5 Amazing Reasons Why You Should Opt for Online Grocery Shopping

Right from battling for parking spaces to maneuvering shopping carts; finding the right stuff to standing in serpentine queues; and shouldering heavy bags to handling wailing kids,   grocery shopping at your neighbouhood kirana stores  or supermarkets can be exasperating. 

Now imagine a scenario, where you can get all your grocery items delivered at your doorstep, that too just at the click of a button or a mere touch of your finger.  Welcome to the online grocery shopping world!  E-grocers or online shopping portals offer you numerous options for foodstuff and other household items to shop from, right from the comfort of your home, 24 by 7, 365 days a year.  The number and the sheer variety of grocery items you can buy online is quite extensive  – foodgrains, biscuits, lentils, dry fruits, tea & coffee, pasta, noodles, spices, herbs, chocolates and snacks & sweets, household items, personal hygiene items, pet supplies and lots more.  These days, many internet grocers have started selling even fruits and vegetables virtually!

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Let us tell you more about why you should consider taking the digital grocery shopping route than the traditional one.

1.    Saves Time

The biggest advantage of online grocery shopping is that you save time on commuting, hopping from one shelf to another or paying bills.  Whether you are at home or office, you can save your time and simultaneoulsly feel your commitments while ordering online. What is more, you don’t even have to bear with the cashiers/store assistants sweet talk their way into buying cash cards or vouchers or accepting any other promotional offers J

2.    Controls Impulse Buying

Most of the times you end up buying items more than those in the grocery list your carried from your home. This behaviour is aptly described as ‘impulse buying’, in which consumers get lured to grab attractive discounts & offers or new products on the shelves.  But in online shopping, you shop for only planned items, know how many items have piled up in your checkout cart and accordingly keep your impulse habit in check.  

3.    Keeps a Rein on Budget

When you are buying grocery online, you can compare prices of different brands on your digital screen, enabling to get the cheapest deals and save money. Plus, there are hidden costs such as petrol and car parking charges, on which you can save in virtual shopping.  You can even restrict your spendings on eateries and family entertainment, which otherwise occur while visiting a  supermarket in a mall.

4.    Doorstep Delivery

Online grocery shopping is your immediate ‘help at hand’, especially for housewives, working mothers, senior citizens or handicapped people.  You can choose your own delivery schedule as per your convenience.

5.    Specialty & Authentic Foods

How many times do we end up searching vainly for that authentic saffron from Kashmir, kitchen fresh Sattu from Bihar or flavoursome Goan cashewnuts in the local stores? Even if you manage to locate a specialty shop in your city, the prices can be quite high and their authenticity questionable. However, when you are buying such foods and products from online stores such as uIndia, you can read detailed descriptions, be confident about their source of origin and quality and make informed purchases.

If you haven’t yet experienced online grocery shopping yet, start now!

5 Signature Dishes of Awadhi Cuisine

If you are visiting Lucknow, the city of Nawabs, then treating yourself to Awadhi cuisine is a 'must-do' on your bucket list. Awadhi cuisine draws powerful inspiration from the Mughals and is considered on parallel lines with Hyderabadi, Punjabi and Kashmiri dishes. 

The fact that sets Awadhi cuisine apart from other Indian delicacies is that all recipes are cooked on a slow flame on a tawa (skillet) to ensure the absorption of all food juices and minimum nutrition loss – a technique better known as Dum Pukht.  Another highlight is the frequent use of meats such as chicken and mutton as well as spices such as cardamoms  and saffron; and a few other uncommon ingredients such as lemon grass, silver leaf, rose petals, sweet perfume and sandalwood.

Did you know that the famous song ‘Dil Ne Dastarkhwan Bichaya’ from Aditya Roy Kapur – Parineeti Chopra starer movie ‘Daawat – e- Ishq’ was inspired from ‘Dastarkhwan’ – a Persian term used in Lucknow to describe the well laid out, lavish Awadhi feast?

Next time you are in Lucknow,  you may want to indulge in a food affair with the following popular Awadhi dishes.

1.      Murg Awadhi Korma

A classic Awadhi dish, Murg Awadhi Korma is made using chicken braised in a host of dry spices, whole spices, cashewnuts and other ingredients. The specialty of this korma is that once the gravy is cooked, it is flavoured with rose water, kewra water and mitha ittar.  Another variant of this dish is making korma using lamb pieces. Exotic, isn’t it?

