Haat
What is a Haat ? Did I forget to do a spell check on hat or Am I writing about a NY restaurant or a food street in Dilli. Well however obsolete this word might seem today but this word shared a significant chunk of my life.
Though I lived in a city but this word still seemed relevant owing to its proximity to nearby villages. “Haat” is like a modern-day farm market prevalent mostly in the rural areas where home-grown sellers meet at a designated place on a particular day with their fresh produce.The people from the nearby villages visit and purchase their stock until next the Haat. This happens weekly or bi-weekly at some places.
My father was one person who looked out for this day earnestly.I am really not sure why, but he had this divine fascination or seduction for the Haat. A lanky cotton bag made out of our old blanket would be his best pal for the day. Forever welcoming whatever came into its kitty.
I found the entire experience quite amusing and tiring too.Till date I haven’t figured out the probability which was worked out by my father.
So,how exactly does a Haat look like.The majority of products sold at the Haat are agricultural products like vegetables, fruit, legumes, pulses, wild mushrooms, wild berries, spices, honey and medicinal herbs.You can definitely find all the above in the supermarkets with a Best before date and a cold storage packaging which is totally unmatched to the freshness at your disposal.The supply and availability of fresh and locally produced vegetables, underutilized species with high nutritive and medicinal value at the Haat must have been the catch point for my father.
Three revolutions
My dad is a mechanical engineer and I never underwood if they taught him this algorithm of three revolutions at his college.My father would look for his choicest sweet potato and ask the price if they don’t agree on the price then he would go ahead take a complete revolution of Haat only to return and quote the same price again with his characteristic nonchalant tone.Again the seller would be reluctant to sell then he would again go on a complete 360 degree revolution only to return back.He would quote the same price with a slight steeped up arrogance “Are you selling ?” and almost saying mathematically correct the seller would surely relent the third time.I don’t know if it was his persistence or the sellers anxiety.Whatever it is it always worked out in our favour.I find the algorithm of three revolutions the most intriguing.
Below is my way of writing the algorithm.Do a dry run for your amusement and tell me if it works!:-)
Loop Revolution < 3 If the quoted price of sweet potato is X > as expected price of dad Y
Set the buying price of sweet potato as Y ,Wait for the sellers reaction
If sellers reaction is affirmative then buy else Loop
Three revolutions Implementation:
def Three_revolutions (SweetPotatoPrice X, ExpectedPrice Y)
count = 3
for rev in count:
if X > Y:
Loop rev+1
else
X = Y
return X
The haat’s are mirrors of the rural culture in a swanky urban society.
On that note,I would jump straight to my recipe of the day.Sweet potato chocolate mousse for any complete diet freak or a someone looking for a vegan version of the same.
This is utterly delicious and is completely sugar-free apart of the natural sugars present in sweet potato.I want to quote here saying sweet potato can be quite a sensuous a meal.
- 1 Medium Sweet Potato,boiled
- 140 gm Swiss milk chocolate
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 dollop of Vanilla Ice cream
- 1 tbsp of castor sugar/honey (optional)
- In a heavy bottomed pan melt the chocolate or melt it over double boiler.
- In a blender puree the boiled sweet potato.Add a little water if the consistency is too thick
- Remove any solids from the puree it should be of smooth and silky texture.
- Then a bowl mix the melted chocolate,vanilla extract and pureed sweet potato.Taste the mixture to check for sweetness and if you like it really sweet then add the castor sugar or honey for additional sweetness.But this is entirely your choice.
- Now spoon the mixture into ramekins or cups of your choice.
- Cover it with a cling film and chill it in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
- Serve it with a dollop of vanilla ice cream.
A combination beyond imagination and it takes only few like you Just roy to carve it into reality .Really awestruck 🙂
Thank you Pallishree for your awesome comment!