Pune Unltd. - 18

PEOPLE | FOOD | CULTURE | ENTERTAINMENT December 16, 2014

PLUS InstaPune | Scor’d | Photo Feature | Lifestyle

UNLTD.

PUNE 2014 COULDA, SHOULDA, WOULDA!

COVER STORY

REWINDING THE YEAR...

10 must-have Chocolate Cakes in the city

FOOD

Festive Home Decor Ideas

LIFESTYLE

COVER STORY

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“ In the ultimate issue of the year, we look back and compile a list of what all was and should have been along with what we’re look-ing forward to for Pune.”

@adityakuber

Contact: [email protected]

Editor-in-ChiefAditya Kuber

Editors Veethi Telang Apeksha Bhagchandani Contributors Sharan Garcha Parmeet Kohli Protima TiwaryHanisha Lalwani Amruta Ghate Richa Satpute DesignPrasanta Kundu Maddy Kulkarni Sanjali Manekar Anishka Gurjar MarketingAnish Sohoni Rekha Achtani PublisherMedia Sphere Communications Pvt. Ltd.www.mediasphere.co.in

Hello, Winter! The year that coulda, shoulda and shouldn’ta been!

Come December and we get nostalgic and hopeful. We look forward with hope and expect a fresh start in the new year. That’s what the resolutions and plans all represent. But more than that, we always look back at some good and bad memories. And there’s some unful-filled hopes and dreams as well.

In the ultimate issue of the year, we look back and compile a list of what all was and should ha ve been along with what we’re looking forward to for Pune.

While our list isn’t entirely a public opinion, you would agree with most points mentioned. While that list is at least a wider view of var-ious Punekars, I thought I should at least list down some stuff that should have happened…

1. BRTS Decision: It’s high time that the powers that be decide whether to start this or not. If not, give us back our roads!

2. Infrastructure: How much longer should Pune suffer? How hard is it to build a flat road or public toilets or have working buses?

3. Strong Leadership: The Assembly Elections and the State Elec-tions are done. Where are the city’s leaders? What are they doing?

4. A Roadmap: The PMC is clearly clueless. Can someone please do their job and work for the city?

5. Safety: While Pune may not be as bad as many other Indian cities, there’s much that should have happened to make the citizens feel safer.

The above are the top 5 wishes I feel should be focused on. These would help us move forward and make a mark nationally and inter-nationally. God knows we have the potential to be one of India’s best cities and even in the world.

Let’s hope that some of the above are focused on and actioned.

Aditya Kuber

EDITOR’S NOTE

Cover Photo Sanil Mahajan Used under Creative Commons License

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SEE

17 INSTAPUNE Capturing the soul of Pune on Instagram

06 PHOTO FEATURE Showcasing awe-some works by Puneri shutterbugs.

LIVE

08 FOOD

10 must-have Chocolate Cakes in Pune Chocoholics, rejoice! This holiday season, up your calorie count by tasting some of the best chocolate cakes in the city.

31 LIFESTYLE Turn On the Lights! It’s Christmas time! Why let the evening be dull when you have so many ways to go decorating your living room?

IN THIS ISSUE December 16, 2014

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14 COVER STORY

Pune 2014: PLAY

25 SCOR’D Reviewing all you can watch, read and eat in Pune.

34 EVENTS These are set to rock Pune for the next 2 weeks.

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26 SPECIAL FEATURE

Peth Puja II

Small businesses, ancient temples and their fascinating

stories keep you hooked!

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Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda! Rewinding the year...

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PHOTO FEATURE

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A sliver of how Bacardi NH7 Weekender 2014, the happiest music festival, rocked Pune this year.

All photos: Sanil Mahajan

facebook.com/Puneunltd twitter.com/PuneUnltd PUNE UNLTD. 7PUNE UNLTD. 7All Photos: Anish Sohoni

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� Richa Satpute

What is the similarity between a great chocolate cake and the Holy Grail? Both are as elusive as a pack of elves and it takes some doing to find it. And, although there’s never a wrong time to eat chocolate cake, Christmas just makes it extra special. So, on this festive occasion, we decided to go on a quest to find you some of the best chocolate cakes in the city and here’s what we came up with!

Chocolate Cakes10 must-have

in Pune


Belgian Chocolate Cake

Forennte, Koregaon

Park

A light chocolate sponge made from scratch with Belgian chocolate ganache, it melts instantly in your mouth. Best had at room temperature or a little cool, their chocolate cakes are set in the fridge as they use pure chocolate melted down to a soft ganache once they come to room temperature. Namrata, the owner, says her personal favorites also include the Gooey Chocolate Cake, a rich chocolate sponge with Belgian chocolate ganache topped with chocolate curls.

