (where we had Paan) looks exactly the way a traditional Paan wala should look.
Sitting comfortably doing his work and his assistant handling on the spot activities.
USP:
What holds Odeon at the top positions among other Paan shops is the variety it offers for different kind of people.
Looking at the varieties you will definitely fall for at-least one of them either out of curiosity or for the love of that particular flavor otherwise.
Few Varieties offered by Odeon are as follows.
1. Chuski Paan (Specialty)
2. Ghundi Paan
3. Meetha Paan (Filled with Gulkand: Preserve of Rose petals in Sugar)
4. Coconut Paan (sweetened Coconut powder)
5. Strawberry Paan
6. Butterscotch Paan
7. Mango Paan. (Was not available, as season of Mango had already gone)
8. Competition Paan
9. Chocolate Paan
10. Fruit n Nut Paan
11. Nutty Chocolate Paan
12. Frozen Paan
13. Chipas Paan. (With Molasses)
14. Nirala Paan (Was tasty and had few dry fruits with some special Chutney)
15. 5 pm Paan (No one tried it. The name suggests that it's made for people returning home from office and possibly could contain tobacco or Zarda. Nobody even bothered to ask for).
16. Cho Mocco Paan
17. ITR Paan
18. Maghaj Meetha Paan (Maghaj is a dry fruit with high medicinal value and good taste)
19. Flood Paan
20. Blackcurrant Paan
21. Ice Flavor Paan (Meetha Paan with Ice added separately. It's different from Chuski or Frozen Paan)
The best part was to see the face of each and every member victimized by the hands of Paan waala when he forced the big Chuski paan into their mouth.
Big sparkling eyes with swelled up cheeks filled with Ice, unable to open lips or to speak.
With that big amount of ice and stuff filled in mouth no one was even able to chew it or gulp it all.
For few seconds you go into the "Unable to do anything" pose.
But it's fun to experience it. I can guarantee that you will enjoy that moment and obviously the taste of the paan.
Stay Happy and Be an Intelligent Freak
Piyush Acharya
9953227975
Delhi is a city of politicians, political supporters, businessman, call centers, govt. employee and unemployed groups. All in considerable population, complimenting each other.
You'll find all kind of people over here and from each part of the country and surrounding. South- North- West- East- North East and Bangladeshis too.
Delhi has everything that you can ask for. The real beauty of being in Delhi is that you get almost everything from every part of country over here.
This city is not just limited to it's versatility, it is in fact a heritage city too, with a vast and interesting history.
A business center and capital city of several kingdoms since 8th century.
Anyway this blog is not about Delhi or it's heritage and existence.
This blog is about Intelligent Freak events and their visit to Odeon paan Shop: A famous paan waala in heart of Delhi- Cannaught place area, inner circle, situated along Odeon cinema complimenting cinema hall's existence over there.
Paan has its own traditional, cultural and ethnic image.
It holds it's unique unchallenged importance in life of each Indian. At least of the generation born before 80's.
And due to it's importance in Indian's lifestyle a paan waala is always expected to be neat, clean and hygienic.
No matter what kind of locality you come from, but you would want your paan waala to be up to the mark.
Although the standards have fallen down these days, still there are places where you'll find a paan waala running a shop the way it is supposed to be run.
Most of the paan waala in delhi (at-least the older ones) would be found wearing white dhoti-kurta or white kurta payjama with a red striped towel resting on their shoulder. Lips red with katha (an ingredient in prepared paan) and color of paan leaf.
An orange or red tillak (teeka) on forehead. Often referred as pandit-ji, these people are respected by youth and elders both.
The best thing about these paan waala (the experienced ones) is that they have a collection of home remedies and Ayurvedic treatments for small-big and common diseases.
Preferably listening to old songs or news on radio, these vendors would most of the times found smiling and preparing some or the other thing.
A conventional Paan waala look like this.
:- A counter of - 4ft * 2ft * 3ft (H*L*B) or 10ft*4ft*4ft (H*L*B) not exact dimensions though.
Though a bigger shop can vary as per the size of shop in market.
Several small (usually steel) boxes, containing ingredients for preparing paan, an agarbati for constant essence in air and to keep away the mosquitoes and a photograph of Hanuman ji (A hindu god) resting on counter.
Odeon:
Having one of the best locations in Delhi, Odeon gets good business from regular as well as random customers.
Situated almost opposite to the Odeon cinema hall, but on the same lane, it gets a good business from people who come for movie.
Constructed in circular shape, it is divided into four arcs giving births to four different counters easing handling of large no of customers at the same time. Each arc measuring 90 degree.
The man who holds seat at one of the counter (where we had Paan) looks exactly the way a traditional Paan wala should look.
Sitting comfortably doing his work and his assistant handling on the spot activities.
USP:
What holds Odeon at the top positions among other Paan shops is the variety it offers for different kind of people.
Looking at the varieties you will definitely fall for at-least one of them either out of curiosity or for the love of that particular flavor otherwise.
Few Varieties offered by Odeon are as follows.
1. Chuski Paan (Specialty)
2. Ghundi Paan
3. Meetha Paan (Filled with Gulkand: Preserve of Rose petals in Sugar)
4. Coconut Paan (sweetened Coconut powder)
5. Strawberry Paan
6. Butterscotch Paan
7. Mango Paan. (Was not available, as season of Mango had already gone)
8. Competition Paan
9. Chocolate Paan
10. Fruit n Nut Paan
11. Nutty Chocolate Paan
12. Frozen Paan
13. Chipas Paan. (With Molasses)
14. Nirala Paan (Was tasty and had few dry fruits with some special Chutney)
15. 5 pm Paan (No one tried it. The name suggests that it's made for people returning home from office and possibly could contain tobacco or Zarda. Nobody even bothered to ask for).
