Have Gala Time- Beat the Mumbai Heat with Fluids

It’s scorching heat in India! The sunscreens are stuffed in handbags; umbrellas are out, deserted streets in the afternoon, Twitter and Facebook Statistics in India are crowded with mercurial complains, marketing execs are busy making excuses to stay in office! Yes, the ‘Summer’ has arrived in big way and if you are in the city of Mumbai, one with extreme humid climate then you are contemplating every possible excuse to beat the heat.

Water is possibly the most suggested and healthy way to beat the heat but when you are in the City of Dreams, you definitely need more to keep you hydrated; considering most don’t think that carrying a water bottle is “cool”! Read on to find out quick ways to ‘Beat the Heat’ and have a gala time in this climate, too!

Beat the Heat with Fluids, Have a Gala Time:-

Panha

·         Panha (Raw Mango Juice):- It is a regular at every Gujju (Gujurati) and Marwardi homes during summers. Steamed pulp of Kairi (raw mango) is crushed and mixed with mint paste, Jaljira powder, salt and sugar. Huge vessels are stored in each one’s refrigerator and is super refreshing when served Chilled!!!! At my home panha made out of about 2 kgs of kairi exhausts in mere 4 days!


·         Sugar-can(e) Cool:- Yet another, refreshing fruit juice which is available across the city throughout the year. Ganna (Sugarcane) is cooling agent and hence, nothing can beat the heat like it does. Nothing at all revives your spirit like sugarcane does! However, if you are diabetic then you would really avoid having it and switch to Panna instead, to have a gala time.

A Nimbu Pani Vendor

·         Lemon Heaven:- At every nook and corner of Mumbai city you would find lemon juice (nimbu pani) vendors with hand carts. Yes, they may not be hygienic, but will quench your thirst when you are on move! Avoid having any too much of ice in it and insist on adding some ginger instead.

·         Desi Chillers (Buttermilk or Lassi): Very Indian! I am told in many cities across India, it is chaas (butter milk) and Lassi (sweetened curd) that are sold on thelas and dairy shops at discounted rates to satiate your summer thirst and beat the heat in a desi way! Make any of one of them part of your daily meals, at least lunch and see how rejuvenated you would be! No need to carry from home, the nearest restaurant will have it for!


·         Bring it down with Sharbats :-  Sharbat is a flavoured drink made from fruits and flower petals. There are numerous flavours available and are typically supposed to be mixed with water or milk and served chilled. In most Indian homes, they are frequently served to guests, in summers especially. My favourites are Rose, Litchi and Kesar (Saffron)!

Banana Shake

·         Shake heat with Smoothies:-Milkshakes and smoothies are part of coffee shop generation and when you want to fill your tummy and get you cool back, this is all you need! During summers, nothing satisfies your senses like Banana, Strawberry and Mango, smoothies or milkshakes!

As far as juices are concerned to beat the heat in Mumbai summers I prefer Sugarcane and Panna! Buttermilk is an essential part of my diet which takes a hiatus only when mangoes are around, because mangoes and buttermilk is a bad combination. With regular supply of these fluids you are sure to have a gala time in sweltering heat of Mumbai.

Having Gala Time During India- Pakistan Semi Final

In India, Cricket is a Religion! It is the only thing that brings the whole nation together irrespective of their caste, creed, religion or designation. With India- Pakistan semi final scheduled at Mohali tomorrow and everyone doing their bit to add to the jingoism, here is how you will watch people having gala time during the match, no matter which part of the cricketing world they are in:

• Making most of the half or full day off from work by stocking up popcorns, glasses, bottles of water (alcohol in many cases), lots of unlimited food supply.

• Peeking at the any TV screen that comes their way (TV showrooms, malls, offices, railway stations, etc)
  

• Tuning into or stopping by to listen to score updated from National Radio station (highest listener-ship guaranteed on this day).

• Cheering and catcalling at ever boundary hit, wicket taken, frictions sparking, umpire's decision given, etc.

• Each one playing multiple roles of captain, umpire, commentator, fielder and the audience of course.

• Those at work minus the television set would keep refreshing cric info or yahoo cricket or rediff cricket or their twitter accounts or would be on phone to get regular updates.

• Online cricket
  fanatics would be tweeting, wall posting and commenting on each move taking place on the match, social media monitoring of your walls and tweet updates would second that.
  
  
  
• The ones in the Stadium, who would be envied by half the world, would be shouting at top of their voices, sporting tri colours (on t-shirt, face, body), holding bold one lines, cheering relentlessly and absolutely letting their hair down.

• Easiest time to make friends with unknowns, especially if you are watching the India Pakistan cricket battlefield on a public platform. So, if any of you wanted to make friends with any Indian or Pakistani, get involved in their cricketing conversations supporting their country and you are sure have found a genuine friend.

• Having Gala Time on social media will be fun for those who would love to tweet it out on social media while our players sweat it out on field.

• One would also see a species of professionals who would call in sick and be happy about it!
  

  

• Also, the people who aren't interested in cricket (which would be rare) they would be having gala time commuting as the streets and local transports are bound to be empty, almost making you wonder if the country is really under war!
 

Having gala time during India Pakistan world cup semi final at Mohali, is really relative! But the idea is to enjoy a good match of cricket as it builds an awesome celebratory foundation to a have gala time watching your team in ICC World Cup 2011 Finals!

P.S.: Its just a match, so have a gala time, whether or not your team wins!