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Chocolate Terrine

Chocolate Ecstasy

Dutch Truffle

Flour Works, Kalyani Nagar

Pink Butter (LSD), Ganeshkhind Road

Baker’s Basket, Multiple Outlets

So rich and delicious, this piece of choco-late cake is the perfect end to any meal. Layered with the best quality of choc-olate, it is not something you can find anywhere else in the city. The recipe of Chocolate Terrine is derived from a savory dish, which is made with pressed meats. Here, you will only find layers of sinful chocolate that melt from the heat the moment they touch your tongue.

So rich and delicious, this piece of choco-late cake is the perfect end to any meal. Layered with the best quality of choc-olate, it is not something you can find anywhere else in the city. The recipe of Chocolate Terrine is derived from a savory dish, which is made with pressed meats. Here, you will only find layers of sinful chocolate that melt from the heat the moment they touch your tongue.

This list will be incomplete without men-tioning the cakes from Pune’s beloved baker, Baker’s Basket. This joint is for-ever packed with customers for its affordable and delicious cakes. We think most Punekars are simply used to the way their pastries taste. Our best? Dutch Truffle and Black Forest made with a light sponge and cream layers.

Choco Nut and Choco Walnut Cake

This place is hailed as having one of the best bakers of the Pradhi-karan region and so we decided to sample a few of their many variants of chocolate cake. Our best discovery was the Choco Nut Cake that comes stuffed with buttercotch and cashews. The cake itself was light and the addition of nuts offered a good tex-ture. The owner, Kiran, personally experiments with new flavors and approves them before their skilled bakers churn them out on a large scale.

Baker’s Hut, Pradhikaran,

Nigdi

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Ultimate Chocolate Cake

Fat Cat’s Café,

Wanowrie

The Ultimate Chocolate Cake is a happy mixture of dark, milk and white chocolate with traditional chocolate ganache for the icing. I dug into my generous slice of The Ultimate Chocolate cake as I listened wide-eyed to Melanie, the baker, who described how she kept tweaking a recipe she found online to make what the cake is today. Moist and dense but not watery, just very chocolatey!

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Austrian Chocolate Mousse Ring Cake

Indulgence, Koregaon

Park

Shaped like a ring with biscuit base and cream mousse middle, this chocolate cake is an Austrian specialty. Mazo, the owner, learnt this recipe among many others, from her husband who is an Austrian Baker. The distinct flavour and taste of this cake are evident in the first bite itself. The soft cream mousse and the biscuit base give it a balanced texture and the soft chocolate cake itself comes topped with chocolate shavings. Head out to Lane No. 6 for this chocolate cake with a difference!

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Chocolate Orange Mousse Cake

Indulgence, Koregaon

Park

It’s amazing how a café known primarily for its French and Italian cuisines can bake such amazing cakes. Their Chocolate and Orange Mousse Cake has just the right amount of bitterness and a delicate flavor of orange. Siddhart Mahadik, the owner, changes his menu often, so when I ordered for the Chocolate Orange Mousse Cake, I wasn’t sure if it would be available the next time. A simple cake with clean flavors, this one simply melts in your mouth. Hurry if you want to sample it before it goes poof!

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Chocolate Truffle Cake

Baking News, Karve Road

This quaint little home bakery, situated opposite Kalinga Restaurant, serves the best Chocolate Truffle I’ve ever had in Pune or Mumbai. The cake is soft, rich and not cloyingly sweet, which is what sets it apart. “The secret lies in the rich chocolate cake drenched in coffee syrup, a full cream chocolate ganache and more lay-ers to the cake than anywhere else. Also I don’t use milk chocolate as it tends to make a cake overly sweet”, says Radhika, the baker. She baked her first cake on a lark, which turned out well and she went on to turn it into a full time hobby. Now that Baking News caters to the who’s who of Pune, she is looking for a new hobby! I was tempted to ask this chirpy momprenuer more questions, but my mouth was full.

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Chocolate Indulgence

XOXO Desserts,

Bund Garden

When it comes to fondant cakes, XOXO has made quite a name for itself. But the cakes beneath are also worth mentioning. Their Chocolate Indulgence Cake is not only a delight to look at, but tastes absolutely divine too. Dark chocolate cake made with classical chocolate ganache and frosted with gleaming tem-pered chocolate. Just drool worthy.

Independence Day long weekend is round the corner. Are you scrambling to put together your travel plans? We present you four quick alternatives to replace your travel agents and expensive hotels! To make the most of your vacation, explore these different options according to your budget, time frame and other parameters.

