Hathras-Land of Asafoetida

 Hathras district (previously called Mahamaya Nagar district) is a district of Uttar Pradesh state of India. The city of Hathras is the district headquarters. Hathras district is a part of Aligarh division. 

Hathras has been a large scale producer of Asafoetida or hing for the last 100 years. This has given the district a distinct identity.

What is Asafoetida? 

Asafoetida (Ferula asafoetida) is the dried sap — or gum resin — obtained from the roots of Ferula plants. It’s commonly dried, ground into a coarse, yellow powder, and used for either culinary or medicinal purposes. As a seasoning, asafoetida is known for its strong, pungent odor, which is due to its high concentration of sulfur compounds. In fact, due to its unpleasant smell, it’s sometimes referred to as stinking gum. 

For most foodies, though, it comes as a surprise that this signature flavour and household staple was never cultivated in India. Or the fact that the raw produce comes from distant lands of Iran and Afghanistan and has been produced in a small village of Hathras in Uttar Pradesh for over 100 years now.Hathras was an industrial hub during the British Raj. Cotton milling, knives, the spice asafoetida or and Desi Ghee products were the main industries.The aroma of food after asafoetida is so rich, that the spice counts as a must-have for culinary enthusiasts. Known to also have medicinal properties, it was rumoured to cure many “women’s ailments’ and also act as an antidote to opium.

In Hathras now, hing continues to be a mainstay for residents. The region, boasting of about 135 factories and about 60-70 crores worth of business, provides steady employment. 

Medicinal Uses of Hing-

People use asafoetida for conditions such as breathing or throat problems, digestion problems. Asafoetida is also sometimes applied directly to the skin for corns and calluses, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.In manufacturing, asafoetida is used as a fragrance in cosmetics and as a flavouring ingredient in foods and beverages.

 

You will find many manufacturing companies of Asafoetida in Hathras which produce unaltered hing powder.... 

Images-google

Dances of Uttar Pradesh

 Uttar Pradesh was the land of the great sages and hermits and the singing of ancient hymns and mantras laid the basic tradition of music, which has blossomed into a musical tradition. The medieval age saw the emergence of two distinct strands of music.Blessed with cultural richness, Uttar Pradesh has grabbed the attention of the tourists with its popular folk dance and music. The Charkula Dance of the Braj region in Uttar Pradesh is one of the spectacular folk dance where one can enjoy the fascinating sight where a veiled woman dancer performs with more than hundred oil lamps on her head.

Coming to Raslila which has been introduced through the mythological stories in Bhagavad Gita is a dance form which depicts Lord Krishna's love towards the milkmaids as well as his consort Radha in Vrindavan region. Reflecting the traditional essence and practiced in the entire Uttar Pradesh, Ramlila is one of the oldest folk dances and play of the state which depicts the life of Lord Rama and is mainly performed during the Dussehra festival making Ramlila an innate part of the religious culture and practice.

1.Charkula Dance-The Charkula Dance is a dance performed in Uttar Pradesh. This is a dance where women place a large pyramid of oil lamps on their head. This dance honors the birth of Radha, who is Krishna’s beloved. The local legend says that when Radha was born, her grandmother placed a lamp atop her head to announce the birth. It’s really quite amazing when you see the women twirl and move about without a hint of hestitation.

3.Raslila-The dance form of Raslila owes its origin to the amorous encounters of Lord Krishna and his milkmaids. According to legend, once the milkmaids demanded Krishna to be their partner in dance. To please everyone, Krishna cast a spell. This spell made each of those milkmaids think that Krishna was dancing with them. Thus, the custom of Raslila was born.At Uttar Pradesh Raslila, you would find the presence of a folk tradition that has incorporated various fundamentals of Indian classical music,dance and drama.

4.Ramlila-Ramlila is another dance form which is primarily practiced in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Bihar. It could also be one of the oldest folk dances of Uttar Pradesh.It depicts the life of Lord Rama in play and dance form. Just like Raslila, Ramlila takes us to the life journey of god Rama who is believed to be another incarnation of God Vishnu.Since, this folk form is mainly performed during the Dussehra festival, it makes the folk dance an innate part of religious culture and practice.

6.Kathak-The word Kathak means the “narrator”. Kathak dance is the art of narration through slick yet sharp body movements. It is accompanied by the traditional instrument Tabla or pakhavaj.The dance owes its origin to the state of Uttar Pradesh. It started its journey from the courts of Emperors and Nawabs of the then Awadh and has traversed a path that was full of turmoil to reach where it is i.e. in the hearts of the masses.

Image credits-Google

Interesting facts of Uttar pradesh

Uttar Pradesh is a land of culture, tradition, history, festival, agriculture, cuisines, and tourist spots. From ancient temples to national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, historic places, spectacular architectural marvels, massive forts, and scenic beauty, the state is rich in every sense.It has many ancient temples,Historic places, monuments,scenic beauty and also is home to one of the seven wonders of the world.Uttar Pradesh is a place of worship and sacred ghats where millions of pilgrims come to take a bath every year.Let us know some interesting facts about Uttar Pradesh.

Image credit-ohfact.com

1.Birth Place of Gods-

The Kingdom of Kosala, one of 16 Mahajanapadas was located within the modern boundary of Uttar Pradesh.Lord Rama was born here in Ayodhya.Lord Krishna was born here in Mathura,and also spent his childhood in Vrindavan here.

2.A Tree from Heaven

Parijat Tree is usually 10-15ft tall.Also known as the Coral Jasmine Tree,some people also refer to it as Kalpa Vrishk or Kalpa Taru-Wish Granting Tree.It is interesting to note that the Parijat tree blooms at night and the flowers fall on the ground by themselves, making it the only flower that can be offered to the deities after picking them from the ground.Some people are of the view that Lord Krishna brought the tree for his wives Rukmini and Satyabhama from heaven (Indraloka) to his kingdom in Dwarka.

