Knowing India through festivals and recipes

Are India’s festivals the glue that binds its myriad subcultural mix? Here is a heart-warming tale of two NRI children spending an entire school year at their grandparents’ and getting introduced to them in a matter-of-fact, hands-on way. Composed in what the writer calls a “fiction/non-fiction” style, wherein the reader follows the events in the children’s lives as well as learns about those on the Indian calendar through their blog and journal, the book is a social studies primer for those aged between seven and 10 years. It is both no-nonsense and entertaining, and put together with a great deal of care and humour.

The twins, Nikhil and Natasha, have a joint Punjabi and Tamil heritage. The household they migrate to is located  in Bengaluru. It is part of the writer’s plan to portray a good mix of festivals, going beyond the usual Holi, Diwali, Raksha Bandhan and Ram Navami, and including various lesser-known new years, like Vishukkani, Bihu, Ugaadi and Pongal, among others. Eid, Buddha Purnima, Easter and Navroz make an appearance as well.

The prose is elegant and simple, as it is written for learners, with the writer skilfully finding the right words and diction to achieve that clever balance. The focus is firmly on the fun and traditional feasting. If one is a foodie at heart and looking for ideas and recipes, or simply some voyeuristic comfort, these are pages where one is sure to find both.

Among the two things that interested this, adult, reader is the recipe for shrikhand, the staple for Janmashtami. Shrikhand is known to be the first confectionary in mainstream Hindu culture and for the longest time the only one. For centuries,  Hindus were barred from fermenting milk, which is considered sacred in its pure form, in order to make cottage cheese or chhena. Initially, even factory sugar, which is decolourised by passing it over bone char, was also considered impure. Racially diverse, Bengalis broke both taboos, creating their own varieties, and GI (geographical indication) brands of sweets.

The other amazing story is the legend of Jhule Lal, the warrior saint who freed the population of Sindh from the excesses of the bigoted Mirkhshah. He is alternatively known as an avatar of Varuna, early Vedic god of the seas, who was once more powerful than the Trinity and as Mitra part of the Zoroastrian faith as well, embodying Hinduism’s Persian connect. Among Muslims, Jhule Lal is purportedly reincarnated as Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, the Sunni-turned-Sufi mystic whose annual Urs or death anniversary is held in Sehwan. Jhule Lal sits astride a lotus balanced on the pala fish, which like the hilsa, swims upstream to lay its eggs, ulti banki dhaaye, as per the traditional song. Chaliya is the 40-day thanksgiving fest for Jhule Lal. Akha is the sweet served to Jhule Lal on Cheti Chand, his birthday, the recipe for which you will find in this book.

The storyline of the book is predictable. There is no crisis and not much adventure in the lives of the two kids. But there is a lot of warmth and an important message, that of friendship, humanity and respect towards others, no matter their community, creed or race. With our society being increasingly riven by rampant “othering” and hatred for the other, let it be remembered that this is not just a bunch of sweet thoughts, but an important principle to live by, even in the face of odds.

There is one other message, too, in terms of social dynamics. Festivals play a role in bringing together not just people, but keeping families united amid diverse strains and compulsions. A family that celebrates together stays together.

Can one judge a book by its cover? In this case one should. The collage of expressionist portrayals of two kids celebrating deftly done in earthy shades of red, deep green, brown and orange, by Rayika Sen, matches the vision of the book.