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Pakistan's National Commission for Minorities has recommended that the government enact a law whereby new converts from non-Muslim communities are prevented from marrying for at least six months after conversion, as part of measures to curb forcible conversions.
The recommendation from the newly-formed body of minorities was made against the backdrop of a nationwide controversy over allegations of the forcible conversion and marriage of three Hindu women from Sindh province, which has Pakistan's largest population of Hindus.
The National Commission for Minorities, during its second meeting yesterday, further recommended that a judicial magistrate, and not a police officer, should independently record the statements of converts.
Currently, after receiving a complaint from the family of a convert, police registers an FIR under Article 161 of the Criminal Procedure Code and a police officer records the statement that is produced in court in the form of a charge-sheet.
However, minority communities claim statements recorded by a police officer are "mostly never based on facts", The Express Tribune said in a report.
There is a provision in Article 164 of CrPC under which a judicial magistrate can record the statement but the law is not implemented on the pretext that the magistrate is a judicial officer and should not record statements in cases that he has to ultimately decide.
The National Commission for Minorities, which is headed by the Minister for National Harmony, is a multi-party forum that includes two parliamentarians each from the Muslim, Hindu and Christian communities and one representative from the Sikh and Parsi communities.

Book: And All Is Said: Memoir Of A Home Divided
Author: Zareer Masani
Publisher: Penguin
Pages: 248
Price: Rs299
At one level, this book is a cathartic outpouring of a lifetime of repressed feelings. Though the writer Zareer Masani was showered with love as a child, being the son of two tempestuous personalities like Minoo and Shakuntala Masani was tough for him during his growing years, and he has written about this experience with unbridled candour. The predicament of being caught in the crossfire of his parents’ fights is underlined in the sub-heading of the book, Memoir of a home divided.
But the memoir is more than just a personal catharsis. Zareer’s parents were charismatic figures playing an active role in post-Independence politics. What emerges from the narration of their lives is an intimate glimpse into the workings of other political figures. Minoo Masani was a socialist, but after Independence, he became a staunch supporter of free-enterprise liberalism and a strident opponent of Nehru’s socialist policies. The clash of the two titans makes for entertaining reading, as their arguments are peppered with sharp, wry humour.
But before they went on the path of collision, Minoo Masani was very close to the Congress stalwart and often visited the Nehru family home in Allahabad. And he must have narrated to his son many an anecdote about these visits, some of which Zareer has recounted in his book. Apparently, at the breakfast table one day, Jawahar joked about a Parsi nationalist Feroze Gandhi being infatuated with his wife Kamala. “Minoo, can you imagine any man being in love with my wife?” asked Nehru ungallantly. And Minoo replied, “Of course I can! I could easily fall in love with her myself.” Unfortunately, the book does not reveal how Nehru reacted when, after Kamala’s death, Feroze transferred his attentions to Nehru’s daughter, Indira.
While Minoo consistently opposed the socialist policies of Nehru and later Indira, his wife Shakuntala became an ardent supporter of the latter. This widened the growing rift between the two firebrands to a point when reconciliation became impossible.
Sadly, Shakuntala sacrificed her marriage for political ignominy, as Indira soon banished her to the political wilderness, proving that in politics, no one is a permanent friend or foe. Shakuntala continued to hover on the periphery of Indira’s coterie, hoping in vain to someday get a plum posting.
Zareer’s account of his mother’s life — from being the pampered daughter of Sir JP Srivastava, a Viceregal Councillor during the British Raj, to being the wife of the brilliant Swatantra Party founder-member Minoo Masani, to depending on the occasional crumbs Indira Gandhi tossed her way — is tragic. Beautiful, rebellious, talented, Shakuntala was, at one time, the toast of glittering parties, with the likes of JRD Tata playing golf with her, taking her for long drives and even contemplating marriage. But she threw it all away by refusing, in her arrogance, to heed the advice of close family members. Her last months were spent in a National Health Service hospital in London, with none of her suitors beside her. Ridden with multiple health problems, tied to the dialysis machine, severely neurotic, it was an end totally unworthy of a figure as dominating and scintillating as hers.
And All Is Said is a rich tapestry of the times, with the waft and weft of numerous strands being skilfully woven together to produce a detailed pattern that is worth preserving. This is one for the bookshelf.

