Bhaiphonta 06

The second in the series of "firsts in the US" - bhaiphonta! With Chhordibhai having moved to New York, and jethun mamoni present as well, this was a gala event - my first since 1998. Of course, as with all Hindu festivals, food was the center of focus - with Fish Fry, Chingri Malaikari, Fried Rice, Chinese Chicken, and Aalu-Phulkopi, it was all deliciously wonderful!

Kali Puja 2006

This was my first Kali Puja in the US - and, by extension, the same for Soma as well. The day started off by us going over to Jethun-Mamoni-Chhordibhai-Yash's place for Bijoya (belated), with delicious peas kachori and aalur dum served as a part of the vegetarian treat (being Kali Puja day! If all vegetarian dishes were as tasty, I would not mind converting at all. After eating just enough food to make us feel more like pythons than human, we decided to go over and check out a Kali Puja that Yash/Chhordibhai had earmarked out of the many in Queens. It was a nice, small, quiet affair - as seen above.