COVER STORY


Independence Day long weekend is round the corner. Are you scrambling to put together your travel plans? We present you four quick alternatives to replace your travel agents and expensive hotels! To make the most of your vacation, explore these different options according to your budget, time frame and other parameters. INSTAPUNE

@ohmarabappa

@5uryawanshi@rohan1248

@amrutmore

@omkarkarpe

@instaapeksha

@thepunekarWe love everything about Pune and scout for Instagram images that showcase its spirit. If you have an interesting image of the city, tag @thepunekar on Instagram and it could get featured here!

@dipakmawale @sequinsanity

@arekalphoto

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Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda! 2014 is almost at its end and the new year awaits us! But before we start getting happy about 2015, let’s just take a step back and dissect 2014 for the year it was. Was it impressive for Pune? Did it see any changes in

its present? How did it affect the average Punekar? It’s that time of the year again folks- to introspect, re-live, rewind. Presenting the good, bad and the ugly of 2014- The Pune Edition.

� Radhika Sharma

PUNE 2014

COVER STORY


THE GOODIESMassive sporty attention: FC Pune City, Puneri Paltan & Pune Marathas

From the many football clubs in and around the city, Pune has slowly started to spread its sporty roots into more than just cricket. This year saw the advent of FC Pune City in the Indian Super League, giving our very own Puneri football players a mainstream push. And boy did they put up a tough fight till the semis! Next up on the list, Kabaddi! I honestly never ever thought that Kabaddi would ever be televised, let alone turn into a Pro League. The Puneri Pal-tan of 14 was in its prime too. And finally, the gentleman sport of tennis turned a different shade courtesy the Pune Marathas! The inaugural title was clinched by us too! Here’s hoping more sport enters the city and we put our mark on the world! Go Pune!

Google likes us too!

Other than being the driver of the Internet and our very best friend, Google has dedicatedly been taking the humble doodle to all new heights with its creations for special events/people throughout the year. And every year, the tech-nology giant has young children design doodles in a competition called Doodle4Google. The theme this year was “ A place in India I wish to Visit” and Puneri girl Vaidehi Reddy took the prize home this season with her doodle titled ‘Natural and Cultural Paradise-Assam’, which was on the Google homepage on Children’s Day.

Photo: Ramnath Bhat Used under Creative Commons License

Photo: Google Used under Creative Commons License

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Music sounds better with you: Secret Garden Festival, Sunburn, NH7 Week-ender…Nightlife/going out in Pune has never been disappoint-ing courtesy its many restaurants/clubs/pubs, but this year saw Pune become a centre for all kinds of music festivals. While the famous three-day NH7 Weekender was born in this very city in 2010, many other editions like the Secret Garden Festival, Sunburn and a whole bunch of electronic dance music acts were showcased through the year. Although Sunburn Pune was quite a fiasco, nonetheless, I guess their heart was in the right place. A little way down the road is EVC- the Enchanted Valley Carnival at Aamby Valley on December 21-22; the artist lineup makes it a “must-attend” on our EDM check-list! From David Guetta to Sasha to Knife Party; camp it out and party it up!

Don’t have a car? No problem. Just hail a cab.It’s true, we have a lot to be proud of, but public trans-portation is not one of those things. The PMPL buses can barely accommodate 1% of the crowd and one can’t rely

on rickshawallas all the time. So how does one survive without a car or a two-wheeler in Pune? Phikar not. 2014 saw the arrival of many radio cab services such as Uber, Taxi4Sure, Ola and made our lives super easy. Down-load their apps and get a taxi in real time! These cabs have surely made my life easy as I always say- parking ANYWHERE in Pune is a massive pain!

The youth make it big.The “Oxford of the East” doesn’t just kick it big with its literature fests; Puneri youth will take centre stage at the annual theatre and performing arts festival, Thespo in Mumbai this year. The roaring three acts from Pune are two plays namely ‘Castle of Glass’, ‘Happy Endings’ and a musical act by Meera Shenoy. While the plays portray the wide array of reality and imagination, Meera hopes to get the crowd going with her music, which is influ-enced by the Beatles and the Bee Gees! Thespo will be held at the Prithvi Theatre from December 15-21 this year. Kar Punekar!

Photo: Sanil Mahajan Used under Creative Commons License

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The Malin village landslide. Nature took its course or was it man made?In the early hours of the morning, a landslide hit the village of Malin in the Ambegaon Taluka of Pune and claimed 134 lives. The reason for this catastrophe was heavy rainfall and over 200 people were still believed to be trapped in 44 homes during the landslide. Courtesy the heave outburst of rain, rescue efforts were difficult. Additional reasons for the landslide could also be the change in agricultural practices in the area, which required the residents to level out steep hills, which in turn may have caused instability.

