We made the 'pilgrimage' to Southall this weekend - a shrine to India in the heart of London's suburbia. We came back amused, entertained and stuffed to the gills (Punjabi pun intended)! The place is a smörgåsbord of all things Indian or rather north Indian. You have the 'Glassy Junction' pub where the signs urge you to 'maujan mannoo', several 'Gold Factory'-ies, the 'Chaudhary Express', dahi puri at 'Chappan Bhog', dental surgeries where the list of practitioners reads like the who's who of Chandigarh, a marriage introduction and welfare advisory service, and shops selling nylon-polyester-sequinned thingummies for £700 (down from £1450 - definitely one for Swast Ani Masta), among other delights. My poor very South-Indian bedfellow was not impressed with the near absence of South-Indian representation until he found his poison - very sweet, very Punjabi lassi - heaven!
This picture sums up our experience, and yes, we will go back for more!
P.S. More pilgrimages to come, especially to East Ham, to our South-Indian roots. More pictures here.
Home is where your folks are
5 years ago
4 comments:
Tell me you got the Pure Punjabi tee-shirt
at 10 quid a piece?! you have got to be joking! i don't read swast ani masta for nothing
Oh, its Swasta Ani Masta, btw. I just took out the extra 'a' in the URL to make it easier. When are you sending me the write-up for the picture?
And, Dot guided me to a blog you read, and I really like it. So thank you, hanh. Accha, bye.
Did you know they accepted rupee notes in one of the pubs in Southhall?
Wonder at what exchange rates.
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