Food and Festivals

At special Request of Sabby, in wisdom of chem Junta too!!

“Rang barse bheege chunar waali rang barse,
Bheege bani kaa yaar balam tarse rang barse”

How many times have we heard this song? Ever Holi ‘Chitrahaar or Rangoli’ or both would have a list of songs being played, which normally doesn’t change. New songs come and go, but a few legends like this remain.

But as usual I start with something too far away from, what I wish to talk about in my blog. The only thing common between the beginning and the issue dealt is ‘Rang’.
We Indians boast one of the most colorful societies in this world. I won’t go to the extent of universe, because it hasn’t been verified that earth is the only planet with life and movies like star wars, ET and many more exobiologist on a probability based analysis try to prove that in this continuously expanding universe, we shouldn’t be alone.

Who would like to be alone, esp. us Indians. I don’t think there would be people any where in the world who can make friends even while traveling in trains, with moms discussing recipes of new achaar, chunnu munnu playing together and uncle jee’s talking about our dearest Laloo Prasad Yadav. So being alone in the universe is unthinkable, who would give company during, space travels!!

[Note: All the arguments and analysis here on in next few paragraphs is based on my desi perception of west as I haven’t yet had any opportunity to visit and videshi land.]

But what is this colorful society all about and why do I claim that we Indians are more colourful than westerners?

Well, there are lots of things that make us Indians a whole lot different than our western counterparts.

Hum log laal mirch khate hain, aur woh log kaali mirch. How boring is that kind of food with so less variety such less usage of spices, especially in my case since my mom can cook and cook well, vegetarian food from any where in the country.

Don’t take it seriously, but there is logic in the last line I wrote. I would go by vedic Indian arguments to prove that. The food that we eat is divided into three categories:

• Satoguni: Most simple food comprising of natural things kandmool phal etc. I think cooking is permitted.
• Rajoguni: Oily food including onions and Lehsun and things that smell a lot.
• Tamoguni: all non vegetarian food, alcohol etc.

Now according to the logic, the kind of food that we eat has a big influence on the way we behave and live.

Let’s compare the kind of food that we eat. If we take a look at the map of India, Rajasthan and Punjab are the two centers of some serious greasy food. And both the states are known for there rich culture, life style. Even the dresses that people wear are the most colourful and ornamented ones. How can we forget the auntijee’s wearing such heavy jewellery studded sarees and what not. Although the reasons could be to prove their husbands superiority or ‘jalan’ factor. “Ajee sunte ho, aaj woh verma jee kee misses kee saaree dekhi tumne, Badi khush ho ho kar dikha rahe thi sabko”, and you can very well image what Mr. verma would be thinking about?

South Indian culture is an example of simplicity and sober living which gadhiji preached all his life. And if we have a close look at there dressing pattern we find that Mr. P Chidambaram won’t hesitate to present the budget of biggest democracy of the world in a lungi and shirt.( No offences). But that is not even a hypothetical possibility of Mr. Jaswant Singh who comes from a royal family in Rajasthan.

So what I wish to conclude is that South Indian food is much simpler, lesser variety, less spicy at times very similar to western food.

[Point to ponder: Although the food that we eat varies around the world varies like anything. To take an example some people eat rice, some others wheat, some eat chappatis of Potato. But in terms of nutrition content it doesn’t vary more than 2-3 %]

The number of festivals that we have in India is highest. And a cliché sums it all

“For all 365 days in year, we Indians have at least one festival”, Here the more important part is ‘at least one’

Now let’s compare Indian scenario with western kind of a situation. I am surprised, when I see everyone wearing the same ‘coat-suit’ on a marriage. (Bore nahin hota kya yaar who log ??) Marriages in India showcases best of the clothes with all kinds of variety that every man and woman has on his wardrobes as I have already told you about Mr. and Mrs. Verma.

Any ways western clothing has one more important part, ‘Skin’, which we Indians are slowly adopting to, but we are still far away from it.

Ab Back to HOLI, festival of colours, and believe me, if you don’t play holi….I PITY YOU.

Rangon kee is bahar mein, to murde bhi zinda ho jaate hain,

Tum kyun door se aisa murjhye hue dekhte ho,

AAjao saath hamare is dhamal mein tum bhi shaamil ho jaao.

So feel proud being an Indian and enjoy the festival of colours. And next time when you eat something greasy, take all these factors into consideration (Although it is only possible if you aren’t a girl, who is trying to get skinny, sexy and whatever to impress, obviously not me!!)

Don’t forget to Colour all your friends, it would be great if you do that to your enemies as well.

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