A still from Ferrari Ki Sawaari

Film: Ferrari Ki Sawaari
Cast: Sharman Joshi, Boman Irani, Ritwik Sahore
Director: Rajesh Mapuskar
Rating: ***1/2
Having worked previously as assistant director on films like 3 Idiots and Lage Raho Munna Bhai, a simple feel-good flick with a message was what was expected out of Rajesh Mapuskar, and that's exactly what he delivers.
Cricket, Ferrari and the adventures of a middle class Parsi family is what this film revolves around. Ferrari ki... has a lot going on for itself on the surface. An interesting story line, a strong cast and of course the whole suspense involving whether or not Sachin Tendulkar will grace the film with his presence, is going to draw in huge crowds.
Any film with a comic element tends to venture into the realms of ridiculous, but in the spirit of the genre you just go with it. Rustam (Sharman Joshi), or Rusy as he is called by all, is an RTO officer and a damn straight one at that. As a doting father his life’s sole purpose is to make his son Kayo’s (Ritwik Sahore) dream of becoming a cricketer come true. This ever-smiling father-son duo live with a grumpy yet sweet old grandpa Deboo (Boman Irani) who spends his days watching TV and cracking peanuts.
When Kayo is given an opportunity to go to London to be part of a prestigious cricket camp, Rusy takes it upon himself to somehow get hold of the large fee of Rs1.5 lakhs in order to send him to London. Thus begins a crazy ride (or sawaari if you prefer) to get the money by “borrowing” Sachin Tendulkar’s Ferrari for a few hours in order to loan it to an MLA for a wedding. The events lead to one crisis after another and amidst all this, you come across way too many clichés, but if I make another peep about the plot I would be entering serious spoilers territory.
The connection between the Sachin’s Ferrari and a child’s desire to go to London and attend a cricket camp seems a bit farfetched, but then again in the spirit of the genre...
The best part about Ferrari ki... is its sincere performances. It’s not a star-studded ensemble but when you have such simple characters, you don’t really need one. Joshi is adorable as the honest and kind-hearted Rustam. Boman Irani is downright brilliant as a crabby old bawa and is successful in drawing out many laughs throughout the film. Sahore too is quite cute and does well as little Kayo.
Apart from the main caste there are many colourful characters without whom the film would not be half as entertaining. Seema Bhargava as the loud-mouthed wedding planner, is just hilarious and owns every scene she is in. The security guard who lets Sachin Tendulkar’s Ferrari just roll out of the gates without any question is another one to look out for.
The background score of the film can be described in one word, 'happy'. The music is upbeat and makes you want to jump up, throw your hands in the air and do a tapori street dance right there in the theatre. That said, the film could have easily done away with Mala Jau De and the title track Ferrari Ki Sawaari. Vidya Balan’s Lavani item number has been generating much buzz but it adds nothing to the film and in fact comes as an unwelcome pause in an otherwise decently paced film. The title track going ffff... rrrrrr... dekho ferrari is just plain annoying.
All these factors combined with a tear-jerker of an ending makes Ferrari Ki Sawaari a full family entertainment flick. It is a good way to spend your weekend and definitely your money’s worth.

