Feature
Try some famous delicacies from different regions this Independence Day
New Delhi: There is no denying the fact that Indian food is as vast as its culture and lifestyle. The taste buds of Indians span beyond their regions as every part has its own specialty. So why not try some of the famous delicacies from different regions this Independence Day.
Here is a list of some famous Indian delicacies from the different regions to savour this Independence Day, penned down by Yogesh Ghorpade, CEO and Founder, Uplodefoodie and Purba Kalita, Co-Founder of SaleBhai.
* Modur Pulav (Kashmir): A delicious aromatic rice dish famous in Valley of Kashmir, Modur Pulav is sweet, and has saffron as its primary colour, the top colour in our tiranga. It has spices, mix of dry fruits, loads of ghee, and fruits like apples, pomegranate and pineapples. It can also be relished with paneer masala gravy and tangy Indian pickles.
* Modak (Maharashtra): Modak is an Indian sweet dish popular in Maharashtra mainly. Filled with coconut and jaggery, it is served as a Prasad in front of Lord Ganesha during Ganesh Chaturthi. It can be fried or steamed but it is mostly preferred steamed hot in ghee by Indians.
* Murukku (Tamil Nadu and Kerala): Considered as one of the best tea-time snacks, Murukku is made from rice flour and urad dal flour. It is an integral part of the South Indian cuisine and is tasty and relatively easy to prepare. One can easily make these in a large batch and enjoy leisurely whenever there is a craving for a quick snack.
This Independence Day try savour famous delicacies from different regions:
* Narikol (Assam): Coconuts have significance for the Hindus and are nutritious indeed. Made from tender coconut rolled into balls, Narikol is one of the most famous dishes in Assam and is especially seen a lot around Bihu. This can also be preserved for more than a week if kept in a dry air-tight container.
* Sarson Da Saag (Punjab and Haryana): One of the most popular Punjabi vegetarian delicacies is makke ki roti with sarson da saag. This famous combination is a flat-bread and mustard leaves gravy, prepared with different spices. Wash it down with a cool and refreshing glass of lassi.
* Mysore Pak (Karnataka): Mysore Pak is a South Indian dessert prepared with generous amounts of sugar, ghee, fragrant cardamom, and gram flour. It was first whipped up in the royal kitchen of the Mysore Palace and till date, it is considered the king of sweets down south.
* Rosogulla (West Bengal): The battle between West Bengal and Odisha claiming rosogolla as their own might have ended in the former’s favour, but none of that bitterness has trickled into the treat itself – the spongy, sweet, and delicious mithai that is a must in every East Indian celebration.
* Ghevar (Rajasthan): Rajasthani cuisine is marked by its savory dishes and succulent desserts. Among the latter, ghevar is probably the most drool worthy. This disc-shaped cake is made with mawa, ghee, and malai ghewar.
Entertainment
Meghalaya Reserves Legalized Gambling and Sports Betting for Tourists
The State Scores Extra High on Gaming-Friendly Industry Index
Meghalaya scored 92.85 out of 100 possible points in a Gaming Industry Index and proved to be India’s most gaming-friendly state following its recent profound legislation changes over the field allowing land-based and online gaming, including games of chance, under a licensing regime.
The index by the UK India Business Council (UKIBC) uses a scale of 0 to 100 to measure the level of legalisation on gambling and betting achieved by a state based on the scores over a set of seven different games – lottery, horse racing, betting on sports, poker, rummy, casino and fantasy sports
Starting from February last year, Meghalaya became the third state in India’s northeast to legalise gambling and betting after Sikkim and Nagaland. After consultations with the UKIBC, the state proceeded with the adoption of the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act, 2021 and the nullification of the Meghalaya Prevention of Gambling Act, 1970. Subsequently in December, the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Rules, 2021 were notified and came into force.
All for the Tourists
The move to legalise and license various forms of offline and online betting and gambling in Meghalaya is aimed at boosting tourism and creating jobs, and altogether raising taxation revenues for the northeastern state. At the same time, the opportunities to bet and gamble legally will be reserved only for tourists and visitors.
“We came out with a Gaming Act and subsequently framed the Regulation of Gaming Rules, 2021. The government will accordingly issue licenses to operate games of skill and chance, both online and offline,” said James P. K. Sangma, Meghalaya State Law and Taxation Minister speaking in the capital city of Shillong. “But the legalized gambling and gaming will only be for tourists and not residents of Meghalaya,” he continued.
To be allowed to play, tourists and people visiting the state for work or business purposes will have to prove their non-resident status by presenting appropriate documents, in a process similar to a bank KYC (Know Your Customer) procedure.
Meghalaya Reaches Out to a Vast Market
With 140 millions of people in India estimated to bet regularly on sports, and a total of 370 million desi bettors around prominent sporting events, as per data from one of the latest reports by Esse N Videri, Meghalaya is set to reach out and take a piece of a vast market.
Estimates on the financial value of India’s sports betting market, combined across all types of offline channels and online sports and cricket predictions and betting platforms, speak about amounts between $130 and $150 billion (roughly between ₹9.7 and ₹11.5 lakh crore).
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Delhi are shown to deliver the highest number of bettors and Meghalaya can count on substantial tourists flow from their betting circles. The sports betting communities of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are also not to be underestimated.
Among the sports, cricket is most popular, registering 68 percent of the total bet count analyzed by Esse N Videri. Football takes second position with 11 percent of the bets, followed by betting on FIFA at 7 percent and on eCricket at 5 percent. The last position in the Top 5 of popular sports for betting in India is taken by tennis with 3 percent of the bet count.
Local Citizens will Still have Their Teer Betting
Meghalaya residents will still be permitted to participate in teer betting over arrow-shooting results. Teer is a traditional method of gambling, somewhat similar to a lottery draw, and held under the rules of the Meghalaya Regulation of the Game of Arrow Shooting and the Sale of Teer Tickets Act, 2018.
Teer includes bettors wagering on the number of arrows that reach the target which is placed about 50 meters away from a team of 20 archers positioned in a semicircle.
The archers shoot volleys of arrows at the target for ten minutes, and players place their bets choosing a number between 0 and 99 trying to guess the last two digits of the number of arrows that successfully pierce the target.
If, for example, the number of hits is 256, anyone who has bet on 56 wins an amount eight times bigger than their wager.