04-18-2007, 10:45 AM
Went for a brahmin meal some days ago. Here is an example of tradition in which the original meaning has been lost to most people, including me.
Look at the picture and see if you can enlighten me
<img src='http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a11/cybersurg/leaf3.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
The vegetarian meal is always served on a plantain leaf. The salt is always on the far left corner. A pickle is always deposited to the right of that. The next two items to the right of the pickle are ALWAYS a salad of gram dal and some such stuff. Cooked vegetables of 2-3 types to the right of that.
The Payasam/Khir is ALWAYS on the near right corner.
A spiced rice dish is always deposited on the left side leaving the middle open for the main courses - which can be five or six in number - mostly rice based.
The meal cannot begin until rice and dal are placed in the middle and ghee is added - after which themeal always starts with eating the khir in the near right corner.
Why?
The reasons for this are lost in the mists of time as far as I can tell. The reasons may be perfectly pragmatic - perhaps as a reminder or perhaps to bring order to the plethora of dishes being served to hundreds of people by a dozen people.
There may be more than one reason given to different people.
What are they?
Any idea anyone?
Look at the picture and see if you can enlighten me
<img src='http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a11/cybersurg/leaf3.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
The vegetarian meal is always served on a plantain leaf. The salt is always on the far left corner. A pickle is always deposited to the right of that. The next two items to the right of the pickle are ALWAYS a salad of gram dal and some such stuff. Cooked vegetables of 2-3 types to the right of that.
The Payasam/Khir is ALWAYS on the near right corner.
A spiced rice dish is always deposited on the left side leaving the middle open for the main courses - which can be five or six in number - mostly rice based.
The meal cannot begin until rice and dal are placed in the middle and ghee is added - after which themeal always starts with eating the khir in the near right corner.
Why?
The reasons for this are lost in the mists of time as far as I can tell. The reasons may be perfectly pragmatic - perhaps as a reminder or perhaps to bring order to the plethora of dishes being served to hundreds of people by a dozen people.
There may be more than one reason given to different people.
What are they?
Any idea anyone?