Indians grow up hearing, "Don't waste food, food is God." In the same vein, for most Indian women, stepping into the kitchen without first having a bath is unthinkable. The preparation of food is viewed as much as a spiritual process as it is a material, sensory experience.
The fusion of two realms - one that is of subtle spiritual energy and that of blending in ingredients that bring about a delightful experience to the five senses - this constitutes a perfectly wholesome experience in the process of preparing food for the family and the loved ones.
Different families have different beliefs about this. In a South Indian Brahmin family that I personally know of, no one uses shoes inside the kitchen because it is considered as dirty and full of germs. So, it is not used where food is prepared for the family.
Beliefs are not just spiritual but they are also logical in view of the family's own dietary preferences and traditions.
In my parents' home, non-vegetarian food is a strict no-no especially in the kitchen because of the puja that my parents regularly conduct at home. I am the only non vegetarian in my family, all the others are strict vegetarians by choice.
My mother would always have her morning bath, followed by the first offering of breakfast (whatever we eat in the morning) to our deity and only then, my mother would sit down and have her first cup of tea with a smile. She would never enter the kitchen without first having a bath. This has been a disciplined, consistent practice for at least three decades of her life and she continues it, with the grace of God.
The same applies to lunch as well. Lunch is first offered to God and only then the family sits down to eat lunch. When we have guests staying at home, the food is first kept in the puja room and then we serve the guests. Any fruit or food that is prepared and given to us by others is first kept for blessing in the puja room and then we have it as 'prasad.'
On special occasions, the traditional brass lamps are lit, floral decorations are added to the festive occasion and different types of prasad are first offered on a clean, plantain leaf with a cup of Kerala's traditional milk dessert called as 'paal paayasam.'
What are the interesting beliefs, traditions or customs that your family follows? Or maybe you know of families where interesting customs or traditions are followed while preparing food? Do share it here on this blog post itself. I'd love to know.
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Comments
@ Jeyashrisuresh - Hats off to all our moms. They have taught us the right things but one is forced to introspect and wonder: have we learned to practice anything? Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
As for my own habits, here's one I strictly follow. I avoid bringing grocery bags into the dining table or the kitchen island. And even more strict about leaving prasad on these places. Reason being, food might have dropped on these places while serving / eating.
Gurgaonflowerplaza.com
@Mom with a Dot: That's an interesting point you have shared about prasad. Thanks!
@Sree: Nice to know this Sree, offering food to God before eating is a beautiful expression of gratitude.
@GurgaonFlowerPlaza: Thanks for stopping by. Wish you have read the post...there were no delicious recipes in this one:))