Culture: Food

CUISINE INTRODUCED BY PARSIS

BY ARYAN TOPPO


Many years ago, about the eighth century A.D., there was the ancient land of Persia ruled by “Cyrus the Great” (founder of the Persian Achaemenid Empire). The religion that they followed was Zoroastrianism. Later, “Alexander the Great,”  the former king of Macedonia, defeated Cyrus and conquered the Persian land. Later, there was an Arab invasion, also known as the Muslim conquest of Persia, which was a military campaign. The people of Persia (Persian) didn’t seem to like or accept it, so some of them decided to escape from their motherland. The plan to get free from their land to another was not organized or prepared. A group of Zoroastrianism refugees from Persia first landed in Gujarat around 715 A.D. Officially, they wanted to get shelter to live. The king at that time wasn't sure how to stabilize or manage this situation and what to do with the foreigners.


According to some stories and resources, the head Zoroastrian priest went to the king with some sugar and a bowl of milk. This was to appreciate the king by telling him that the Persians would dissolve and make the land sweeter. The king got impressed and allowed them to live with the Indians. The Persians just wanted to live their lives with peace and harmony by adapting the traditions of Indians. Later on, Persia is now known as Iran, and the people who escaped from Iran are called Parsis by Indians (Bomboat, 2020).


Many written texts and documents of the Persian cuisine or food were destroyed by Alexander the Great after conquering Persia. Since the Parsis came up with that idea in India. As Persians had been using a lot of dry fruits as a major ingredient in their food, a lot of new dishes were introduced by Parsis. For example, Lagan nu custard, Patra ni machi, Parsi sev, etc. Mainly, Parsis flavor profile or flavor balance is based on three tastes: sour, spice, and sweet. They use vinegar, chili or red chili powder, and sugar for this taste (Simply Bhonu, nd).




Parsis started to make Indian traditional foods in the style of cooking, which gives an authentic taste to the eaters. They also began to use vegetables and meat in one dish. The lentil dishes were combined with meat; the most popular among them is "Dhangsak.” Parsis food became an important part of Indian culture, which can be seen in Indian marriages and many events as a sweet dish.




References

Bomboat, R. (2020). what is parsi food. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QimTgyEOAAE

Simply Bhonu. (nd, nd nd). What Makes Parsi Food Truly Unique? Parsi food. https://simplybhonu.com/perisspiceladle-blog/what-makes-parsi-food-truly-unique?srsltid=AfmBOoruABuFykSDWMr6TPPbMTpGuJDspdteQeuj9cVquohNkvQr0_AO

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

History

Image
  History   BY TINA LAKRA The story of Persia and Persians is fascinating to read as it’s one of the oldest civilizations in the world, which is centered in modern day ‘Iran’. Persia was made up of in total three dynasties- the Achaemenid empire, the Parthian empire, and the Sasanian empire. “ The first Persian Empire, founded by Cyrus the Great around 550 B.C., became one of the largest empires in history, stretching from Europe’s Balkan Peninsula in the West to India’s Indus Valley in the East” (History.com Editors, 2023) .The empire was known for its vast territorial expansion, innovative administration, and respect for local customs and religions. The Persian religion was shaped by Zoroastrianism, which is named after the Persian Prophet ‘Zoroaster’. Under rulers like Darius I and Xerxes I, Persia developed a cultured bureaucracy, a network of roads, and a postal service, fostering trade and communication across a diverse empire. University of Punjab. (2014). Zoroastrians ...
Read more

How the Parsis contributed to Deterritorialization

Image
Deterritorialization   By ADVAITH MANHOLI Deterritorialization is the process of something losing its original connection to a specific place, culture, or identity, becoming more fluid and mobile. It often refers to the breaking of boundaries and structures, allowing things like ideas, practices, or people to move and adapt in new contexts. This article aims to understand how the Parsi community contributed to deterritorialization within India. Historically Parsis were uprooted from Persia which led to their cultural and territorial connections breaking down. Despite being in a new land, they maintained core elements of their religious and cultural identity, balancing deterritorialization with preservation They did this by assimilating aspects of Indian culture with their own traditions. This blending of Persian Zoroastrian and Indian cultural elements is a prime example of deterritorialization, where they adapted to a new social, political, and economic environment. Examples inclu...
Read more

Culture: Clothing

PARSIS By VAIDAHI JAIN The Parsis community, originally from Persia is known for its distinct and colorful tradition including unique clothing. Before migrating to India, Parsis were part of the Zoroastrian community in Persian. The history of Persian clothing can be traced back thousands of years, with the earliest evidence of weaving in Iran dating back to around 6,000 BC . The garments were made with luxurious materials such as silk and gold thread, and also with jewels and embroidery. Women wore long skirts, tunics, shawls, trousers, shawls and closed robes. They also wear headscarves which are made with fine fabrics. Men wore kurta with lungi and trousers. source  India India is a country with a diverse culture. Clothing of India is different from region to region, ethnicity, climate, tradition and festivals. India is diverse in terms of weaves, fiber, color and fabrics. On every festival different religions have different types of clothes. Basically women wear ghagra-choli...
Read more