A moment of pride

ODISHA’S KHAJA EARNS GLOBAL HONOUR 

Odisha's beloved traditional sweet, Khaja, has recently achieved international fame by being recognised among the world's best sweet pastries by TasteAtlas, a global food guide. This prestigious recognition places Khaja alongside legendary international confections like croissants and doughnuts, marking it as the only Indian sweet to feature in the top ten list.

What is Khaja?

Khaja is a centuries-old delicacy, deeply rooted in Odisha’s cultural and culinary heritage, especially associated with the sacred Jagannath Temple in Puri. The sweet is made from a simple yet rich combination of refined wheat flour, ghee, and sugar. The dough is meticulously rolled into thin layers, deep-fried until golden and crispy, and finally soaked in sugar syrup. The result is a flaky, crunchy, yet melt-in-the-mouth pastry that has delighted generations.

Cultural and Spiritual Significance: Beyond its delectable taste, Khaja holds immense spiritual importance. It forms an integral part of the 'Mahaprasad' — the sacred offering made to Lord Jagannath at the Puri temple. Devotees from across the world purchase Khaja as a blessed souvenir, believing it carries divine blessings. Its preparation is not just a culinary process but a tradition passed down through generations, maintaining its purity and sanctity.

Global Recognition: TasteAtlas praised Khaja for its unique preparation and cultural richness, highlighting how it stands out even amidst other Indian sweets. The platform also noted that Khaja is sometimes known as 'Pheni' and shares its revered space with other popular Indian pastries like Gujiya, Chiroti, and Karanji — but it is Khaja that made it to the world’s top rankings.

A Moment of Pride for Odisha: This international recognition not only celebrates the rich legacy of Khaja but also shines a spotlight on Odisha's culinary traditions, bringing them to a global audience. It is a proud moment for every Odia and a testament to the timeless appeal of this divine delicacy.

Pizza for two or more

THE PIZZA THEOREM 

It’s time for a snack, and you and your pal are all set to share a pizza, with each of you getting half. When the pizza arrives, however, you find that the slices are not all the same size.

The pizza slicer had made four cuts with equal angles, all crossing at one point, to end up with eight slices. But the crossing point is not at the pizza’s center, so some slices are larger than others.

Mathematicians have shown there’s an easy solution to sharing the pizza evenly. They call it the Pizza Theorem. If you and your pal take alternate slices, you each automatically end up with an equal amount. It doesn’t matter where the crossing point is or which wedge you start with. 

The strategy of going around the pizza and taking alternate slices also gives each person exactly the same amount of edge crust. Nice, if you love stuffed-crust pizza.

The Pizza Theorem doesn’t work for a pizza cut into just four slices, but it does work for eight, 12, 16, 20, or any larger multiple of four. In all these cases, the sums of the areas of alternate slices are equal.

What if three of you want equal shares of a pizza? This time, you would need a pizza cut into 12 slices, with each person receiving four. For five people, you would need a pizza cut into 20 slices.

And there’s more. Suppose you have a pizza with, say, three toppings spread unevenly across the surface. As long as each topping covers a circular area and the crossing point of the cuts lies inside all three splotches of topping, the Pizza Theorem ensures that everyone sharing the pizza gets the same amount of the three toppings.

There’s nothing like math to help make sharing easier. Good thing too, because your pal gets pretty grouchy when you take more than your portion of the pie.

India’s first frozen zoo

PADMAJA NAIDU HIMALAYAN ZOOLOGICAL PARK 

Darjeeling’s Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park has established India’s first “Frozen Zoo”. This facility is designed to store the genetic material of various Himalayan species at extremely low temperatures. 

The “Frozen Zoo” is like a super-safe vault for preserving animal DNA at very cold temperatures. Scientists collect tiny pieces of tissue from animals (even ones that have passed away), and then they store these samples in a special lab. 

This helps save the genetic blueprints of these endangered animals. Well, lots of amazing animals, like red pandas, gorals, mishmi takins, and snow leopards, are in danger of disappearing forever. 

By freezing their DNA, we can protect their genetic variety and maybe even bring them back from the brink of extinction one day! This Frozen Zoo is a collaboration between the zoo and Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology.

What is a Frozen Zoo?

A frozen zoo is a genetic cryobank that stores genetic material (like DNA, sperm, eggs, and embryos) from animals that are typically endangered and are on the verge of extinction. The genetic material is stored in liquid nitrogen tanks at extremely low temperatures (-196°C) for long-term preservation. 

Did you know?