When & Where: On till July 10, Kala Ghoda Café

It’s hard to imagine our city without streets jam-packed with four-wheelers. But rewind back to India of the 1900s, and it was the simple two-wheeler bicycle that dominated the roads.
The bicycle was used by a large number of Indians across various sections of society and though the popularity of the vehicle has dwindled in the last 100-plus years; it still reigns as a popular means of transport with domestic workers, dabbawallas, doodhwallas and newspaper vendors.
Determined to showcase the history of this humble vehicle is photographer Pat who likes to collect and preserve old photos and has currently put together a collection of vintage pictures of bicyclists with the help of Kala Ghoda café owner, Farhad Bomanjee.
“A lot of photography unfortunately is ignored in this country. The bicycle is a simple machine that requires no fuel and is pollution-free. Countries like Amsterdam make full use of this mode of transport and despite its decline it’s still used in India too,” says Pat, who hopes to motivate more people to cycle. The collection of black and white photographs, are mostly from pre-Independence India, while a couple are from the 1970s. Members of the Parsi community are a common feature, while a few pictures are of Maharashtrians. Interestingly, a number of them feature women cyclists, a rarity nowadays. While one photograph highlights the joy and elation of a school child trying out a cycle for the first time, another shows four beautifully dressed women set to go into town. Each of these is centered on Mumbai, Dahanu or other parts of Maharashtra. Pat, who has been a professional photographer for the past 12 years, likes to source old pictures for his personal collection and plans to showcase some on the Jazz Yatra of the ’70s next. Meanwhile, on his agenda is promoting the bicycle as a viable source of transport and he even plans to open a bike rental shop sometime in the future.

Bricklane grill
The Escape Hotel, 12th Main, off 100 Feet Road,
Indiranagar
Call: 42415555
Rating:***
White furniture, lovely exposed brick walls, music that doesn’t make you feel too old and an ambience that will make a lot of restaurateurs jealous — Bricklane Grill at the Escape Hotel on 100 Feet Road Indiranagar has been on the radar of many Bangaloreans for a while. Why else would the place be running to a packed house week after week? This partially alfresco restaurant, with an indoor dining section on an upper level, offers grills, a smattering of European, Indian and Parsi food, without having a menu that’s too heavy to handle.
On my first visit there, which was quite accidental, I found myself in the middle of a Juke Box night the place plays host to; a stream of people of all ages thronged the place as we found it terribly difficult to get a table. The service was slow beyond belief — it took someone nearly 15 minutes to get the menu — and the food was just about average.
My second trip was just the opposite. The place was almost full, but not crowded, the servers were less rushed and therefore, in a better mood and they truly went out of their way to make sure all the tables, at least as far as I could see, got what they needed.
Beginning with a Mixed Grill Platter, which I have to say right away, was far from being decent. The marinades and sauces were fine, but the meats were tough enough to be used as marbles and the chicken was beyond dry. Later,of course, my dish was replaced by an original platter of the same, after I was informed that what I ate was the ‘sampler dish’. Surprising — this would probably be the first restaurant that served non-approved meat to a reviewer.
So — the ‘actual’ meat platter was a lovely surprise. The Jack Daniels Pork Chops, where the meat is marinated in Indian spices and quite a bit of JD is grilled to perfection; one can’t help but love the part-sweet and part-char-grilled flavours in the meat.
What was truly lovely is that they’re experimenting with the rogan josh in the kitchen — so the Jack Daniels Pork Chops have the usual cumin, garlic, star anise, and some smoked onions for its marinade and then some rogan josh sauce is added to it, lending a lovely sweet-spicy effect to the meat. And the way the pork lapped up the sauces, the result was quite exciting.
The chicken breast, grilled with garlic chutney, sadly tasted as if someone had wiped some garlic paste on to it. Such a big difference, when one uses crushed garlic pods and garlic paste on something grilled, especially when the chutney isn’t cooked!
If not for the Merlot Beef where the chef pours generous amounts of a Merlot into the marinade to break down the proteins of the beef, I’d have sulked for the rest of the evening.
A word about the beverage menu — they have really put in as much as one can in a good bar menu. So,there are different kinds of wines, spirits and some neat cocktails. I had a lovely mojito with green apple cubes and it was quite refreshing. Their cocktails aren’t sickly sweet in general, even though my second one, a fresh watermelon martini had strong overtones of sugar syrup. Incidentally, the city has a shortage of some liqueurs (Kahlua, for instance) so, some of the cocktails might not be available till supply is straightened out.
Wondering which way to go next, we began with a Poached Pear With Goat Cheese Salad and a Cedar Grilled Salmon with Star Anise Foam and the Sali Boti (from the Parsi section). The salad, to describe it in a very trivial word, was ‘blah’. There weren’t enough pear slices in it, one had to literally ruffle through a jungle of greens to find them and when you did, they weren’t poached quite correctly. The pears were crunchier than they should have been and the salad leaves were more on the bitter side. The salmon, which looked very pretty, was cooked just right, even though I wasn’t quite sure if the star anise foam does anything constructive to the dish or not. The fish, which was cooked to the right texture, didn’t taste as smoky as it could have been and that was one of the only things that troubled me about the dish.
However, the Sali Boti was an absolute treat and so were the desserts, something I’ll get to later.
Sali (matchstick potatoes) served on top of a boti (cubed meat) curry is as comforting as food can get — irrelevant of which cuisine it belongs too. This particular curyy is cooked with apricots, tomatoes, onions, green chillies, ginger-garlic paste, chilli powder, turmeric, a bit of vinegar (for the sour effect) and a dash of jaggery. Served here with chapattis, you can eat this curry with rice, as well. The meat was as tender as it could be and the lovely play of flavours, none of any being too overpowering, made everyone at the table happy.
As did the Filter Coffee Crème Brûlée and the Treacle Tart — the custard for the crème brûléedidn’t have any air bubbles, was beautiful to look at and eat. It’s served with a slice of biscotti that is baked in house and you have to use the biscotti to scoop some crème brûlée on to and then bite down on the biscuit — nice routine!
And the tart played an unprecedented and yet, perfect companion. Loaded with walnuts and some chocolate and served in a tart casing, it was sticky at the right places and melting in your mouth every few seconds to just give you a tiny ‘O’ every now and then — I could have eaten one more of those; or maybe two if no one was looking.

