Good morning, Bengaluru!
⛅ Today’s weather: Sunny temperatures and partly cloudy skies.
🧐 Did you know? Legends around the Banashankari Devi Temple say that when the demon Durgamasura harassed the locals, Hindu goddess Parvati reincarnated as Shakambari to help them. She appeared through the fire of a yagna or fire sacrifice.
🥛 Hotels champion Nandini
Amidst the Nandini versus Amul row, Bengaluru’s hotel association pledges support to the local brand.
Story so far: The Bruhat Bengaluru Hotel Association (BBHA) has something to say about the ensuing Amul versus Nandini row in Karnataka. According to the President of the association, the BBHA has a responsibility towards the state’s farmers. So the President has directed all hotels in Bengaluru to only use the products made by the local brand, Nandini.
- The association emphasised having no personal anguish with Amul. They simply oppose its entry into the state’s market due to its popularity in states where it has an established presence.
- Members of the association are gearing up for a meeting this week to build awareness about using Nandini’s curd and milk products and boycotting Amul.
What’s it about? When Gujarat-based Amul announced its plans to expand to Karnataka, it didn’t sit well with dairy farmers and members of the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF). They are gravely concerned about the threat the entity presents to local farmers and businesses.
- Recently, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai defended Amul’s entry into the dairy market while opposition leaders chastised it.
🥘 Mosque Road becomes a foodie’s paradise
Mosque Road’s iftar treats and Muslim cuisine have enticed the entire city.
Story so far: During the month of Ramadan, Fraser Town’s mosque road has become a foodie’s paradise, with people of all faiths thronging the food stalls in the evenings. Earlier, it was Shivajinagar that served as a hub for Muslim cuisine.
- The vendors set up the stalls in the afternoon, and they become crowded in the evenings. Local Muslims often visit the stalls to break their fast or for iftar treats.
- When people from other areas caught its scent, the road became a regular haunt for many foodies. The baida roti, a flatbread with meat and egg stuffing, and keema samosas are huge crowd pullers.
What’s on the table? One can find various Muslim cuisines here, ranging from paya soup and nihari to patthar ka gosht, meat cooked over a granite stone. The latter was allegedly conceived in the kitchen of the Nizam of Hyderabad when a frantic chef who had forgotten his utensils made do with a nearby stone.
- For vegetarian tastebuds, there’s a plethora of desserts like khova naan, phirni, sharbat, and falooda.
🚰 Dirty water woes in Shastri Nagar
After seepage issues in LP Shastri Nagar, the water supply has been delayed.
Story so far: Dirty water made its way into over a hundred homes because of seepage into Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board’s (BWSSB) 100-diameter main water pipeline, leaving homeowners in LP Shastri Nagar’s HAL ward extremely worried.
- The pipe was damaged, and water from Shastrinagar’s stormwater drain was entering it.
- BWSSB officials report the issue has been fixed, but homeowners have another story. A local leader reports that the water supply hasn’t been restored in over seven days.
Cause for delay: The BWSSB was supposed to replenish the water supply through its tankers. But locals have noticed road-digging and truck movement by other private agencies.
🦟 Mosquito menace
Changing climatic patterns have made Bengaluru a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Story so far: The rising numbers of mosquitoes in Bengaluru have alarmed residents and welfare associations. Areas on the outskirts of the Outer Ring Road are especially suffering. The Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) and other institutes might have some answers.
- Entomologists argue that the mosquito menace is caused by the changing climatic patterns in and around Bengaluru.
- Incessant rains all year long, filled-up lakes, erratic temperatures, and humid conditions have turned the city into a breeding ground for the gnats.
Why it matters? The abnormal increase in mosquito populations makes the outbreak of vector-borne diseases like malaria, dengue, and chikungunya more likely. For the BBMP, it’s a significant public health concern.
📊 Today’s Poll
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Do you like Kulfi?
- Yes, I like Kulfi.
- No, I don’t like Kulfi.
❓ Today’s Question
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What’s your favourite kind of pickle?
Reply to this email with your answers.
🗞️ In other news…
- For parks without borewells, the BBMP provides water twice a day.
- The country’s first 3D-printed post office is coming up soon in Bengaluru.
- Here’s a piece about an ambulance driver ensuring a dignified farewell for all unclaimed bodies.
- Another fish kill incident was reported after sewage water entered Seetharampalya Lake.
- Despite awaiting a reserve tag, the government has begun constructing a goshala at the Hesaraghatta grassland.
That’s it for today. Have a great day!