LITTLE, LITTLE OF EVERYTHING ON THE BANANA LEAF

 


“Eating together is an act of

mutual vulnerability and surrender.”

Barbara Brown Taylor

 

Mother Mary’s birthday is celebrated as Nativity feast by the Catholics. In Konkani, we would call it ‘Monthy Fest’. For Catholic  families, in and around Mangalore, it was a big festival, and we celebrate it on every Sept 8. The most important part of the celebration, for every household, has, always, been eating together the feast meal, known as ‘Novem’…

While growing up, we had no dining tables. So, we had to sit together on the floor and a fare of half-a-dozen veggies, rice, paysam and the new grains of rice ground into coconut milk was savoured with prayers. Our grandpa (dad’s dad), always, choked while saying the prayers, remembering the family members who were away from home… and, it’s for my mom to continue with it!

The banana leaf had so many items of vegetarian fare, which, as children, we never appreciated… I remember eating it half-heartedly. Our mom’s attempts to drill into our heads the significance of eating the ‘Novem’ – so many items on a single banana leaf, somehow, seldom went down our throats…

It's only when we left home and settled in faraway places, that we started remembering – and valuing - those ‘banana leaf’ times… The grandpa’s choked prayer and mom’s persistent attempts to drill into our skulls the significance of eating ‘Novem’  - yes, everything started making sense to us, only when we’re away from home…

Distance, always, makes love grow fonder, you see!

And, today is the festival of Onam… How alike the traditions are! At least, when it comes to eating together, sitting on the floor, and on a banana leaf! How alike the nostalgic memories for those who are away for home!

I am trying to make sense of all that’s there on the banana leaf, and, I am sure, my Malayalee counterparts are trying to do the same… The Onam Sadhya is unbeatable…

“A Happy Onam to you Shoba,” I had sent the greetings, this morning, to one of my friends from Gurgaon, “I am coming with a big banana leaf… Cook more.”

Shoba responded quickly, “Of course… Please come. I have 24 guests for the Sadhya today.” She, also, sent the menu and a picture…

 




 


 

“Why so many items, mai?” I remember asking our mom, till she made her sons  finish everything served on their banana leaves – “Eat what you like. If you don’t like, like what you eat.”

Well, it took many, many hard battles – and some hungry nights – away from home to understand the significance of having ‘little, little of everything’ on the banana leaf… and, never wasting a single grain…

Nice! You see, some things in Life, always, make sense when we grow older, and grow farther from home… If that’s how it should be, so be it…





A Happy Onam to all…

 

GERALD D’CUNHA

 

Pic’s: 1. Pixabay 2 & 3 Shoba Krishnan

 

Video: Apollo Tyres

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