Pune didn’t make it on the ‘Smart Cities’ List.This year, Prime Minister Modi announced that there will be 100 Smart Cities in India, but sadly, Pune didn’t make it to that list, even after the strong urging of the PMC to the Union Government. A Smart City is geared to handle at least half a million people in an integrated city with separate zones for central business districts, residential, sustainable water and electricity grids supported by effi-cient e-governance. According to TOI, Pune has a GDP of $50 Billion and will reach a grand $142 Billion by 2025. Along with being the cultural capital of Maharashtra, Pune is also an industrial haven with a huge software and manufacturing hub. Here’s hoping Pune will feature big in our CM’s plans for Make in Maharashtra initiative.

Pune Metro plan halted. Why God, why?Traffic is up to its eyeballs in this city, and there was some hope of the Pune metro line making it a little eas-ier on the common Punekar. The first phase, which was designed to run between Vanaz and Ramwadi (running through Deccan Gymkhana and Yerwada) and the sec-ond line between Chinchwad and Swargate is now side-lined. The plan of the Pune metro, which was approved

THE BADDIES

Photo: Diariocritico de Venezuela Used under Creative Commons License

earlier this year, has now been given the back seat by CM Fadnavis as he sees differing opinions between local representatives. As the State Government would need the nod of the Central Government to start this project, our CM has focused his energy on bettering transport instead. Looking at the efficiency and adaptation of the masses with regards to the metro in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore, a public transport boost will certainly tame the traffic situation and we hope it gets back on track. BRTS bus stops are being used as shelter by the beggars and homeless.

BRTS bus stops are being used as shelter by the beggars and homeless. What began in 2008 as an exercise in serving up decent public transport, BRTS buses are now out of service and their big stations continue to be a major traffic imped-iment. Taxpayer money has been used to create giant shelters for beggars and the homeless, as that is cur-rently what these stations are being used for. Moreover, people are now stealing the metal and plastic sheeting in broad daylight! I honestly don’t understand why these can’t be just broken down and the roads be widened instead. There is no hope of getting our hard earned money coming back to us, but can I at least not see it being wasted right in front of my eyes?

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Talking about traffic, 2014 gets even worse.If only Pune would get the civic sense to obey traffic laws, drive in the correct lanes, practice safety and not treat their two-wheelers as roller skates, the driving Punekar wouldn’t lose his mind everyday! But that seems like a distant dream now. Traffic continues to be bad, the roads continue to be jammed and road accidents in 2014 reached a toll of 496 deaths. Out of these 71 are hit-and-run cases in which cyclists, motorists and pedestrians were the victims. Drive safe and obey traffic laws Punekars!

Photo: Anvit Chandure


Pune International Airport still remains a pipe dreamAs Pune is a growing sector for IT, auto and manufacturing, the proposed international airport was not only a Punekar’s need to be connected with the rest of the world. It was also to boost agricultural/floricultural trade, make it easier for the foreign students in our universities and manage growing air traffic. As the old airport is on an air force base and cannot handle cargo, the area near Rajgurunagar (40 km from Pune) was suggested at first. When the site shifted to the Khed SEZ, a stalemate occurred between the PAP and the administration over farmer land acquisition and now, the Chakan-Rajgurunagar site is under consideration again. With the project cost standing at almost Rs. 9,000 crores, let’s hope this is flagged off soon.

Strict helmet laws. Really strict (Not)Pune has about 35 lac two-wheelers on its roads; the highest in the state of Maharashtra. Sure it’s convenient, but when it comes to safety- the Punekar will refuse to wear a helmet! The compulsory helmet law, which came into effect in the week of Nov 10 saw about 8,000 riders fined by the police for negligence. But instead of adher-ing to this life-saving rule, the Anti Helmet Compulsion Action Committee (AHCAC) is strongly against it with the reasoning that if a scooter can only go at the speed of 10-20 km in Pune, how can accidents happen? This is just ridiculous! It’s a law that two-wheeler riders across the world comply with. So why is the Punekar so resis-tant? Despite the entire ruckus, I really hope the Pune

BEING HOPEFUL ABOUT 2015police encourage the wearing of helmets for safe riding!

