IN PHOTOS: Enterprising women share a list of tasty alternatives for chaumasa

Chaumasa is a four-month period when Jains abstain from eating root and green vegetables, among other ingredients. Here’s our list of tasty alternatives prepared by enterprising women

Updated On: 2023-07-03 06:32 PM IST

Compiled by : Editor

Image for representational purposes only. File/Pic

Forty-seven-year-old Jigna Shah’s Jain cakes with no maida are a chaumasa-favourite among her Jain patrons. Cost: Jain cakes (no maida) start from Rs 1,000 per kg; plain cakes (70 percent wheat, 30 percent maida) start from Rs 1,200
Call: 9892650646
Delivery: Across Mumbai

“After my upadhana (a religious practice in which you live like a Jain monk for 45 days), I stopped eating commercially-prepared bread because it consists of yeast. But I loved its taste, so I decided to learn how to make an alternative by myself,” shared Rupa Jhaveri, one of the most sought-after Jain bakers. Today, we have doubled in size and have two outlets, one in Marine Lines and the second in Jogeshwari. Our breads are sold across the city and beyond.” The kitchen sells various kinds of breads, sauces, snacks and dry powders.

At: Rupaben’s Kitchen, Sonapur Gully, Marine Lines.
Call: 7208118363

I have always loved cooking,” says Bijal Shah. Her journey started with an app, Holachef, for which she delivered a certain quantity of homemade food every day. “I wanted to do hotel management, but that required a lot of non-vegetarian cooking. So, I dropped out. By 2016, my children had grown up, and I also wanted to contribute to our household financially.
At: Bijal’s Food Creations, 17/4, Phiroza Mansion, Grant Road East.
Cost: Rs 2,500 onwards (one-day course of 10 to 12 dishes) 
Call: 8369824942 (for orders or workshop enquiries)

Girgaum’s Royal Bite (below) is a favourite snacking destination for the city’s Jain community, especially during these four months. With options ranging from vada pav and samosa, to Jain wafers and sweets, 48-year-old owner Sarika Savna has made arrangements for everyone

“Many customers who are not Jains, including policemen, stop by often for our vada pav. They cannot believe that we don’t add potato for something like vada pav, and it still tastes good,” Savna shares. She has also recently started a cloud kitchen for Jain food.

At: Royal Bite, Shop No 3, Khotachi Wadi, Girgaum.
Call: 9920799407

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