A chance meeting of noted cancer surgeon Dr Ravindra Bhalchandra Kasbekar with a Parsi family staying in Bhavani Peth has saved many stray canines from leading a dog’s life.
The Parsi housewife, who does not want her name to be mentioned, and Kasbekar have successfully handed over 63 dogs, which were hounded and attacked by urchins and slum dwellers, to well-off families in various cities for free.
Kasbekar said that veterinary doctors Tribhuvan Katre and Suhas Bokare also help them in their endeavour. Recalling the cruelty that these animals face on the streets, he said that one of the dogs could not stand after being mercilessly beaten by an iron rod. Another stray dog, who is now called Lioneil, was operated upon thrice as some kids had blown up a cracker near his ears.
The surgeon said that he spends one third of his earnings on these stray dogs, besides spending considerable time in their rehabilitation.
“I was fond of dogs since childhood and serving these strays gives me immense satisfaction. My adherence to Hippocratic oath also covers these faithful animals,” he said.

Indian Centre Govt moves to push up Parsi numbers

The Central government is seeking inter-ministerial consultations to increase and stabilise the declining population of Parsis, lest they become extinct in India. The minority affairs ministry has submitted a concept paper to the Planning Commission for its approval and also asked the Commission to begin consultations with other concerned ministries of health and finance to finalise the plan. The minority affairs minister Salman Khurshid, who tried in the past to help Parsis with Rs1 crore from the exchequer, said the new plan envisages setting up of counselling centres and fertility clinics as the community has the lowest child birth record. He said while government policy has been to promote family planning to restrict country’s population, the minorities affairs ministry has sought reversal of policy in case of Parsis, who are one of the five notified national minorities. The DNA had earlier reported the letter written by Keki Daruwalla, Sahitya Akademi award-winning poet and a member of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM to the Planning Commission (PC). He had highlighted the Census figures which show that the number of Parsis in 1941, which was 1,14,890, almost halved to 69,601 by 2001. He has requested central funding for these schemes so that they can be implemented on a national scale. According to the committee report, funding infertility clinics will cost the Centre a modest Rs20 crore. The National Commission for Minorities has also suggested the community to reverse the trend of late marriages or no marriages. A survey commissioned by the NCM found birth rates dropping to 174 in 2006 from 223 in 2001. Since the 1950s deaths have consistently outnumbered births every year, resulting in aging population.