There are very few frozen zoos in the world. The first one was set up in 1975 by Kurt Benirschke at the Institute for Conservation Research in San Diego. Today, it holds over 8,400 samples from 800 species.

The ghost bird

THE GREAT POTOO

The great potoo (Nyctibius grandis) is a fascinating and mysterious bird found in Central and South America, known for its ghostly appearance and haunting calls. 

Appearance: 

Large bird, about 48–60 cm (19–24 inches) in length.

Mottled gray, brown, and white plumage that makes it blend seamlessly with tree branches, looking almost like a broken stump.

Large, round eyes that glow in the dark when light hits them—perfect for its nocturnal lifestyle.

Behaviour:

Master of camouflage: During the day, it perches motionless on tree stumps or branches, mimicking them to avoid predators.

Nocturnal hunter: Comes alive at night to catch insects like moths and beetles mid-flight.

Emits a deep, eerie call, often described as haunting or ghost-like—part of why it's steeped in local myths.

Interesting Facts:

It doesn’t build nests. Instead, it lays a single egg directly on a branch or stump.

Despite its owl-like behavior, it’s not related to owls—it's in its own family: Nyctibiidae.

Locals in some regions associate its call with supernatural legends or omens.

Cape Town's most colourful neighbourhood

BO KAAP

Bo Kaap is a vibrant and historically rich neighbourhood located on the slopes of Signal Hill in Cape Town, South Africa. 

History: Bo-Kaap dates back to the 1760s when many of the houses were leased to freed slaves, known as the Cape Malays. These people were brought to the Cape from Southeast Asia (mostly Indonesia and Malaysia) by the Dutch.

Cultural significance: It's one of the oldest residential areas in Cape Town and has strong ties to Islamic heritage—many of the early residents were Muslim and contributed to the establishment of mosques and Islamic schools.

Architecture: The area is renowned for its cobblestone streets and brightly painted houses in a variety of bold colours.

The houses reflect Cape Dutch and Georgian architectural styles with Islamic influences, showcasing unique wooden details, ornate doors, and flat roofs.

Culture and Community: 

Bo-Kaap is a center of Cape Malay culture, known for its:

Cuisine: Dishes like bobotie, samosas, and koeksisters.

Music and dance: Traditional Ghoema music and the annual Cape Minstrel Carnival.

Religious life: Home to the Auwal Mosque, the oldest mosque in South Africa (built in 1794).

Tourism: Bo-Kaap is a popular tourist destination for walking tours, visiting the Bo-Kaap Museum, photography of its colorful homes and street scenes and experiencing Cape Malay cooking through food tours and classes.

April 23

WORLD BOOK DAY 

What is World Book Day?

World Book Day is an annual celebration of books, reading, authors, and literature, observed around the world to promote the joy of reading—especially among young people.

When is it celebrated?

The date April 23 was chosen by UNESCO because it marks the death anniversary of several major authors, including William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes (both in 1616).

Why is it important?

World Book Day promotes literacy and education, access to books for all, especially children and cultural exchange through literature. 

Many schools, libraries, and organisations host events like book readings, dress-up days as favorite book characters, book donations, and writing competitions.

Do you know

HOW DOES WATER IN EARTHEN POTS REMAIN COOL?

Earthen pots or mud containers have natural cooling properties that keep water cool. This cooling effect is primarily due to the process of evaporation and the absorbing feature of the earthen material. 

The secret to water remaining cool in earthen pots include:

1. Permeable Material: Earthen pots are produced using permeable materials, meaning they have minuscule pores. These pores permit water to seep through the walls of the pot. This helps maintain a lower temperature inside the pot.

2. Evaporation: When water seeps through the pores of the earthen pot, it comes into contact with the external surface of the pot, from where it turns into water vapour, thanks to the heat in the environment around the pot.

3. Evaporative cooling: Evaporation is a cooling process. At the point when water particles on the outer layer of the pot absorb heat from the environment and transform from fluid to vapour, it removes heat energy from the water chilling it off all the while.

4. Steady cooling cycle: This pattern of water, seeping through the pores, coming into contact with the external surface and going through evaporation makes a consistent cooling impact. As long as there is a source of water and the surrounding air isn't immersed with humidity, the pot keeps on cooling the water.

5. Natural flexibility: Earthen pots are especially successful in dry environments. The cooling impact is more evident in regions with low humidity, where evaporation happens more promptly. 

While earthen pots give regular cooling, the duration might differ as per the natural conditions around. In humid conditions, where evaporation is slower, the cooling impact might be less visible. Also the thickness and the nature of the earthen pods, as well as their design can impact, their cooling properties.