The Triveni Sangam of Allahabad City

When my husband was transferred to Allahabad 1 year back, the place which i wanted to visit eagerly and was very curious was about the Triveni Sangam. Allahabad is also known as the Sangam City (or Prayag City in ancient times). Triveni Sangam is the place of Religious importance and also a place of historic importance where Kumbh mela is held every 12 years on the banks of Ganga. Since the time we came here, i visited the Sangam many times, many relatives too visited us time to time and visited Sangam, but i thought to write a blog post too this time so that when we will be transferred to a new place, memories of our Sangam visit will always be with us...

Way to the Sangam

Triveni is the union of three rivers - river Ganga,river Yamuna and river Saraswati. While river Ganga and Yamuna are visible with there different colors, river Saraswati is not visible but faithfuls believe it is present beneath the Akbar's fort in the river banks.  

The Ganga and Yamuna are visible clearly as they merge, while the Yamuna is greenish blue in color, the Ganga is clear with a little muddy undertone.The Sangam is said to be the place where nectar drops got spilled after the sagar-manthan and this is why this a place where lakhs of devotees take holy dips during auspicious days to attain Moksha.

Boats takes the devotees to the Sangam site (where rivers actually unites)

Clearly visible two distinct colors of river Yamuna (bluish green) and river Ganga (muddy brown)

The migratory Siberian birds (comes in winters and stays till holi in India) and the Akbar's fort beneath which hidden Saraswati river is said to be present

At present Magh mela is going on which is an important anual hindu ritual held on the banks of Sangam during the month - magh as per hindu calendar). It starts on January 14th (Makar Sankranti) and ends on Maha ShivRatri. It is believed that taking a holi dip at the sangam on the auspicious days during this period washes away all the sins of an individual leading the soul to Moksha. The auspicious dates for the holy dips for the year 2014 are:

1. January 14 (Makar Sankranti)

2. January 16 (Paush Purnima)

3. January 30 (Mauni Amavasya)

4. February 4 (Basant Panchami)

5. February 14 (Maghi Poornima)

6. February 28 (Maha Shivratri)

My kid had a wonderful play time too on the sand...

Choco Vanilla Cake for beginners

This is a very simple recipe, takes just 1 hour or less to make it. A very easy and quick recipe to have with your evening tea.

                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Ingredients:

1 cup maida (all purpose flour)

½ cup oats (ground to powder)

1 cup ground sugar

2 white eggs

1 cup refined oil or butter

2 tea spoon baking powder

2 tea spoon cocoa powder

1 tea spoon vanilla essence

½ cup milk

1. Take a deep bowl and add a cup of maida ( flour) in it. Grind half a cup of oats in grinder and mix it with the maida. Now grind a cup of sugar and add to it. Add 2 tea spoon of baking powder.

2.       Beat 2 eggs in the grinder till fluffy. Add  1 cup of refined oil and vanilla essence, run the blender again. 

3. Now pour the egg-oil mixture slowly to the bowl containing maida and mix well. Stir continuously so that no lumps are formed. Add the milk slowly so as to get dropping consistency mixture.

4. Now pour half of the batter in another bowl and add the cocoa powder.Mix well so that no lumps are formed.

5.Now comes the main step of how the black and white pattern will be formed. In the deep greased baking tray ( i have used borosil deep bowl) put a little vanilla flavored batter and let it spread. now in the center of it pour a little of the chocolate batter and let it spread. repeat the whole process and you will get a pattern like this.

6. Bake it in the oven like a regular cake is baked. (here i have used microwave 110 degree for 6 min, and it is ready to serve with my cup of tea.