For the next ten days, the city’s art and history enthusiasts can get a glimpse of the timeless charm of the Zoroastrian pilgrimage capital, Udvada, enclosed in 60 odd photo frames. As part of the exhibition titled Udvada, city-based photographer Shantanu Das has captured the quiet hamlet of Gujarat in its distinct charm. The exhibition has been organised by industrialist Parvez Damania, who belongs to one of the nine priestly families of Udvada.
“I realised there is no photographic record or documentation of Udvada that is home to the 270-year-old Iranshah Atash-Behram,” said Damania. “Renowned not just for its old-world charm, but also for being a concentrated microcosm of the Parsi community, there are not more than 60 residents surviving in the town today,” said Damania, adding that there are not more than 7 priests in all.
For Das, capturing images of the rituals practised inside the temple was a challenge because he was not allowed to step inside.
“Since I do not belong to the nine priestly families, I had to capture the images of the devotees and customs through the iron gates,” said Das, who has been working on this assignment since December 2010.
“I tried to capture the town in all its distinct glory by highlighting the religious identity and lifestyle of the locals. They were very hospitable and enthusiastic,” he added.
The organisers are planning to publish the photographs in a book format apart from exhibiting the pictures in other cities.
The exhibition is being held at Tao Atrium Gallery, Sajan Plaza, 165, Dr Annie Beasant Road, Worli and will be open from 11am to 7pm up to April 7. It will be open on Sundays.

Ignis
Ignis does well by giving you a sweeping look at the heart of Delhi thanks to its first floor perch. With subtle interiors and intriguing décor choices, this place provides a calming atmosphere for a meal in the middle of the afternoon or after a stressful day. Ignis
offers both Continental and Indian cuisines, but tries to stay away from the clichéd options that fill regular menus. The Mushroom Cappuccino or Flambéed Prawn Bisque makes for a great start, accompanied by any of their varied kebabs. The main course is a treat, with options like Chettinad Mutton and Dal Muradabadi. You can also go for their Stroganoff or even a pizza. If you are looking for something light, the Smoked Salmon Sandwich is a good idea. Round it all up with a Parsi Kulfi, and you’re good to go.
Where: F-45, Inner Circle, Connaught Place, New Delhi; 43081984
Cuisine: Multi-cuisine
Timings: 12 pm to 12 am
Cost: R 1000  Facilities:

Set’z Restaurant & BarT he name has changed (from Zest) but the heart is still the same. The island bar gives out a very contemporary vibe, while interactive kitchens dish out seven kinds of cuisines. The Indian section stands out the most with gems like Murgh Ghee Roast, and the Japanese and Thai sections are notches above their city
counterparts. Desserts here are fabulous. Setz is definitely gourmet theatre at its best.
Where: 405, DLF Emporio, Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj, Delhi; 43119999; www.setz.co.in
Cuisine: Multi-cuisine
Timings: 12.30 pm to 4.30 pm; 7.30 pm to 1 am
Cost: R2000 Facilities:

Q’BA, Connaught Place
Trendy and fashionable, Q’ba has lent itself well to Delhi’s ever-increasing taste for both a quiet daytime meal or stylish night out. In the day, the atmosphere is relaxed, with space for quiet conversation and time to enjoy your food. The terrace area gives a beautiful view of Connaught Place. The menu features Indian, Thai, Mediterranean and European dishes. If you insist on going east, try the Tofu preparations.
Where: E-42/43, Inner Circle, Connaught Place, New Delhi; 45173333; 41512888; www.qba.co.in
Cuisine: Multi-cuisine Timings: 12 pm to 3 am & 7 pm to 12 am
Cost: R 1500 Facilities:

The Lap GardenThe Lap Garden is a lovely space that makes for a wonderful alfresco dining experience. Start off with the Phyllo, a lovely, buttery piece of pastry stuffed with nicely cooked lamb. The New Zealand Lamb en Croute is beyond tender and pinkly perfect. The Lap Garden does a very popular Sunday brunch with lots of live food stations and a special area for the kids. Service is efficient and suitably attentive.
Where: Hotel Samrat, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi; 24103762; www.laptheclub.com
Cuisine: Multi-cuisine
Timings: 12.30 pm-3 pm & 7.30 pm-11.30 pm
Cost: R 2000 Facilities:

