Beating the Chennai heat: Smart ways to stay cool

Imagine lassi in its most traditional setting and you picture a burly farmer in Punjab, readying himself for the day’s work. His morning begins with a large glass of thick, creamy lassi — rich enough for the malai to linger on his handlebar moustache. What was once a regional staple has now become a national favourite, cutting across geographies to emerge as a beloved drink for all seasons, especially as a summer cooler.

One of Chennai’s more famous lassis found its way to the hot, humid Madras of nearly four decades ago thanks to Dinesh Soni, a wrestler from Pushkar. Though born into a family of goldsmiths, Dinesh chose a different path — one that led him to Sowcarpet, the bustling commercial hub of George Town. There, amid the chaos of Mint Street, he set up Anmol Mohit Soni Pattiyala, today widely known as Anmol Lassi.