 

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2.      Kakori Kebab

The mention of Awadhi cuisine is incomplete without the succulent kebabs, especially Kakori kebabs.  Named after Kakori, a city situated in the outskirts of Lucknow, these kebabs are made of minced meat and allowed to cook slowly on a skewer.  They taste even better when sprinkled with a  dash of lemon and rose petal powder.  Other famous kebabs include Galouti (made from lamb),Shami (made from mutton/lamb) and Pasanda (made from mutton).

 

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3.      Sheermal

Grab a bite of Sheermal, a sweet mughlai naan baked in oven. The flavours of saffron and cardamom mixed in warm milk are added to the dough to lend a delicious aroma to this flat bread. You can eat Sheermal as it is or along with meat based curries.

 

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4.       Pulao Noor Mahal

If the name itself is royal, then imagine how heavenly it would taste. As you would have guessed, this is a rice based dish flavoured with yakhni (meat stock, yoghurt and saffron mix) and hence also called Yakhni Pulao.

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5.      Khubani Ka Meetha

Any Indian food plate is incomplete without a dessert, and so is the Awadhi gastronomical plate.  Khubani Ka Meetha is a unique type of sweet prepared from dried apricots, lemon-sugar syrup and almonds.  It is a trademark Awadhi sweet dish for a wedding or other ceremonial menu.  It is typically served with malai, ice cream or custard.

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Hope you enjoyed the Awadhi food journey with us. 

Have you ever tasted Awadhi cuisine? We would love to know more about your experience!

5 Evergreen Bollywood Movies Inspired from Kashmir

Kashmir, the paradise on earth, has always enthralled artists with its unparalleled beauty, rich heritage and political upheavals. Kashmir has inspired filmmakers to portray the valley, its people, their culture, the socio-political scenario and the struggle for existence. Whether using the scenic appeal of the landscape or narrating the turbulence in the land torn between terrorism and patriotism, Kashmir has never stopped influencing the Bollywood storyline.

There are scores of Bollywood films, which  represent Kashmir in the truest sense,  through their immaculate cinematography and griping scripts. We pick up the ones that still remain etched in our hearts.

1.    Kashmir Ki Kali (1964)

A Bollywood epic of the golden era starring evergreen Shammi Kapoor and beautiful Sharmila Tagore in a tale of love, secrets, betrayal and triumph of good over evil. As the name suggests, Sharmila portraying an innocent flower girl from the valley, has done justice to the role with her virgin looks and acting. Her character has brought up the life of flower girls in the valley, their day-to-day living on the boats rowing through the lakes. The director has beautifully filmed the maiden valley covered in a bed of flowers with its snow-clad mountains under a canopy of the clear sky. This movie upholds the scenic beauty of Kashmir from every aspect including houseboats, traditional dresses and customs.

2.    Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965)

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This one is again a Bollywood lovey-dovey tale of a rich girl-poor guy with a villainous father to intervene. Featuring the charming Shashi Kapoor as a down to earth Kashmiri boatman and Nanda as a rich belle, this movie is set in the backdrop of Kashmir like a picture postcard. The visually appealing movie with picturesque songs and high emotional drama truly brings out the melodramatic effect of Kashmir along with its romantic traits.

3.    Roja (1992)

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Based on a time of utter mayhem in Kashmir, this hard core commercial flick has brought out the real picture of the land without taking sides or pinpointing at any group or clan. The second half of this Arvind Swamy-Madhu starrer otherwise romantic film was shot completely in Kashmir and the director did a great job in choosing to show a controversial issue in a subtle frame.  Indian audience got a first glimpse of terror-torn Kashmir far away from the scenic picture they had in mind. Roja successfully triggered the human emotion and prepared a foundation for the audience to accept such topics in the mainstream cinema. The military angle also added to the mass effect of the movie.

4.    Dil Se (1998)

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Shahrukh Khan-Manish Koirala and the entire team of the movie aptly carried forward the trend that started with Roja where Kashmir became more a political subject rather than just a beautiful location for movies. The contrast between the pristine beauty and the violent upsurge in the state was effectively portrayed through an unrequited love story. Among many other themes in the movie, the most prominent was the depiction of patriotism in the restive state of the valley which was perfectly rendered with gripping shots and alluring music. Dil Se leaves a mark as one of the best films on the valley.

5.    Yahaan (2005)

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Though the movie did not fare well commercially, this is one of the best flicks on Kashmir from a debutant director. Jimmy Shergill as an army man in love with a Kashmiri girl, Minisha Lamba with an insurgent brother is a sensitive love story set in the valley. The extensive scenes of armed forces and capturing their reactions in the terror environment of Kashmir appeal to both our emotional and national self.  The movie depicts the ever tense situation in Kashmir through the eyes of the main protagonists torn between duty and love.