MagiqueSet inside the sprawling Garden of Five Senses, Magique shines like a jewel in the city’s culinary landscape. Not only is the food great, the ambience is like a part of Italy in a quiet part of Delhi, and the service is blissfully unobtrusive. You can eat in the charming indoor area or outside in the garden. Come dusk, and the place transforms into a magical space perfect for a romantic dinner with your beloved.
Where: Gate No. 3, Garden of Five Senses, Said-ul-Ajaib, Delhi; 29536767; www.magique.in
Cuisine: Multi-cuisine
Timings: 12.30 pm - 3 pm & 7.30 pm - 11 pm
Cost: R 3000 Facilities:

Blanco
This swanky two-level bistro is done up in white and rather quirkily decorated with shelves of eyewear. The dishes are for the most part well done and the food presentation superb. Start off with any of their range of soups and go on to the legendary Vietnamese Prawn Rolls, which come with a nice sweet chilli dip. Come here for good food, excellent service and a warm ambience.
Where: 62, Middle Lane, Khan Market, New Delhi; 43597155/66
Cuisine: Multi-cuisine
Timings: 10 am to 1 am
Cost: R 1500 Facilities:

Sequel
This three-storied restaurant boasts an extensive menu of over 360 delicacies spanning exotic European, Western, Modern Asian, Mediterranean, and even regional Indian cuisines. Try the Jal Tarang Platter, which features a range of delicious seafood kebabs. Follow it with steaming Moroccan Lamb Tagine or Wild Mushrooms Ragout for main course. For dessert, try the delectable Trio of Kulfi.
Where: 35, Main Market, Defence Colony, New Delhi; 46576555/46576444
Cuisine: Multi-cuisine
Timings: 12 am to 12 pm
Cost: R 1200 Facilities:

The Odyssey One of the classiest joints in Gurgaon, The Odyssey takes you on a culinary trip around the world with its extensive multi-cuisine menu. The restaurant serves everything from traditional Indian, Oriental and Thai cuisine to Iranian and Mediterranean dishes. From the Iranian menu, try the Chelo Kebab Loghmai Zaffrani, which are succulent kebabs made with saffron-flavoured chicken mince. Prawns in Green Thai Curry and Herb Crusted Lamb Chops are other dishes worth trying. What really makes the place stand out are the glass and steel transparent interiors done up in a nautical theme. The quaint ship artifacts that dot the restaurant have actually been sourced from shipyards abroad! After your meal, head to the terrace area to catch some fresh breeze and a beautiful sight of the Gurgaon skyline.
Where: Third floor, Sahara Mall, MG Road, Gurgaon; 0124 4048031-33; www.odyssey.in
Cuisine: Multi-cuisine
Timings: 12.30 pm to 12.30 am
Cost: R 1200 Facilities:

Drift
Gurgaon’s culture vultures and business honchos make a beeline for Drift after catching a play or finishing a meeting. The world cuisine menu features delicacies such as the Classic Prawn Cocktail, Norwegian Smoked Salmon and the flavourful Mushroom Cappuccino Spiked with Mint Oil. But the star of the show is the Citrus Infused Duck Breast on Potato Corn Galette. Don't miss the desserts here.
Where: Epicentre, Apparel House, Sector 44, Gurgaon; 2715111; www.epicentre.co.in
Cuisine: Multi-cuisine
Timings: 12 pm to 3 pm & 6.30 pm to 11 pm
Cost: R 1200 Facilities:

Best Regional
Oh! Calcutta
This is one of the few places in Delhi serving authentic Bengali food. Seafood lovers should try out the buffet with unlimited prawns and crabs. Don’t miss the delicious Chittagong Pomphret Bhaja or the delicately flavoured Daab Chingri served in a coconut shell. Apart from regulars like Shukto, Puishaak Chingri and Kosha Mangho are all delicious. Service is excellent.
Where: International Trade Tower, E- Block Ground Floor, Nehru Place, New Delhi; 26464180
Cuisine: Bengali
Timings: 11 am to 11 pm
Cost: R 1500 Facilities:

