Popti - The Harvest Festival of........ errrr....... Roha

I happen to live in a tiny town called Roha which is close to the coast of Maharashtra, India. Now every region has a special something about it that defines it and makes it famous. Considering the fact that majority of Indian population depends on agriculture (I hope I’m not sounding like my economics textbook!) it is obvious that the season of harvest is much awaited. Now just as every region has a Harvest Festival, we in Roha celebrate a party known as “Popti.” (It feels so weird while writing over here in English. I’d never imagined that the concept of Popti would be written about on the internet.” It’s just the cool stuff that we village ppl do! Yay!

Today I take pride in introducing to my global blogger friends the awesome thing that is… Popti. So here is how it goes. Basically it is the celebration of the harvest of beans that we call ‘Vaal’. I really don’t know what its botanical name is ;-)

This is what you need:

From Stuff I Learnt Today

Some rock salt

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Leaves of this plant called ‘Bhambrut’. The leaves are velvety and the juice has medicinal properties too.

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The main stuff… The Beans
Plus you’ll need onions, potatoes, eggs, chicken and chilly powder.

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First you line an earthen pot with the leaves and put a layer of the beans in it.

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Sprinkle some salt over it. You can place onions and potatoes filled with chilly powder in between

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Then go the eggs and the chicken pieces (optional)

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The pot is further stuffed with the leaves up to its neck. Then it is place in fire usually created by lighting the dry leaves and wood in and around the farm.

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This is done for about half an hour.

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The pot is then removed from the fire and then kept for few minutes (Standing Time)

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The whole contents of the pot are emptied into a bowl after removing and discarding the leaves.

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The leaves impart a great and different flavor to the whole thing and even without fancy ingredients it gets a sensational taste.
I guess I don’t need to tell you how to eat it! SO TUCK IN!


This post is dedicated to my good friend Shilpa. Poor dear does not have net access at her hostel. So she goes to a net-cafe, copies all the stuff that I write about, and then reads it when she gets back. Now ain't that sweet?

Plus as she cannot comment on the blog, she cares to sms me the thoughts on each and every post. Thank you Shilpa! I owed you this one.

PS: Shilpa loves Popti and so THIS post is dedicated to her!

PPS: Guys say Hi to Shilpa...