A Real Taste of India

While our group has seen many aspects of India, we really haven’t had many opportunities to experience its culture. Which was why going to Jagdeesh’s (an absolutely wonderful person in charge of our transportation arrangements) daughter’s 9^th birthday party was such a treat and memorable experience.

As soon as we entered their homes, Jagdeesh’s wife Tina welcomed us by dabbing our foreheads and necks with some kind of sandalwood paste and red powder, which is supposedly a sign of auspiciousness (it might be called a Tilak and is done customarily whenever a host receives guests at her home).

Another interesting aspect of this birthday celebration was that we quickly assumed to sing happy birthday and cut the cake. The birthday girl then held out a piece of cake toward Jagdeesh. The custom is for family members and guests to feed the birthday girl the cake by hand. So when she held out the cake toward her dad, Jagdeesh broke off a piece, fed her, and then proceeded to take a bite of the cake from her hand. This act was repeated with Tina, Leela and Prasad at which point we were all presented with plates of cake, potato chips and diet coke.

But the real highlight of the entire event was the feast which Tina’s older sister and sister-in-law helped prepare. Needless to say, dinner was absolutely amazing. There were three different types of rice and three different types of curries/chutneys–all of which I practically inhaled within ten minutes only to get a second helping.