Chor Bizarre, Daryaganj Chor Bizarre serves North Indian cuisine, with
special emphasis on Kashmiri food. All kinds of quaint knick-knacks make up the unique kitschy decor.Try the Yakhni, Goshtaba and Tabak Maaz to get the true flavour of Kashmir. If you’re in the mood for a royal feast, ask for the taramis, or thali. The staff is polite and also knowledgeable about the cuisine.
Where: Hotel Broadway, 4/15A, Asaf Ali Road, New Delhi; 43663600; www.chorbizarre.com
Cuisine: Kashmiri
Timings: 12 pm to 3.30 pm & 7.30 pm to 11.30 pm
Cost: R 1400 Facilities:

Rajdhani, Connaught placeUndiya, Gatte ki Sabzi, Khaman Dhokla and Masala Puri — if all this sounds like a treat, then this is
definitely the place you should head to. The meal starts with Chhaach, goes on to a variety of Gujarati sabzis, dals, curries, paranthas, puran poli and bajre ki roti. The feast ends with lip-smacking sweets, ranging from Gulab Jamun to sinful Pineapple Halwa.
Where: P 1/90, Connaught Place, New Delhi; 23346300/400; www.rajdhani.co.in Cuisine: Gujarati, Rajasthani
Timings: 12 pm to 11 pm
Cost: R 500 Facilities:

Zaffran
One of the first fine-dining Indian restaurants to set up shop in Gurgaon, Zaffran offers a nice repertoire of Awadhi and Hyderabadi dishes. The vegetarian kebabs take the cake here — from Nadru Ke Shammi Kebab to Dahi ke Kebabs — they all merit a bite. The portions are decent, the service efficient and there’s live music to complement the meal every evening.
Where: The Bristol Hotel, Sikanderpur, DLF Phase I, Gurgaon; 0124-2356030; www.thebristolhotel.com
Cuisine: Awadhi
Timings: 7.30 am to 11.30 pm
Cost: R 2000 Facilities:

The Oudh
This Awadhi fine dining restaurant offers a buffet at lunch and an a la carte menu at dinner. The menu itself is unique, because it’s printed in all the official
UN languages! The food is excellent for the most part. For a taste of traditional qorma, try the Oudhi Qorma; it can’t get better than this. The well-crafted Tohfa-e-Noor and the excellent Teh Biryani are other must-trys.
Where: The Ashok, 50-B, Diplomatic Enclave, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi; 26110101; www.theashok.com
Cuisine: Awadhi
Timings: 12 pm to 11.30 pm
Cost: R 1500 Facilities:

Bijoli Grill, Dilli Haat
Not only does Delhi’s sizeable Bengali population flock to Bijoli Grill for a taste of home-cooked food, the place has a loyal following among the city’s butter chicken-loving non-Bengali population. Their Special Fish Curry, Fish Orly and Prawn Malai Curry are lip-smackingly delicious. The mishti here tends to fly off the shelves faster than you can say khub bhalo.
Where: 17, Dilli Haat, Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi; 26881855/ 29237371; www.bijoligrill.com
Cuisine: Bengali 
Timings: 10 am to 10 pm
Cost: R 800 Facilities:

Suruchi, Karol BaghSituated bang in the middle Karol Bagh market is a restaurant that offers decent home-style Gujarati and Rajasthani fare. Among the Rajasthani dishes, try Gatte ki Subzi and Dal Batti Churma; for a taste of Gujarat, Khatti Meethi Kadhi is a great option. Also tuck into their range of farsaan, especially Dhokla and
Jain Pav Bhaji.
Where: 15 A/56, WEA, Karol Bagh, New Delhi; 25731614-17; www.suruchirestaurants.com Cuisine: Rajasthani, Gujarati
Timings: 11 am to 4 pm, 7 pm to 11 pm
Cost: R 500 Facilities:

