<p>T he Imam Saab Ali Dargah on Krishna Vilas Road is a crowded place on every Fridays. The holy place has attracted people of all faith though a majority of Muslim brethren visit here for evening prayers. A samosa maker has become synonymous with this place for more than two decades. <br /><br />Ashok Prasad, popularly called Samosa Seth among the visitors to the Dargah has carved a niche in taste for samosa and his unique sweet item called Mitha Laung lata or sweet Badusha in common man’s language. <br /><br />The tasty sweet Laung lata is unique to Ashok Prasad and the Dargah. Prasad who runs his mobile sweet and samosa shop in various places in the weekdays never misses to put his stall near the Dargah on every Friday – selling sweet Badusha and tasty samosa.<br /><br />Of late the Krishna Vilas Road has turned favourite destination among the foodies – as the chaat, pani puri, juice and fast food centres open their business every evening. But, Ashok Prasad’s shop is a Friday delight for Dargah visitors and every lover of spicy samosa and his sweet Laung lata. <br /><br />“The Laung lata is a sweet made of Maida mixed with other ingredients. The mix is made into a biscuit shape and fried in oil. It is later dipped in boiled sugar water (Paka),” Prasad explains. <br /><br />A native of Bihar, Prasad says he came to Mysore in search of livelihood two decades ago. He fell in love with the city and decided to settle here. Initially, he used to sell this sweet and samosa on a commission basis to sweet shops. “Now, I have stopped the commission work. I only put my stalls here every Friday and near the Palace North gate on the weekends. I stay in Mandi Mohalla. During the day-time, I sell samosas and the sweet touring the nearby localities Mandi Mohalla, Udayagiri, Kalyanagiri, N R Mohalla on my mobile stall,” Ashok Prasad tells City Herald. <br /><br />Though, Prasad says that the opening of Krishna Vilas Road for chat centres a few years ago hit his business, he has his own customers who love to cherish his sweet and Samosa on Fridays. <br /><br />Communal harmony <br />The man also has an emotional bondage with the Dargah. He would end his business offering prayer at Dargah – symbolising Hindu-Muslim brotherhood and promoting the fraternity. Prasad has a old companion, Rahim, who runs a shop selling Sihi Boondi (a sweet) which is offered at the Dargah by the visitors. Says Rahim: “My family is running this shop for more than four decades.”<br /><br />Aasif Sait, a regular visitor to Prasad sweet stall says that the samosa and sweet badusha are delicious. “The price is also competitive. Samosa Seth sells a samosa for Rs 5,” says Aasif Sait.</p>
<p>T he Imam Saab Ali Dargah on Krishna Vilas Road is a crowded place on every Fridays. The holy place has attracted people of all faith though a majority of Muslim brethren visit here for evening prayers. A samosa maker has become synonymous with this place for more than two decades. <br /><br />Ashok Prasad, popularly called Samosa Seth among the visitors to the Dargah has carved a niche in taste for samosa and his unique sweet item called Mitha Laung lata or sweet Badusha in common man’s language. <br /><br />The tasty sweet Laung lata is unique to Ashok Prasad and the Dargah. Prasad who runs his mobile sweet and samosa shop in various places in the weekdays never misses to put his stall near the Dargah on every Friday – selling sweet Badusha and tasty samosa.<br /><br />Of late the Krishna Vilas Road has turned favourite destination among the foodies – as the chaat, pani puri, juice and fast food centres open their business every evening. But, Ashok Prasad’s shop is a Friday delight for Dargah visitors and every lover of spicy samosa and his sweet Laung lata. <br /><br />“The Laung lata is a sweet made of Maida mixed with other ingredients. The mix is made into a biscuit shape and fried in oil. It is later dipped in boiled sugar water (Paka),” Prasad explains. <br /><br />A native of Bihar, Prasad says he came to Mysore in search of livelihood two decades ago. He fell in love with the city and decided to settle here. Initially, he used to sell this sweet and samosa on a commission basis to sweet shops. “Now, I have stopped the commission work. I only put my stalls here every Friday and near the Palace North gate on the weekends. I stay in Mandi Mohalla. During the day-time, I sell samosas and the sweet touring the nearby localities Mandi Mohalla, Udayagiri, Kalyanagiri, N R Mohalla on my mobile stall,” Ashok Prasad tells City Herald. <br /><br />Though, Prasad says that the opening of Krishna Vilas Road for chat centres a few years ago hit his business, he has his own customers who love to cherish his sweet and Samosa on Fridays. <br /><br />Communal harmony <br />The man also has an emotional bondage with the Dargah. He would end his business offering prayer at Dargah – symbolising Hindu-Muslim brotherhood and promoting the fraternity. Prasad has a old companion, Rahim, who runs a shop selling Sihi Boondi (a sweet) which is offered at the Dargah by the visitors. Says Rahim: “My family is running this shop for more than four decades.”<br /><br />Aasif Sait, a regular visitor to Prasad sweet stall says that the samosa and sweet badusha are delicious. “The price is also competitive. Samosa Seth sells a samosa for Rs 5,” says Aasif Sait.</p>