High-speed rail connectivity!While India’s railway network is one of the largest in the world, our trains are limited to a certain speed of about 150 km/hr- Bhopal Shatabdi being the current fastest. The Union Railway budget this year announced plans for 6 high-speed rail corridors in the country. The trains running through these corridors would be at a speed upwards of 250 km/hr. The first of these corridors was originally slated to run between Pune, Mumbai and Ahmedabad, but the Pune section has been dropped courtesy the higher costs that would figure in the mak-ing of the train tracks in the ghat section between here and Mumbai. In 2015, here’s hoping Pune is back on the high-speed track!

Photo: Randy BreeseUsed under Creative Commons License

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Elections are done. What next?While the Maharashtra elections gave Devendra Fadna-vis his maiden Chief Minister post, there are plenty of expectations Punekars have on their list. Our eight MLAs and MP, Mr. Anil Shirole, need to get their act together- starting with sorting out the mess in public transpor-tation i.e. the BRTS (either start the buses or break the walls of the lanes down and widen the roads), make up your mind regarding the metro plan (over ground, underground, on surface- wherever!), get better PMPML buses (the current ones are old tin cans that can fall apart just about anytime) and for heaven’s sake- let the city have an extended nightlife! Also, slum encroach-ment is a major problem, just put politics aside and cre-ate a win-win solution for everyone.

IIM in Pune?Pune’s academic and social culture, which has given the city the title “Oxford of the East”, sees many students in its university campuses every year. And, having an IIM in our very own Pune would be a boost to the aca-demic architecture. While HRD minister Smriti Irani has expressed great thoughts for an IIM in Pune, it would ultimately be CM Devendra Fadnavis’s decision and it looks like he wants to take to Nagpur. While our MP Mr. Shirole has pleaded his case to both Smriti Irani and Fad-navis, the possibility of it look bleak as Nagpur is Fad-navis’s hometown and it is most likely that he will want to extend all benefits there. Still, here’s hoping 2015 will give Pune an IIM! That’ll be some academic boost, huh?

Photo: Yogesh MhatreUsed under Creative Commons License

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SCOR’D

Film The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies

Witness the defining chapter of the Middle-Earth saga.

It will change your views on what’s possible!

Book Gifted by Sudha Menon and V R

Ferose Book Almost Home by Gita Hariharan

Film The Babadook

Bound to keep you hooked!

A fascinating and layered story

Food The Bombay Grill, Baner

Great flavours but nothing exclusive!

Food La Terrazza, Hyatt Regency

Authentic Italian Cooking!

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� Parmeet Kohli

SPECIAL FEATURE

Nana PethYou know you’ve left Camp behind and crossed over to Nana Peth when all you see on both sides of the road are shops selling automobile spares. Shop after shop is crammed with spares and fancy accessories so much so

that the whole Peth seems a tad monotonous; unless you are an automobile spare junkie. Waves of customers throng to Nana Peth everyday looking for a good deal on that shiny new accessory or parts needed to be replaced in their precious vehicles. Little mechanic shops are con-veniently peppered all over the Peth in a classic case of

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I recived a list of the smaller Peths I was to cover and this time, for the second installment, I picked Rastha Peth, Nana Peth and Bhavani Peth. Sure, it’s nothing like visiting the bigger Peths in the city, but this had its own charm. Small businesses, ancient temples and their fascinating

stories keep you hooked!

Peth Puja (Part II)

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“there has to be a Hot Chips next to a booze shop” eco-nomics seen all over Pune. These mechanic shops can get that old spare part switched to the new one you’ve just bought for a friendly price and in no time.

Nana Path, which was once called “Nihal Peth”, was not always this commercial precinct and was named in the memory of Nana Phadnavis, an influential minister and statesman of the Maratha Empire. Remnants of its inter-esting past exist in the form of the eight-hundred-year-old Nivdungya Vithoba Temple, which houses a beautiful Vithoba idol, a lot like the one in Pandharpur. The idol is believed to be a “Swayambhu Murthy” or an idol created of its own accord. The priest, who is the fourth genera-tion of his family serving the temple, Vijay Padhye, told me that the idol was discovered by a man named Gosavi in the Nana Peth area, from under a cactus plant, after

Peth Puja (Part II)

he had visions about it. Nana Peth was then a jungle cov-ered with cactus (Nivdung), and that is where the temple gets its name. The Nivdungya Vithoba Temple hosts the Sant Tukaram padukas every year and devotees rush to

the temple till the palkhi departs for Pandharpur.of its own accord. The priest, who is the fourth generation of his family serving the temple, Vijay Padhye, told me that the idol was discovered by a man named Gosavi in the Nana Peth area, from under a cactus plant, after he had visions about it. Nana Peth was then a jungle covered with cactus (Nivdung), and that is where the temple gets its name. The Nivdungya Vithoba Temple hosts the Sant Tukaram padukas every year and devotees rush to the temple till the palkhi departs for Pandharpur.

