When I was 15 years old, Maa asked me to start fasting on Mondays to ensure that I ‘get a husband like Lord Shiva.’ I flatly refused.
Maa is what we called my Maternal Grandmother (Naani). My cousins, girls younger and older than me, give or take a few years, who were spending their summer holidays with us, readily agreed. Maa asked me why I wouldn’t fast.
I answered that I had no wish to get a Husband who had a bull for a vehicle, ash smeared on his body, hair longer than mine, and three eyes. Maa was shocked at my blasphemous words and immediately apologized to Shivji on my behalf.
I distinctly remember this conversation taking place on a Thursday, and for the next 3 days, Maa tried every possible way to persuade me to fast. No, go. Finally, on Sunday evening, one of my cousins asked what they would be eating as they fasted, and as Maa let them know their choices, I found myself salivating. I immediately piped in with, ‘I will be fasting tomorrow too,’ and the wattage of the smile on Maa’s face could have lit up the city of Bombay!
Monday morning dawned, and I was in a terrible mood when we were told to bathe and go to the temple. But my mood perked up instantly when I saw piping hot Aloo Halwa (Potato Halwa), studded with fat Raisins and commas of Cashews, waiting for us when we returned. Instant mood elevator! Maa was beaming, and I asked her if she was already imagining my wedding taking place on Mount Kailash. She was forced to apologize to Shivji on my behalf again.
By lunchtime, the alarm in our stomachs went off. A big glass of chilled milk, delicately flavored with saffron and liberally sprinkled with slivers of almonds and pistachios, came to the rescue. The fast wasn’t bad at all, I concurred! We confirmed it with homemade Fat French Fries as our evening snack! Sprinkled with a fast special Sendha Namak (salt)
If this was the food I was going to get every time I fasted, I could fast a few more times a week. So, are there any other God templates I should pray for? I asked Maa. She glared at me as she apologized to all the Gods this time on my behalf.
Pre-dinner time had us helping Maa in the kitchen with dinner preparations (a sneaky way of teaching us cooking, I now realize). We chopped Cauliflower and Potatoes as Maa kneaded the Dough repeatedly, with a liberal spoonful of Ghee and the fasting salt added at intervals. A generous sprinkling of Ajwain Seeds was added to it, and it was then kneaded one final time before it was kept aside to rest.
While the dough rested, Oil was heated in a pan, and Cumin seeds were sent in to pop. The chopped Cauliflower and Potatoes were added to it along with Turmeric, Red chilly Powder, and Salt to season and left to cook. As the subzi cooked, Maa asked us to hand over the ingredients for her simple and insanely delicious Tur Dal (The taste of which I try to replicate but fail miserably at)
Tur Dal waited, boiled and ready, with tiny bits of Tomato, Turmeric coloring it a sunny yellow and Salt adding taste. For the tempering, Ghee was heated, Hing sprinkled in, and Cumin and Mustard Seeds soon followed, and as they popped, Curry leaves, and Green Chillies joined them. The kitchen smelt heavenly, and we couldn’t wait to dig in. All that dough kneading produced Flaky Parathas, which we ripped at and wrapped around piping hot Aloo and Gobi ki sabzi, which was then dipped in the Dal, and life was good!
I fasted for two more Mondays after the first one, purely to keep Maa happy. When I said I couldn’t do it anymore as I didn’t believe in it, she said I mustn’t. I didn’t learn cooking either until as recently as four years ago, and I still can’t get my Dal to taste as Maa’s did.
It’s been more than 15 years since Maa passed away, but now and then a memory of the time spent with her wraps itself around me and comforts me, like a warm blanket on a cold winter’s day.
This post was featured on BlogAddas Tuesday Tangy Picks on 1st November 2016
You didn’t learn to cook the Tur Daal?
What about the flaky paratha?
Letting those recipes be only in a memory is a waste.I love fasting food but only of its made for me .I just can’t cook and keep fast!
I actually do the shivji ka vrath.
Your post reminds me of how I too wouldn’t listen to my Maa.Superb story and I can smell the Daal and subzi and the halwa through your words.
