“Khaike paan Banaraswala, khulijai bandh akal ka taala “, the immortal lines of Kishore Kumar which literally translates into-A paan from Benares (Varanasi) can unlock the locked mind.Hmm how true!! Though, if you ask any Guwahatian, a mitha patti paan from Pandit would also do the trick. Paan often used as a breath freshener, digestive aid or to welcome guests in many parts of the India and Asia, is a betel leaf wrapped with areca-nuts and a variety of condiments and spices, and sometimes tobacco.
By no means, a health food, the paan definitely is a soul food. A true connoisseur of Paan has his own idea of the perfect paan; everyone has their unique combination of ingredients; The paan and nuts are moreorless staple along with lime-the additives can include but not limited to katha, cardamom, clove, dried coconut, saunf;India invented toppings way ahead of Baskin Robbins and Pizza Hut!
Any good paan shop will have its own set of loyal customers; the owner is an artist in his own right; And like any true artist, his creation is made unique with his peculiar touch of hand and eclectic mix of ingredients. Only the loyalist will be able to appreciate that incomparable pleasure, bordering on ecstasy which comes from consuming that paan.
Well by now you must have guessed that I am a paan lover. As a tribute to this magnificent creation, I have made a humble attempt to compare it with Divinity.
Lord Buddha,The Enlightened one-the peace of chewing that perfect paan. Aah! Make no mistake. Only a true lover of paan can tell you the tranquillity and peace that comes with the chewing of it.
Lord Ganesha,Vighan Vinashak (the remover of obstacles)-If you have a file that needs to be passed at a government office, try offering a paan. And behold the magic of the paan! The non moving file now flies off from table to table and all your problems disappear! Sheer magic isn’t it?
Lord Brahma,The Creator- Countless immaculate creations in the form of music, art and literature and even revolutions have been sparked by the paan. History tells us that the most fertile minds have made their remarkable creations, catalysed by the paan.
Lord Shiva, The Destroyer - a casual glance across any street, bus stand, office or railway station will give enough evidence about the destructive properties of the paan. Really, India won’t have the same charm, without the pan stains. After all, we all love a bit of colour in our lives, don’t we?
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