Kautilya

Plastic Chutney: The Festive Bengali Dessert

The name of this West Bengali palate cleanser may raise a few eyebrows, but rest assured, plastic chutney contains nothing in the way of BPA-laden, kitchen-grade plastic. Glossy, translucent and perfectly safe to ingest, plastic chutney is a festive menu staple that takes its name not from its ingredient list – raw green papaya cooked in sugar syrup – but from its appearance, which resembles gooey, melted plastic in a bowl.

Ardha Matsyendrasana | The Half Fish Pose

Ardha matsyendrasana, a seated twist pose, is the ninth of the 12 basic poses in Hatha yoga. The name for this asana is derived from the Sanskrit, ardha, meaning “half”; matsya, meaning “fish”; indra, meaning “king”; and asana, meaning “pose.” To enter the pose, the yogi begins in dandasana (staff pose).