Juicy 'jalebas' hit with foreigners

Varanasi, Aug 12 (UNI) The juicy 'jalebas' bigger variant of 'jalebis', a must culinary delight in the festival of 'Kajri Teej', is gaining popularity with foreign tourists here.

From French couple Mauphy Sebastin and Russi Prude to Spanish youngster Raefel and Italian Flavia, countless shops selling hot and juicy 'jalebas' were the favoured haunt of foreign back-packers here last night.

''Till now, we knew about Banarasi 'paan' and 'chaat' being the sole culinary delights from Varanasi, but 'jalebasj, have scored more with our palettes,'' Mauphy, a student from Toulosse (France) told UNI while relishing a big-size 'jaleba'.

'Jalebas' is the culinary accompaniment of 'Kajari Teej', when newly married women gather at their father's house and sing 'kajri' -- folk songs of the region. The women remain awake throughout the night, with the help of sweet melange of Kajari and 'jalebas'.

While, shops selling 'jalebas', made merry of this latest foreiners' craze, those preparing the juicy offering had tough time explaining the tourists the nitty-gritty of preparing the bigger cousin of 'jalebis'.

But while, the foreigners added a new clinetale to the sweet festive offering, the sweet-makers were also taken aback by the enthusiastic response of fast food savvy youngsters towards the desi juicy cuisine.

''For the first time, hordes of students from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) are not only relishing the 'jalebas' on our shops, but taking back the juicy delight to their hostels for other friends,'' Pahalwan Mithaiwala, who generally finds favour with varsity students for Lassi and milk, said.

UNI ARS VS AS SY RN1736