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Rasta PethAs I walk towards Rasta Peth, which lies right next to Nana Peth, I cannot help but notice the insane num-ber of lodges in the vicinity. Maybe it comes as a result of being a largely business oriented area. Rasta Peth

though, looks to be more residential in nature than its commercial sibling and is teeming with residential com-plexes. I scout around for an old, charming wada so archetypal of the Peths of Pune but am hard pressed to find one. A few Rasta Pethis proudly tell me how Rasta Peth is calmer, less noisy and without the pande-monium that defines Nana Peth. I also spot a twinkle in their eyes when they speak about the food joints that Rasta Peth has to offer and the Rasta Pethi obsession with food comes pouring out. Our conversation sticks to food from then on and they tell me about the main chowk of the Peth, which brims with food stalls in the mornings. Crowds from Rasta Peth and further flock to these stalls for their daily fix of breakfast. I make a mental note to come early next time and indulge in what these guys portray as breakfast heaven. As I get to the chowk, I’m told by a friendly vegetable vendor that it transforms into a mini vegetable market early every evening. I also spot a lot of South-Indian snack joints owing to the huge number of South-Indian residents in the area. A couple of food stalls still stand among them but I resist the temptation and head to the very popular Aba Misal. It takes me a while to spot it as the board says Shrikala Snacks Center and it breaks my heart to see the shutter down. Some curses and another mental note! I do however spot the owner’s son lazing outside the shop and he tells me how it all started from a small

handcart setup by his father, Aba, who returned from his shipping job in Saudi after learning some catering. Aba Misal has been around since 1993 and a lot of peo-ple swear by it. The Misal is generally over by 4 pm so head there early to avoid disappointment and I say this from bitter experience. A short walk from Aba Misal and

just next to KEM hospital is the small-but-full-of-history Untade Maruti Mandir. Built around 400 years ago, the temple gets its name from a resting place for camels (Unt in Marathi) near the temple, which belonged to out-siders visiting the Peshwas. The idol inside this temple is also a Swayambhu Murthy and is only on display once a week which, in keeping with my luck, was not the day I

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turned up there. The temple was in ruins until the 1940s when Srinivasrao Mudaliar restored it along with build-ing the KEM hospital.

Bhawani PethBhawani Peth is the last on my list of Peths for the day but as soon as I get there it fervently declares it is not the least. A beautiful bhajan accompanied by the sound of a Veena greets my ears. I’m drawn towards this sound, which is emanating from the Palkhi Vithoba Mandir where around a dozen devotees are sitting around an old man with a Veena in his hands, lost in the magical bhajan they are singing. I’m in a sort of trance till someone from inside the temple politely asks me to come inside and tells me that bhajans are sung at the temple every evening at 5 pm. The temple came into existence as a resting place for palkhis going to Pand-harpur every year. I sit there listening for a while and eventually head towards the other famous temple that Bhawani Peth houses and is named after, the Bhawani Mata Mandir. The “pravesh dwaar” or the entrance gate of the temple is a beautiful structure made of marble and wood. This 250-year-old temple, like the Nivdungya Vithoba and the Untade Maruti temples, houses a beautiful Swayambhu murthy of the Goddess Bhawani.

Just as you enter a stunning stone “deep mala” greets you with a lion – the Goddess’ vehicle – beside it. The “sabha mandap” and the main temple made from teak-wood and black sandstone are just as stunning. Easily

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one of the most beautiful temples I have been to. After spending some time at the temple I walk towards what is probably the most famous shop in Bhawani Peth – Laxminarayan. Started in 1945 by Laxminarayan Data, Laxminarayan now exports its products, including the mouthwatering chiwda, all around the globe. Interest-ingly, this is the only outlet Laxminarayan has and this is where you need to come if you want the freshest Lax-minarayan chiwda there is on offer. Bhawani Peth too, like the other two Peths, has a big commercial presence

with sprawling timber, plywood and hardware markets.

On the cards after a long day through three Peths, with a common thread of markets and mandirs running through them and which are quite different in character to a Shaniwar or a Shukrawar Peth, is a hot cup of sweet and milky chaha. A few steps away from Laxminarayan and a typical Pethi amrutalya is spotted. I guess on that front a Puneri Peth will never disappoint.

