Thank you very much Prof. Singh ji for the explanation. I am learning so many interesting things here. I also thank you that you have started adding the common names of the plants you are sending fotos of. Regards Nalini ----- Original Message ----- From: Gurcharan Singh To: nabha meghani Cc: Dinesh Valke ; Rashida Atthar ; efloraofindia Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2010 4:31 PM Subject: Re: [efloraofindia:42679] Castanea sativa from Kashmir
Nalini ji Hindu way of fasting for a day. on that day some people don't eat grains and rather consume flour made of Trapa, Fagopyrum and other nongraminaceous plants. The varat often ends with prayers and a good feast (for some). My mother used to keep Poornmashi varat. She would be on complete fast for the day. At about 3 pm she would start making attractive dishes mainly different types of sweet breads (baked, fried), and end her varat with that. We would be eagerly waiting for this varat day to join our mother in the good feast (sans the varat, because we all the children would be having our normal meals as well). -- Dr. Gurcharan Singh Retired Associate Professor SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007 Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018. Phone: 011-25518297 Mob: 9810359089 http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/ On Thu, Jul 29, 2010 at 7:28 PM, nabha meghani <[email protected]> wrote: Hallo all, we have one tree in aprivate garden nearby. In Okt. Nov. when I walk down the road, I find the chestnuts (Castanea sativa) lying on the road. I ride my bicycle over them to get the nuts out, as the sheath is very spiny. It is a feast to roast and eat them. In Okt. Nov. is the typical season of funfairs in various cities, e.g. octoberfest. A funfair without a stand of Maroni (roasted chestnuts) is just unthinkable. Waterchestnut is an endangered species in germany and since 1987 is on the red list. Lucky Kashmir. The nut (fruit) is slightly toxic and must be roasted to make it edible. Prof. Sing ji, what is varat? I don't know that word. As the tree in my neighbourhood is very tall, I have never seen the flowers of it. Thanks for sharing the fantastic fotos. Regards Nalini ----- Original Message ----- From: Dinesh Valke To: Gurcharan Singh Cc: Rashida Atthar ; mani nair ; tanay bose ; efloraofindia Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2010 2:06 PM Subject: Re: [efloraofindia:42654] Castanea sativa from Kashmir .... it does make deliciou'sense !! ... many thanks, Gurcharan ji. Regards. On Thu, Jul 29, 2010 at 5:26 PM, Gurcharan Singh <[email protected]> wrote: Dinesh ji It is because I have lived with these plants for so many years. It would be real pleasure to sit in a group, roast fruits of Castanea sativa and eat them while still hot. No dry fruit as tastier as these nuts. Trapa fruits are sold very commonly in autumn and early winter, roasted/baked and deshelled often just before shelling. We used to walk down the distance to the College (about 3 km) eating these. -- Dr. Gurcharan Singh Retired Associate Professor SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007 Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018. Phone: 011-25518297 Mob: 9810359089 http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/ On Thu, Jul 29, 2010 at 5:06 PM, Rashida Atthar <[email protected]> wrote: Thank you for this information Sir. regards, Rashida. On Thu, Jul 29, 2010 at 1:20 PM, Gurcharan Singh <[email protected]> wrote: Singhara name is sometimes also used (especially in Delhi, may be also in Mumbai) for Trapa bispinosa, the water chestnut, eaten similarly after roasting and also used in the form of flour duting varats. In Kashmir they call it Gollu. -- Dr. Gurcharan Singh Retired Associate Professor SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007 Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018. Phone: 011-25518297 Mob: 9810359089 http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/ On Thu, Jul 29, 2010 at 1:17 PM, mani nair <[email protected]> wrote: Rashida ji, is it different from the Singhada sold in the markets in Mumbai? Regards, Mani On Thu, Jul 29, 2010 at 1:08 PM, Rashida Atthar <[email protected]> wrote: Thanks for sharing the pictures of this wonderful plant Sir. I have often been told by the older generation about chestnuts being freely available in Mumbai markets during the British time and few years later. regards, Rashida. On Thu, Jul 29, 2010 at 10:16 AM, tanay bose <[email protected]> wrote: A new plant to me thanks for sharing Tanay On Thu, Jul 29, 2010 at 8:11 AM, Gurcharan Singh <[email protected]> wrote: Castanea sativa from Kashmir, planted in gardens, orchards and roadsides. The kernels are eaten after roasting and locally known as singhara. Rarely reaches outside valley, because of poor keeping quality. Photographed from Harwan on June 16, 2010. English: Sweet chestnut, European chestnut, Spanish chestnut Kashmir: Singhara -- Dr. Gurcharan Singh Retired Associate Professor SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007 Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018. Phone: 011-25518297 Mob: 9810359089 http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/ -- Tanay Bose +91(033) 25550676 (Resi) 9830439691(Mobile)
