This story is from August 28, 2007

Burp! Hooray to Khaibar Pass!

Aug 28, 2007, 00:00 IST

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When it comes to pet puja, Kolkatans are always together.

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Celebrations (TOI Photo)On Sunday afternoon and evening to be precise Kolkatans who had gathered at Swabhumi for the grand finale of Khaibar Pass The Street Food Festival were really in the mood to add more to their tastebuds
They might not agree on various issues. They might cry cholbey na at the drop of a hat. But when it comes to pet pujo, Kolkatans are always ek mot.Why, you must have also heard your grandparents say, Jai debey ongey, tai jabey shongey.
Well, on Sunday afternoon and evening to be precise Kolkatans who had gathered at Swabhumi for the grand finale of Khaibar Pass The Street Food Festival were really in the mood to add more to their ongo (body) and let their taste buds tingle, the gastronomic juices flow and for one day gorge on jhalmuri, mughlai and roll, chop cultlet and phuchka and give their four-course dinner a miss.
And who can blame them. What with the 16 shops from four categories setting up stalls and serving the delectable fare, who would ever want to light the kitchen fire! The Urban Courtyard area of Swabhumi boasted of a traditional decor. The stalls reminded us of traditional bhunga houses in the villages. By the time the sun set and Radio Mirchi RJ Rupsa took to the stage to start some innovative game shows, the place was packed.

As the evening progressed and more and more people arrived, you could make out that Khaibar Pass had become a grand success. in-between eating, the response to the game shows that included eating the maximum number of phuchkas in the shortest span of time, finishing the roll asap, singing songs with food names and making ‘teeth’ with muri and scaring the wits out of everyone! Kolkatans loved and lapped it all. RJ Rupsha did a good job to keep the entertainment quotient high.

While the games were on, Angshu Deb Barma, a professional came up to us and said, Street food festivaley, you should be have a burping competition. The one who can burp the loudest should get more food coupons.
Yeah, sure! Fun and laughter, flocking from one stall to the other and sampling the fare Kolkatans were surely busy. Ekhaner roll ta bhalo, Nehi yahan aao, inka phuchka is mindblowing, Radhur mutton cutlet ta kheli? comments like these rented the air. At around seven in the evening, they all gathered around the stage to hear the results. Celebrity chef Shaun Kenworthy, his wife and model-turned-choreographer Pinky, percussionist Tanmoy Bose and actor Indrani Dutta were the guest judges for the evening. They handed over the certificates to the winners from each category.
The icing on the cake came after the awards ceremony was overand Cactus took the stage. The crowd went berserk. In fact, many liked their new heavy metal sound. They sang their chartbusters like Buddho Heshechhe, Holud Pakhi, Sudhu Tumi Ele Na, Aami Sudhu Khujechi Tomay, Khudro Aami, Tuchho Aami and many other popular numbers. They had the crowd on their toes. Cactus is
mindblowing. Notun members Sandip aar Allan join korar por ei first time oder shunlam. Fatafati performance, said Madhu Das, a professional.
Quotable quotes
“Amader dekhley bojha jai je amra khai ar onader dekhley bojha jai je ora khaoan” - Tamnoy Bose when he was called on stage to give the award to best chop cutlet outlet.
“I introduced my wife to street food. I think it was on the third day of my arrival to Kolkata, I went out to try out the
sumptuous street food here. People thought I was crazy, but I loved it” - Shaun Kenworthy.
Jayeeta ganguly

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