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We caught up with Shalaka Kanetkar, an architect based in aamchi Pune. “I’ve been here for the last 20 years, before which I was traveling all over the country since I come from a defense background” says Shalaka, who is a creative individual and likes to indulge in bak-ing, making clocks, trays and other crafts along with designing. With an experience of over 10 years in the market, Shalaka has designed a wide range of residential projects. Here’s her take on decorating this festive holiday season…

Lights!Turn on the

� Protima Tiwary

Photo: Redcorn Studios [Matt] Used under Creative Commons License

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It’s holiday season, and the décor market in Pune has seen a huge change in Pune over the last decade. What do you think?

Yes, Pune has seen quite a drastic change. When you compare Pune to what it was a decade ago, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see that the market here has evolved so much. It’s good to see Pune opening up to the home décor and design-ing trends all over the world.

It’s holiday season, and the décor market in Pune has seen a huge change in Pune over the last decade. What do you think?

Yes, Pune has seen quite a drastic change. When you compare Pune to what it was a decade ago, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see that the market here has evolved so much. It’s good to see Pune opening up to the home décor and designing trends all over the world.

What do you think is the scope of home décor in Pune?

I see a lot of scope in the market in this city. Pune is no longer the small town that lived according to it’s own terms. The people living here are investing time, money and energy to adapt international trends into their

homes. People are now open to spend-ing huge amounts on interiors since they are looking at it as an investment too. It’s not just about having a roof above your head anymore; it’s about liv-ing in the finest homes that one can afford. In fact I have personally noticed many people opting for interior dec-orators for designing their homes, which wasn’t the case till a few years ago even.

What are the home décor trends we

should be looking at this season?

Lights. A lot of lights. Lights are trending like never before. And the best part about this is that it’s a simple trend to adapt into your style- you can experiment with quirky lighting, you can opt in for a traditional look, you can give soft, feminine touches with fairy lights, and so much more!

Could you help us with a few easy and inexpensive ways of decorating with lights?

If you’re looking for something very delicate, simple, inexpensive and pretty, opt for fairy lights. Winding them up the legs and headboard of the bed brightens

Photo: Kazuho OkuiUsed under Creative Commons License

Photo: Mike Liu Used under Creative Commons License

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up the entire frame. Similarly, those wound around a window frame make for some great wall art apart from brightening up the window frame. You could also wrap a strand of fairy lights around tree trunks, or around pots and patio furniture. Drape them around sheer cur-tains to create a dreamy atmosphere. The possibilities of decorating with them are endless. You could even put them in glass jars and bottles to brighten up corners and tables.

What are the options one has for decorating with bigger lights?

Use LED lights, lamps and lanterns! White paper bag lan-terns are a huge hit this season, and so are lampshades made of fabric. Choose the colour of the fabric carefully, depending on the mood you want to set.

What are other home décor trends that we could consider?

Wall stickers and cut-outs are some great options- they are temporary, inexpensive and great to look at! You can create a Christmas theme with stickers and cut-outs of snow flakes, Christmas trees, bells, reindeers and Santa Claus.

Any particular colour trends in the market right now?

A combination of red and white is a big craze this sea-son, and why shouldn’t it be; it’s the colour of Christmas! Cushions, bed sheets, pillow covers and other uphol-stery can all add in the desired Christmas effect. Make sure you incorporate a lot of reds, whites and greens in your home decor if you want to get your homes ready for Christmas.

Do you have any specific tips for the kid’s room, con-sidering Christmas is a favorite among all kids?

Wall stickers, cut-outs, Christmas trees are a must have. Other than that, soft-boards and pin boards can be used to decorate the rooms. Christmas trees can be drawn on the chalkboards with fairy lights around it instead of using a real tree. A lot of scope lies in decorating a kid’s room. If there’s one rule of home décor, it’s that there is no rule. Go ahead and give the room a personality that you want!

So, Punekars, light up! Photo: Daniel NascimentoUsed under Creative Commons License

34 PUNE UNLTD.

Gulabi Gang Watch this highly awarded documentary about Bundelkhand, India, where a revolution is churning. The Gulabi Gang is about a group of women who have empowered themselves to take up the fight against gender violence, caste oppression and widespread corruption. Will you be a part of the revolution?

When Wednesday, December 17

Where Lost The Plot, Seasons Hotel, Aundh, Pune

Time 8:30 pm

Tickets Available at bookmyshow.com

Enchanted Valley CarnivalEnchanted Valley Carnival is a music fest that offers you an unparalleled experience with an adventure in music! It’s not just another Music festival but is an amalga-mation of Music, Camping and adventure sports put together in the scenic setting of the stunning Aamby Val-ley! A first-of-its-kind Music Festival which took place on an Air-Strip with 60+ artists performing in Year 1, Come, experience the magic of EVC’14 and get enchanted with us.