Gujarat Samaj Santushti
Looking for an unpretentious, pocket-friendly place that serves authentic Gujarati fare? Gujarat Samaj in Civil Lines is definitely one of the places to check out. The pure vegetarian thali works on an all-you-can-eat system. Though the menu is written in Gujarati, able translators are always ready at hand. Service is quick and friendly.
Where: 2, Raj Niwas Marg, Civil Lines, Delhi; 23981796-98; www.gujaratisamajdelhi.co.in
Cuisine: Gujarati, North Indian
Timings: 6 pm to 11 pm
Cost: R 500 Facilities:

Bernardo’s
Bernardo’s is the sole authentic Goan restaurant in town. The ambience reminds you of a typical shack by the beach; the framed family pictures
on the walls, other knick-knacks, and the few tables give a comfortable, non-commercialised feel to the place. ‘Home-cooked’ is how they like their food to
be known, and they succeed for the most part. The place is run by an old Goan couple who’s always around to help you pick dishes from the menu. A must-try is the classic Goan Vindaloo, apart from the Fugad and Fofos (fish croquettes).
Where: B-229, Supermart 1, DLF Phase IV, Gurgaon; 6518323; www.bernardosgoanfood.com
Cuisine: Goan
Timings: 1 pm to 3.30 pm & 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm
Cost: R 1000

Jakoi
This brand-new restaurant inside Assam Bhawan is slowly becoming the talk of the town for its authentic fare, reasonable prices, cheerful service and dishes that Delhi has never tasted before (including pigeon meat). The special Parampara thali is a hot seller. It includes Tenga Rohu Fish Curry, Steamed
Hilsa cooked in mustard, choice of pigeon or the traditional duck meat curry, vegetables and Khar Bowl. There’s an equally delicious vegetarian thali, too. Don’t miss out on the dessert of brown rice cooked in milk and lots of sugar.
Where: Assam Bhawan, Sardar Patel Marg, New Delhi; 24108605/24355555
Cuisine: Assamese
Timings: 12 am to 11.30 pm
Cost: R 600 Facilities: None

Poppadom
Delhi has finally got a classy Andhra cuisine restaurant. At the time of this review, the restaurant was only serving three kinds of all-you-can-eat thalis— vegetarian, non-vegetarian and seafood— though there are plans for an a la carte menu, too. The seafood thali features delicacies such as Prawn Drumstick Mango Curry, Black Pomfret roasted in Banana Leaf, and Andhra Crab Masala. Mutton Fry, Vizag Egg Curry and Chicken Kurma with Idiappam also get our thumbs-up. Poppadom is definitely a place to watch out for.
Where: 4, Ambavatta Complex, Mehrauli, New Delhi; 26644289/26641796
Cuisine: Andhra
Timings: 12 pm to 12 am
Cost: R 1500

More than 1,000 Parsis flocked to the city’s oldest fire temple to celebrate the Zoroastrian Feast of Fire, which fell on the agiary’s 300th anniversary. The Banaji Limji Agiary, in Banajit Street in Fort, was built by a wealthy Parsi trader Banaji Limji in 1709. It is one of 40 fire temples in the city housing the Atash Adaran, or second grade of fire.
There are a total of 47 temples: three contain the lowest grade of fire, the Atash Dadgah, and four the highest, the Atash Behram.
Parsis believe that fire is a physical representation of the son of God, so fires at Parsi temples are kept burning 24 hours and if they stop burning a series of complicated rituals are required to restart them.
The Feast of Fire is when prayers of thanks are offered to the fire.
On Thursday from 4 am Parsis started turning up pay their respects at the modern pink temple, which stood out in its bustling Fort bylane of scrap dealers, stationery shops and paanwallahs.
After untying and retying their sacred chords they went inside to chant the prayer Atashnyaish to the fire.
Dr Darius Umrigar (44), an alternative therapist from Grant Road, said: “I am here to take guidance from the fire on the correct direction of my life.”
“It is remarkable to think there is a fire which has burnt continuously for 300 years,” said Khojeste Mistree, co-founder of day Zoroastrian Studies, an organisation, which educates people on Zoroastrianism.