Some of the Indian food traditions: The Great Indian Thalis, Serving Food on Banana Leaves and Eating with Your Hands after prayers. Food (bhojana, that which is to be enjoyed) presents a way to understand everyday Indian culture as well as the complexities of identity and interaction with other parts of the world that are both veiled and visible.
This largely vegetarian diet of Indians, however, gradually changed with frequent invasions and the entries of several foreign invaders into the country from around 10th century. In Indian food one can observe fusion of different cultures that has resulted dear to long ruling period of Mughals, Britishis, Rajputs, Portuguese etc and there is always some interesting story behind every preparation. The rasagulla origins to Jagannath cult. India's love affair with tea is well known. We like our tea in many different ways.
India has unity in diversity and a fusion of cultures between Buddhists, Hindu, Jains, Sikhs and various populations in India. The food system emphasizes eating agricultural and natural produce “in season,” such as mangoes and local greens during the summer, pumpkins during the rainy monsoon months, and root vegetables during the winter months.
Secret messege that Indian Sweets carry -Positive Psychology and Sweets. It's all about "Perspective".
Jalebi; Your shape doesn't matter, your nature does. No matter how messed up you look or life is, keeping a sweet tone will always help.
Rasgulla; No matter how much you are squeezed by circumstances, never forget who you are. Come back to your original self. Be resilient.
Boondi Ladoo; Every little drop of boondi matters. Similarly little and continuous efforts can bring in miraculous results. Continue doing little things, success will follow.
Soan papdi; Not everyone likes you, yet the maker doesn't stop to make you. Pursue your goals, irrespective of validation.
Gulab jamun; Your softness is not your weakness, it can be your strength. Softness is a quality much appreciated, be proud of it.
Besan ka Ladoo; If you get shattered due to pressure, you can always rebuild. It's a symbol of Hope. No matter what goes wrong , we can always fix it.
Historically in India, food consumption has also paradoxically been governed by under- standings that lean toward asceticism and self-control as well. Traditional Ayurvedic (Hindu) and Unani systems have a tripartite categorization of the body on its reaction to foods.
In Ayurveda, the body is classified as kapha (cold and phlegmy), vaata (mobile and flatulent), or pitta (hot and liverish), and food consumption is thus linked not only to overall feelings of well being and balance but to personality disorders and traits as well. Eating prescribed foods (sattvic foods that cool the senses versus rajasic foods that inflame the passions) and doing yoga and breathing exercises to balance the body, spirit, and mind are seen as very basic self-care and self-fashioning.
Contemporary India celebrates cuisine from local areas and culinary processes. Religious festivals also align with culinary cycles, festivals, or sacred periods of the year that are often associated with offerings to the gods and feasting on certain foods. The history of India, combined with its size, population, and lack of adequate transportation, left it with a heritage of finely developed local delicacies and a connoisseur population trained in appreciation of difference, seasonality, methods of preparation, taste, regionality, climate, diversity, and history though largely in an unselfconscious manner until very recently.
In India today, with a growing economy due to liberalization and more consumption than ever in middle class life, food as something to be enjoyed and as part of Indian culture is a popular topic. From a 1960s food economy verging on famine, India is now a society where food appears plentiful, and the aesthetic possibilities are staggering. India has a great history of agrarian culture. Agriculture is the soul of rural India. It is an ancient form of economic activity in our country. It also contributes a significant figure to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Food Subsidy and its implementation is the fulcrum in Govt of India’s quest to attain Food Security for all its citizens. This article comprehensively covers the food subsidy, Public Distribution System (PDS) and the challenges in ensuring food security to citizens of India. For the unfamiliar reader, let me just say that regional influences on Indian food are so strong that it is impossible to discuss all of India's different cuisines under one umbrella).
Authored by Dr Anadi Sahoo
