Healing, purity, and revitalization: A tour of Kashmiri staple spices
“So, Adi, what do you want to know about spices?” These were the words that started my evening at Iqbal’s, an old family friend and professor of management at UMass Amherst alongside my parents. Although his department is that of economics, his expertise, in my opinion, lies in the realm of authentic Kashmiri cooking. He taught me and my parents how food is traditionally eaten by hand in India, how they were often served in large, metal bowls in which the individual components of the meal were free to mix, and now (at the behest of my parents) I’d come to learn about the nuances of spice in Iqbal’s cultural background. Admittedly, I had no idea what questions to ask or where to start, but thankfully Iqbal came prepared for this lesson. He opened a large drawer underneath the counter, revealing countless honey-jars repurposed for spice containment. “In just about all religions, spices have been used as disinfectant,” Iqbal tells me as he passes me a handful of cloves, prom...
I couple of years ago, I went to an LGBTQ+ rally in front of the Catholic Diocese headquarters in Providence. Part of the rally's ritual was to have a row of people holding up all the different flags of the different subgroups of the Queer community. You would have loved it! Yes, the flags were flying outside the cathedral, but not because those inside were flying them. Still, It was quite a vision! I love how you make the powerful connection between the strategy/practice of heightening visibility and the the sacred connections brought about by vision itself. Vision, darsan, is a sacrament of communion.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how much meaning and importance that symbols can hold for individuals. I feel like the idea of those of certain religions holding, touching and becoming emotional over statues or images of deities or idols is sometimes made fun of or deemed as dramatic or irrational, but symbols such as LGBTQ+, or political/social flags and symbols or "safe-zone" stickers can mean a lot to certain individuals too as well as many other meaningful symbols and idols.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an important idea and I agree entirely. Also, I saw your art outside and it was so beautiful and profound!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you wholeheartedly. Seeing a rainbow flag flying out in front of a cathedral would mean the world to queer Catholics who may not feel seen by the Church. One 'little' thing like that (and i say 'little' because it's not really something little) makes a huge difference.
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