By: Tariq Shah VOV

Srinagar

Twenty seven years back Madan came to Kashmir valley with his wife and small children to earn his livelihood as he introduced Momos on the famous Boulvard road of Srinagar on the rim of Dal Lake.

In the past few years Madan has passed the baton to his son Deepak as now the old age is keeping him more indoors making the masala and special preparation including Chentinies for the Momos at his rented house of Boulevard road.

Steamed Momos ready to be served with Chetneis at the Momo shop of Madan Pic By Tariq Shah

Madan soon became the prominent cook after his arrival and served in many restaurants on the Boulevard road. Before he embarked upon the path to go independent and sell steamed and fried Momos along with chicken lollipops, he was the head cook at a prominent food point known as Shamiana restaurant.

“I soon realized that people of Kashmir, especially the young generation, have a lot of love to experience new food items. When I started making the Momos, I introduced fried Momos and it invited dozens of young people from the Dalgate area to taste these new forms of Momos”, Madan told this reporter.

Fried Momos ready to be served with Chetneis at the Momo shop of Madan Pic By Tariq Shah

Soon Madan became famous and his love for Kashmir is too deep. No unrest or any adverse circumstances could even force him to think to migrate back to his homeland Nepal with his family members.

Madans son Deepak has done his graduation and he loves to carry on the legacy of his father as the by lane on the Boulevard road is now known as “Mommo Gali” because many shopkeepers have switched over to Mommo business including a photographers shop and a jeweler shop.

Fried chicken lollipops is another attraction for the youth along with Momos at his shop Pic by Tariq Shah

Madan has three daughters all of them yet to be married and he is looking for their match among the small Nepali community living in Kashmir from the past so many decades.

Dozens of youth in the evening hours come to the Mommo shop of Madans son and enjoy the fried Momos along with chicken soup and also have a good clientele for chicken lollipops.

Even in this pandemic, there is no thinning of rush for the Momos of Madan as he has a special formula for making them and is refusing to share it with anyone.