There's not much point in reading this unless you have access to a specialty Indian food shop. Pawa (or poha as Madhur Jaffrey spells it) is flaked (flattened) rice. This is a delicious snack food, if that's the sort of thing you like. My wife loves it, and I make it once a year on her birthday:
2 good handfulls pawa
2 Tbsp corn oil
2 tsps black mustard seeds
1 onion, finely chopped
3 green chillis, chopped
1 good handfull coriander leves, chopped
Juice of 1 lime
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
Wash the pawa in a colander under cold water. Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the mustard seeds. When they begin to jump about, add the onion and chilli. Allow the onion to soften a little then add all the rest of the ingredients. Warm through, and season to taste. Can be eaten warm straight away, or cold later on.
Some might add diced, boiled potato; dessicated coconut; curry leaves - or, for that matter, anything else that takes your fancy.