Tradition in Food

Americans love a loaded Thanksgiving table, Chinese can’t do without chopsticks, Britons have formal dining traditions and the rest of the world has its own; different cultures, cuisines and customs. With a rich heritage, the history of Indian cuisine is as old as our civilization. The Indian dinning etiquette is built on traditions. And behind almost every tradition are centuries of invasions, conquests, religious beliefs, political changes and social customs. Coming from a mixed Bengali and Indian heritage food is another significant part of my identity. Just like languages food help us to engage with other cultures. James Beard once said “Food is our common ground, a universal experience”. I couldn’t agree with this more. Food speaks as a universal language, in which everyone understands each other. Even though my family moved from our mother country to America, we never forget to honor our heritage with foods. Traditional meals are served by my mother everyday; just because it reminds us who we are and where we came from.   A tradition followed across Bengal and Assam, jol pan is a quick snack that is often eaten before breakfast. In some cultures, it is a mix of different varieties of regional rice cooked traditionally and served with curd, jaggery and pitha. Pitha is a type of rice cake, pan-fried on the hot griddle. It is offered to guests and at weddings and special occasions. In a humid land, your body's ability to fight disease depends on the diet. Thus, curd with its cooling properties acts as a great reliever. Jol pan is also accompanied with a steaming cup of tea. In addition, traditionally Jol pan is eaten by hands. Eating with hands is another tradition that my family follows to honor our culture. This tradition has its roots in Ayurveda. Eating is supposed to be a sensory experience and eating with your hands evokes emotion and passion. According to Vedic wisdom, the hands are the most precious organs of action. One of the Ayurvedic texts reveals,...