While Kashmir is still a hotspot for Indian movies, we can’t ignore what the people of Kashmir are going through. The floods of 2014 have hit them hard, and many people have lost their homes and jobs. But it doesn’t have to stay that way; we can help them get back on their feet. Join uIndia’s ‘We are there for you, Kashmir’ campaign to support Kashmiri farmers and artisans by buying their products. With everyone’s support, we can help restore peace and happiness in this beautiful state, so that it continues to be our very own paradise on earth. 

7 Reasons why Kashmir is an important Tourist and Cultural Destination in India

“If there is ever a paradise on earth, it is here, it is here, it is here.”

The term ‘paradise on earth’ might sound like a cliché, but it is a fact that can’t be denied! One would be hard pressed to find another place on earth that matches this description so perfectly!

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Whether it’s the cold, snow-filled winter or bright spring, Kashmir is a sight to behold. Kashmir is like a gorgeous woman who looks good in whatever she wears!

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Apart from its spellbinding beauty, Kashmir also has a lot of cultural and political significance. While recent times have seen a volatile political situation in the land, the fact remains that Kashmir is still an integral part of India. Here are 7 reasons why Kashmir is an important tourist and cultural destination in India.

1. Bio Diversity

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Kashmir is a biologist’s delight. The beautiful environs of Kashmir are home to some particular species of plants and animals. The Kashmir Valley is composed of very fertile soil, which encourages the growth of several types of vegetation. Kashmir is one of the few places in the world where saffron is grown, and Kashmiri saffron is extremely popular globally. Several Himalayan medicinal herbs are also in great demand, especially since people prefer natural solutions over chemical ones.

2. Arts and Crafts

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Cashmere shawls, which originated in Kashmir, are considered the epitome of luxury across the world. These shawls are carefully embroidered in a traditional Kashmiri paisley pattern, a style of embroidery also called Kashida. The pattern is also seen on clothes, hand made bags and in home décor. Besides this, Kashmiri artisans are experts in papier mache, making all kinds of beautiful multicolored objects.

3. Places of Worship

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Apart from tourists visiting to partake of its natural splendor, the state also receives a good number of visitors at its religious centers, particularly the very famous Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu, the Jama Masjid in Srinagar and the Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh. The beautiful Mansar Lake in Jammu is also lined with some unique temples. It is said that the Vaishno Devi temple alone receives close to 10 million pilgrims every year, which has boosted the state’s economy significantly.

4. Adventure Sports

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The terrain of Kashmir makes it the perfect place for a variety of adventure sports. The mountains provide the ideal spot for mountaineering, trekking and mountain biking. Springtime gives families a great opportunity to backpack through the beautiful valley and go on camps. This doesn’t mean that things are bleak and dull during winter; Kashmir is one of the few spots in India that offers opportunities for winter sports like skiing.

5. Cuisine

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Kashmir being a mountainous region, the cuisine has a lot of meat dishes; there are as many as 30 varieties of lamb dishes alone! A Wazwan is a traditional Kashmiri feast featuring the best of Kashmiri cuisine like Yakhni, Rogan Josh, Dum Aloo, Goshtaba and various kinds of breads. Another highlight of the feast is kahwah, a Kashmiri herbal tea made with saffron, spices and nuts.

6. Culture

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The culture of this northernmost state is distinct from the rest of India, yet it bears many similarities as well. The Kashmir Valley has its own combination of Kashmiri Muslim and Kashmiri Pundit culture, Jammu’s Dogra culture is similar to that of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh while Ladakh has strong influences of Tibetan culture. This beautiful melting pot of cultures and religions ensures that most festivals are celebrated with equal fervor. Kashmir is one place where the charm of traditional wear hasn’t had to compete with western attire; most people still prefer authentic Kashmiri clothes to other options.

7. Movie Locations

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Gone are the days when Indian movie makers used to rush to the Swiss Alps for a glimpse of a snowy mountain! While Kashmir was abundantly featured in movies during the 70s and 80s, turmoil in the region resulted in a lull. But recently, just as tourists have increased to the state, movie makers are also drawn to using Kashmir’s scenic beauty in their films. A few recent movies shot in Kashmir are Highway, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Student of the Year, Rockstar and many more!

While Kashmir is still an important cultural and tourist destination in India, we can’t ignore what the people of Kashmir are going through. The floods of 2014 have hit them hard, and many people have lost their homes and jobs. But it doesn’t have to stay that way; we can help them get back on their feet. Join uIndia’s ‘We are there for you, Kashmir’ campaign to support Kashmiri farmers and artisans by buying their products. With everyone’s support, we can help restore peace and happiness in this beautiful state, so that it continues to be our very own paradise on earth.