The best part I just tasted the flaky paratha. I know the taste you are talking about
You had me salivating at the aloo gobi ki subzi and parathas – total favourites of mine! And yes, I never did fast on Mondays, neither did my mother. Don’t believe in the concept. Bongs normally have a humble menu of fruits and just luchi (puri) with lot of sweets after fasts, causing major indigestion problems.
Oh sigh, reading about it after a sad lunch of cafeteria rotis and dal is literally making my eyes water <3
Your post made me hungry Mayuri..and this is such a sweet post remembering your Grandma. This reminded me of my grandma and the time spent with her. 🙂
I don’t think anyone can cook better than their Ma! truly even if you try you always end up saying you want to eats Ma’s handcooked food. Aloo halwa is new to me.How does it taste…oh I want to try!
This post brought back s many memories, of my Naani. I was 12 when I lost her but she is still so alive in my memories. I remember her making me feel so important by asking me to help her, when in actuality she was teaching me important life lessons. Oh and I agree on the food bit also, try as much the taste of their hand can never be replicated.
What a picture you paint of your Maa, Mayuri I was right there with you reliving your memories of her.
The times spent with grand ma’s is the best indeed. They share so much. I never fast, Sikhs don’t have the concept of it in their religion but I have kept a few karwachauth.
The food imagery is so strong and tempting.
Such a heart warming post.
OH.. Such beautiful memories. Maa must be pleased with you now.
I love reading memories. Such a beautiful way of remembering, people, places and the warmth. Reading this, your Maa will be smiling from up above. 🙂
Now I crave for homemade food! So many memories in this post. Took back to the time when my mom tried to teach me to cook and failed 😛
And yes this was such a sweet post 🙂
This is such a beautiful post! So full of live, warmth, nostalgia…sigh! Missing my Nani and her haath ka khana!
The cooking lines in the post made me feel hungry.Beautiful post Mayuri!
Such a warm post, the words painted a beautiful picture of your memories. Grandparents are always special. Congrats on the Tangy pick, a well-deserved one!
Woah! I’ve never had the experience of fasting, and I’ve heard that some people eat potato chips and sabudana khichdi on the fasting days. And I felt the same way you did!
The chilled milk is making me swoon, even though I don’t like milk! 😀
Congratulations on the Blogadda feature, Mayuri 🙂
I didn’t care for your fasting but the feasting – that was something else. You had me craving simple home made food. Isn’t it the very best? or is it just your masterful description?
Okay, my childhood and cooking story is absolutely opposite to yours! I liked fasting in childhood – I used to hate eating and hate food, fasting was a chance not to eat! I was asked repeatedly by mom NOT to fast but i did willingly because everyone was doing during pujas! I never visited the kitchen till I was doing my post grads. Now things have changed – I love cooking!
Awww..I loved this post,Mayuri! Not only because it was a foodie post, but also about your granny and her love for you kids.
The food you prepare is so like how mum prepares. The dal, especially. Exactly alike!
Just thinking about all the garma garam khana on this cool afternoon, made my tummy rumble! 🙂
Thank you for this warm foodie memory!
We are from two different cooking cultures but I so enjoyed your food memory. I didn’t know my maternal grandmother that well (she had many health issues and was basically out of my life by the time I was seven) and my paternal grandmother died years before I was born. I’m happy that my son has known his grandmother and has enjoyed her meals over the years – and no fasting required.
A flowing account of the sepia toned memory in your unique style was so engaging, Mayuri! I could very well visiualise Maa apologising to Shivji …
I couldnt control my laughter when I read the reason for not wanting to get the husband like Shivji…hahahaha!
A yummy, delectable read. Made my morning absolutely fresh and peppy!!!
What a delight it was to read your memories, Mayuri. Our grandmothers are the pillars I feel on which the foundations of our families stand. I had two wonderful women as grandmothers from whom I learnt a lot although a lot of my food preferences are similar to dadi’s, so even today, I have a few recipes of hers that I follow on a regular basis. As for fasting, well, lets just say it was never and still isn’t my cup of tea! 😀
Hahaha, with you on the fasting, Esha! Would love to read about your Grandmothers too. Thanks for reading:)
Beautiful