Prohibition dampening spirit of Surat Nu Jaman

SURAT: With alcohol permit renewal laws stricter than ever before, and bootleggers under extreme police scrutiny, the unavailability of whisky is leaving a bad taste in both mouths and moods.
“Alcohol, the prime element in Surat’s customary ‘keri –galo,’a a traditional mango meal, has been served for centuries in the city in communities like the khatri, gola and ghanchi which are liberal in their mindset and do not consider it blasphemous,” observed historian Douglas Haynes who penned, ‘Rhetoric and Rituals in Colonial India.
‘Rang pani vagar badhhi majhaa mari jay chey, amaa sarbat nahi chaaley!” (Without alcohol all the joy is lost, cold drinks are unacceptable in this meal),” says 72 year old Gamanlal Kapadia, a lace maker, who hosts keri galo for his four sons-in-laws every year. “ While the rest of the elements are prepared at home, it is the khajas and alcohol arranged from outside that raise the spirit of the summer spread,” added Kapadia.
All extended members of the family are invited to the traditional mango meal and the menu remains the same every year. The customary meal consists of ultimate Khatri specialities- Mutton tapelu with yeast-fermented puris, gram dal samosas,mango ras, khajas and of course, whiskey .
“Even ladies have their own drinking circles and join the gentlemen to raise a toast. This is something we have been following for generations and it is unfortunate that the laws of the land doesn’t respect our traditions,” says home maker Usha Vakharia, 64, a resident of Limda Chowk.
Meanwhile, bootleggers are merrily stuffing their wallets, citing strict checking to inflate booze prices which are on an extra 15% high other than the already marked up rates in the dry state.
“Business was down by more than 20% during elections and short supply due to strict checking. With restrictions continuing after recent crackdowns, we are taking it easy and hibernating for a while,” said a bootlegger who operates within the Old City area.