3.First Human Settlement in this State-

The first recorded human settlement in Uttar Pradesh took place around 70 or 80 thousand years ago. They lived as hunter-gatherers and spread all across the state.

4.Most Populated State of India-

Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in India with over 200 million population. It makes up about 16.6% population of India. If Uttar Pradesh were a country, It would be the 6th most populous country in the World. 

5.One of the largest economies in India-

It is the 4th largest economy in the country after Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka. In terms of purchasing power parity, it is the second largest economy in India after Maharashtra. Agriculture and Service sector contribute most to the state’s economy.

6.Rich Flora And Fauna-

Forests account for 12.8% of the total land of Uttar Pradesh. The forests near the Vindhya mountain range, there grows dhak, teak, mahua, salai, chironji and tendu. Uttar Pradesh is also rich in Fauna. A variety of fauna is found here including Tigers, Leopards, Sloth Bears, Stag, Wild Bears, Sambhars, Chital, Jackals, Jungle cats, Porcupines, Crocodile, Gharial, Hares, Squirrels, Monitor Lizards, Foxes, etc. The common birds include crow, dove, pigeon, black partridge, jungle fowl, house sparrow, peafowl, blue jay, parakeet, kite, Sarus crane, mynah, quail, bulbul, kingfisher, and woodpecker.

 7.State of Legendary Artists-Uttar Pradesh has been home of many legendary artists such as Naushad Ali, Begum Akhtar, Talat Mehmood, Anup Jalota, Baba Sehgal, Bismillah Khan, Shubha Mudgal, Ravi Shankar, Amitabh Bachchan, Vikash Maharaj, Kishan Maharaj, Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Gopal Shankar Misra, Siddheshwari Devi, Gopal Shankar Misra, Girija Devi, etc.

8.Worlds' Largest Gathering Takes place Here-The world's largest gathering Kumbh Mela takes place here after every 12years in Allahabad.Millions of pilgrims come here to take a holy bath in the river Ganga from all over the world. Allahabad is one of the four holy pilgrimage sites where the Kumbha Mela is organised. In 2013, Allahabad Kumbh Mela registered 12 crores or 120 million human visits which is the largest human gathering in history.

9.Unique Holi of Barsana- Holi the festival of colors is celebrated with a great deal of fervor and enthusiasm throughout the state of Uttar Pradesh. But differences mark the way in which they are celebrated. The small town of Barsana located at a distance of about 42 km from Mathura is well known for its distinctive manner of celebrating Holi. Barsana, the birth place of Radha, Lord Krishna’s beloved attracts a large number of visitors each year when it celebrates Holi.

Cuisines of Uttar Pradesh

 Divided into 65 cities, Uttar Pradesh is the largest state in India in terms of population. Home to over 204.7 million people, Uttar Pradesh is so diverse in terms of languages, attire, cultures, and food at best. It is also known as the “Heartland Of India” for its rich culture & traditions.Uttar Pradesh has something to tantalize your palate. Everything from chat, samosas, ras malai and kebabs are part of the cuisine. enormity and sheer diversity prevalent across the length and breadth of its vast territory.The main genre of Uttar Pradesh cuisine is Awadhi, and the cooking patterns of the state are similar to those of the rest of Northern India. The Awadhi cuisine of Uttar Pradesh bears similarities to those of Kashmir and Punjab.

1.Batti Chokha-Bati Chokha is one of the best dishes of eastern Uttar Pradesh. Batti is made from wheat dough and baked in a mud oven, and chokha consists of potatoes, tomatoes, and brinjal. It is served with green chutney, chaat masala, and desi ghee.

Image credit-brreakfastcare.com

2.Varanasi Ki Lassi-Varanasi Ki Lassi is the most popular Lassi all over India. It is served in Kulhads with some pistachio and cream. It is usually taken in summer to feel cool and fresh. 

3.Galouti Kebabs-This dish is a delectable minced meat kebab that is mixed with a variety of spices. The kebabs dissolve as soon as you place them inside your mouth and leave you craving more. The nawabs were known for feasting on Galawati or Galouti Kebabs which was a royal delicacy at the time.

4.Aloo Rasedaar-This is most liked breakfast choice of Uttar Pradesh people. As the name tells, the dish is the combination of crispy and spicy aloo sabzi with deep fried wheat chapattis.

5.Lucknow Biryani-nation-wide favourite, Lucknawi Biryani is prepared with cashew nut paste, saffron, curd, mace powder and star anise. Awadhi cuisine is incomplete without this star dish where the meat(mutton or chicken) is cooked on a slow fire. Biryani served at Baba’s in Swaroop Nagar is an all-time favourite of the locals.

6. Basket Chat-One of the famous foods of Uttar Pradesh, Basket Chat, is originally known for its unique serving style and making. It’s a heavenly platter for chat lovers loaded with sev, curd, coriander, and other items.

7.Banarasi Paan-Unlike other famous foods of Uttar Pradesh, Banarasi Paan is an exotic combination of areca nuts, gulkand, kattha, and many other ingredients wrapped in a fresh betel leaf.Ingredients contain gulkand, cherry, tutti fruity, and some flavored substances. Paan is of many types like chocolate paan, dry ice paan, Meetha paan, etc. The best time to eat Banarsi Paan is after a meal as it acts as a mouth sweetener.

8.Shahi Tukda-ShahiTukda is a famous sweet dish of the Oudh region. Shahi Tukda is a type of bread pudding made up of bread, milk, saffron, cashew, green cardamom, and sugar. It is a very delicious dish to eat.

Image credits-Google