16. Cho Mocco Paan
17. ITR Paan
18. Maghaj Meetha Paan (Maghaj is a dry fruit with high medicinal value and good taste)
19. Flood Paan
20. Blackcurrant Paan
21. Ice Flavor Paan (Meetha Paan with Ice added separately. It's different from Chuski or Frozen Paan)
I.F.E's touch:
Apart from organizing a freaky event to taste and savor different Paans, IFE had to do something different in it. So here we are with our Intelligently Freaky Idea.
We had a round of Chuski paan before getting to taste other Paans. And an informal competition of who could eat the biggest Chuski Paan and then have one more again.
What exactly is Chuski Paan?
Two leaves of Paan are taken together with one overlapping the other from sides. The guy preparing would hold them in his hand and the mount crushed ice on it. Different type of flavored syrups would be added to it, including Rose and Chocolate to enhance the taste. It is then folded and then served directly to your mouth by the hands of the assistant who prepares it.
Yes! you read it right. This Paan is served directly, into your mouth and will not be given to you in your hand.
It's size is far more than the size of your mouth and only the expert knows how he manages to fit a paan of that big a size in customers mouth.
The best part was to see the face of each and every member victimized by the hands of Paan waala when he forced the big Chuski paan into their mouth.
Big sparkling eyes with swelled up cheeks filled with Ice, unable to open lips or to speak.
With that big amount of ice and stuff filled in mouth no one was even able to chew it or gulp it all.
For few seconds you go into the "Unable to do anything" pose.
But it's fun to experience it. I can guarantee that you will enjoy that moment and obviously the taste of the paan.
Our competition winner (Ankit Awasthi)
Best and Worst at Odeon:
Chuski as I have already mentioned is a must try.
Apart from that Coconut, Niraala, Nutty chocolate and freshly prepared Meetha paan are really good.
Fruit n Nut was a disappointment. Frozen Paan wasn't any good either.
Rest depends on the taste of a person.
Chuski as I have already mentioned is a must try.
Apart from that Coconut, Niraala, Nutty chocolate and freshly prepared Meetha paan are really good.
Fruit n Nut was a disappointment. Frozen Paan wasn't any good either.
Rest depends on the taste of a person.
Beware of:
1. Supari (Beatul Nut)
One of the most common ingredients in paan is Supari. A Paanwala would have different quality of Supari with him. But majorly it is available as wet and dry.
In case you've never had Supari in life or have never had paan before try avoiding this.
Chances are you won't know how to chew it and when to throw it out. Some people swallow it after chewing it thoroughly but again you won't know how to do it and might end up coughing up at the end.
2. Tobacco:
Although in big cities like Delhi you won't find Paan being served with tobacco, at-least not at the good shops.
In-fact you won't be given tobacco unless you ask for it.
If you are elsewhere in country like in a smaller city you might be served tobacco in paan without you event asking for it.
Try avoiding it, as it has severe bad effects on health and is basically used for intoxication.
In India Tobacco would be called by different names.
(1). Tambakoo
(2). Jarda.
3. Smoking after Chuski Paan
Don't smoke after having Chuski Paan. You'll be doing a dental suicide. You won't feel anything initially but after 3-4 hours you would die of pain.
Few members of our group had few puffs and kept complaining about the pain for next 3 days.
PS: Rather than surfing net for different Paans, go out and try it. We had an amazing experience and I wish you too have a wonderful time enjoying Paan.
Coming up blogs on Shakes, Navratre and Dushehra in few days, in no particular order. Stay tuned and follow us on facebook.
Page: https://www.facebook.com/IFE.NewDelhi?ref=hl
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/intelligent.freaks/
Check out more pics at: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.597750783597006&type=1
1. Supari (Beatul Nut)
One of the most common ingredients in paan is Supari. A Paanwala would have different quality of Supari with him. But majorly it is available as wet and dry.
In case you've never had Supari in life or have never had paan before try avoiding this.
Chances are you won't know how to chew it and when to throw it out. Some people swallow it after chewing it thoroughly but again you won't know how to do it and might end up coughing up at the end.
2. Tobacco:
Although in big cities like Delhi you won't find Paan being served with tobacco, at-least not at the good shops.
In-fact you won't be given tobacco unless you ask for it.
If you are elsewhere in country like in a smaller city you might be served tobacco in paan without you event asking for it.
Try avoiding it, as it has severe bad effects on health and is basically used for intoxication.
In India Tobacco would be called by different names.
(1). Tambakoo
(2). Jarda.
3. Smoking after Chuski Paan
Don't smoke after having Chuski Paan. You'll be doing a dental suicide. You won't feel anything initially but after 3-4 hours you would die of pain.
Few members of our group had few puffs and kept complaining about the pain for next 3 days.
PS: Rather than surfing net for different Paans, go out and try it. We had an amazing experience and I wish you too have a wonderful time enjoying Paan.
Coming up blogs on Shakes, Navratre and Dushehra in few days, in no particular order. Stay tuned and follow us on facebook.
Page: https://www.facebook.com/IFE.NewDelhi?ref=hl
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/intelligent.freaks/
Check out more pics at: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.597750783597006&type=1
Stay Happy and Be an Intelligent Freak
Piyush Acharya
9953227975
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