When December 19 – December 21

Where Aamby Valley City, Ambavane, Pune,

Time 12 pm

Contact +91 98334 47770

17December

Sunday Soul Sante: Pune Edition Bangalore’s most loved flea market is being brought to us in our very own city! Spend the day shopping, eating, listening to music and having fun, at over 150 stalls, showcasing the most unique Indian art, craft and design, fabu-lous food, music and entertainment.

When Sunday, December 21

Where S. No 82/4 Adjacent to Hard Rock Cafe, Opposite Irish Village, Koregoan Park, Pune

Time 10 am- 10 pm

19 -21December

21December

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EVENTS

Crazy Christmas Hat PartyDiscover the hidden paradise and step in through ‘The Little Door’ to celebrate Christmas like never before. As Christmas draws near, The Little Door invites you to its Crazy Christmas Hat Party! The Little Door promises to give you a superlative Yuletide 2014 by offering you music that will make you want to dance and copious amount of flavoursome food you would love to gorge on. The array of drinks served will not fail to make it a fun and memorable evening! Walk in with your crazy hats, beards and glasses to add some spunk to your Christmas this year only at The Little Door! Along with lots of fun, The Little Door also promises gorgeous, lip smacking cuisines to indulge in.


Where The Little Door - Pune, D-10, Central Avenue, Kalyani Nagar, Pune

Time 8 pm

Winter WonderlandWe bring the magic of winters this New Year 2015 with WINTER WONDERLAND. It offers all the joy of the season with the themed party for New Year 2015 at Vivanta by Taj Blue Diamond. The venue will be trans-formed into Winter Wonderland by breathtaking visual and artificial setup stimulating Winter Wonderland. The venue will be experience of the winters in Europe with the dramatic and dynamic décor using snowflake ceil-ings, snow covered Christmas trees, glittered branches, crystal chandeliers, 3D projections, snow man, igloo, winter colour lanterns and more snowflakes all around the venue. The evening will be embraced by numerous artists from Mumbai and Pune. Live bands and non-stop DJ sets by Dj Vabby Dj Anuj and Dj Zack all night in an open air dance floor.


Where Revolve, A3, Liberty Society, Koregaon Park, Pune

Time 8 pm

31December 24

December

Hola PuneHola Pune is a fun, entertainment and shopping Festival in Pune that involves entrepreneurs in the field of Art, Entertainment, Food, Music and fashion in a single platform to showcase their talent and entertain the crowd. This two day fair will involve 40 pop-up stalls with various products for the audience to wander around.

When December 20 – December 21

Where Amanora Town Centre, Hadapsar-Kharadi Bypass, Amanora Park Town Kharadi, Hadapsar, Opposite Magarpatta city, Pune

Time 11 am – 10 pm

20-21December

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36 PUNE UNLTD.

Secret Santa and Christmas Movie Marathon The white month is here! We love Christmas just as much as you do. To show you how much, we’ve put together a Christmas Movie Marathon!

Christmas Movie Marathon:

Home Alone marathon (1 & 2) -

This series doesn’t really need an introduction. Our childhoods would’ve been meaningless without the Home Alone series. Come watch parts 1 and 2, back-to-back!

When December 20

Time 6:30 - 11:30 pm

It’s A Wonderful Life -

This one’s a classic! An angel helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman by showing what life would have been like if he never existed.

When December 21

Time 7:30 p.m

Secret Santa Party -

Play Santa for a night! All you have to do is register with us, select one from the exciting list of gifts we’ve lined up, pick the lucky (and secret) recipient of your gift & finally show up on Christmas Eve to meet the person who’s done the same for you a.k.a YOUR very own Secret Santa!

When December 24

Time 8:30pm onwards

Followed by:

Edward Scissorhands –

Johnny Depp is an uncommonly gentle young man, who happens to have scissors for hands and falls in love with a beautiful adolescent girl.

Time 10:00pm

Fee Rs. 500/- each (Includes Entry + Secret Santa Gift + Movie + 1 beer mug/ 1 glass of house wine)

Where Lost the Plot, Seasons Hotel, Aundh, Pune

20-24December

New Year’s Eve Special Welcome 2015 with The Angels & Demons New Year’s Eve Party. A range of artists join you in this celebration, as you swing to groovy music on our dance floor.


Where The Café, La Terrazza and Single Malt & Co. Hyatt Regency Pune, Weikfield IT Park, Pune-Nagar Road, Pune

Time 8 pm

31December

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