Celebrating Festivals With Food
Soumya Sitaraman's book is a journey through time and tradition bound by the chastity of religious beliefs, says ANUPA DALAL. Festivals and celebrations have been etched into the charming culture and heritage that defines what India is.  Tradition and rituals interwoven with family values and togetherness is what binds Indians through the threads of time. The set of two books by Soumya Aravind Sitaraman called Follow the Hindu Moon is almost like a guide through the various preparations and activities along with religious conduct that surround festive occasions. It takes flight from the roots of the Hindu calendar explaining cosmology and the birth of festivals at a specific date and time. From reading the panchanga, the pious calendar, to etiquette during poojas and religious activities, the book entails all the reasons and philosophies that bring to light the very essence and significance of each holy celebration. The first book revolves around the awareness of time according to Hindu mythology, retracing where we are today. The Nakshataras or time tables are also  present for the readers to understand why festivals fall on particular dates only. The author has researched intensively, as the chapters unfold the understanding of various citations or shlokams dedicated to various Hindu deities from Vishnu to Durga to Krishna. Another interesting facet to festive times would be food and the delicacies that are meticulously prepared at the time.Spending time with family and conversations with elders is what brings us closer to the basics of religious celebrations. This is what writer Soumya Sitaraman reveals in a subtle manner. The first part of the book embraces the Almighty and explains most of the rituals and rites along with elaborate procedures. It is like a religious odyssey of the  festivals of Southern India from Ugadi to Pongal to Ganesha Puja. The significance of the dates and time elements are also uncovered after much research. One often forgets the fundamentals that build our beliefs and the information provided here is refreshingly educative without seeming tedious and boring.The second book meanders through a buffet of sumptuously authentic traditional dishes, etiquette during feasts like the renowned practice of eating on banana leaves. The reader can easily roll his belly in glee! The book explores the alchemy of food pairing that is the very basis of festive meals amongst South Indians. The diagrammatic representations and beautiful photographs reiterate the motto of the book which stands for learning why festivals are celebrated the way they are. Whether it is cooking the perfect  halwa or simmering an avial for the right duration, the culinary nuances of festivals have always enchanted religiously inclined and cooking enthusiasts. The book only explores this further. It boasts a stellar collection of step-by-step recipes cooked in South Indian households to enjoy the celebrations of festivals along with the frills that follow like colourful festoons, kolams or religious patterns and the art of decoration along with the discipline and code of conduct to be maintained by family members. It seems like a purposeful read for those yearning to connect with their roots and to understand how food plays such an important role in all aspects of life. |
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