Here I am dressed up for Diwali celebrations in 2019 in one of the least ‘blingy’ outfits I own.
A delicious mutton breyani that I prepared in about an hour (minus the preparation time).
Showing off the mendhi (henna) on my hands at a family wedding.
ALTHOUGH there are many aspects of the Indian culture that I’m in love with, it’s still not difficult for me to narrow it down to my favourite top three: cuisine, clothing and ‘connections’.
The aroma of spices while I’m braising my favourite curry, that is jam-packed with all of the delicious flavours, is something I can’t imagine my life without. Kudos to all of the men and women before me who must have endured numerous trial and error efforts to perfect these recipes. It is because of them that bland doesn’t exist in my world.
What would my wardrobe be like without those stunning Indian outfits that are composed of the most vibrant colours and embellishments? They’re gorgeous, but boy, some of them are heavy!
Being desi (a term used to describe people, culture and products of the Indian continent) isn’t just about Bollywood, bling and bunny chows – although I would never refuse the authentic South African dish that was brought to this country by my forefathers in 1860 when they travelled here to work in the sugarcane fields.
My homemade mutton bunny chow which are a hit with my family and friends.
It’s about the traditions and customs that have been passed down from generations before me that I still use and value so much these days. It’s a wealth of knowledge and a heritage I am proud of.
Only a few years ago coconut oil became a trending item that was ‘good for your hair and skin’ to the rest of the world. Growing up, I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have coconut oil in my hair. I still drown my strands in a few milliliters of the good stuff at least once a week.
Let’s not forget my manja (the Tamil word for turmeric) facial mask that gives me that natural glow that no other product can. A similar tumeric paste is also applied to the faces of brides and grooms as part of their pre-marital celebrations in the Hindu culture to give them a gorgeous glow before their big day.
Now, for the ‘connections’ I spoke of earlier. We know somebody, who knows someone who knows a person that can get you what you want, and most of us have large, extended families that we refer to as ‘connections’.
Networking for who?
There’s a lot more I could tap into, such as our movies (some are three hours long), music and moves (which involve a lot of hand movements), but these the top three that I love about my Indian culture and heritage.
Happy Heritage Day all!
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