Ummul is a dentist by profession and a CrossFit junkie at heart. Our affinity for one another dates back over a decade, when we went to the same math tuition class. Outside the biology lab, Ummul and I have fondly bonded over coffee, cake and waffles; in Bombay and London. Her story talks about memories of her Bohri-Muslim family coming together around the thaal, a tradition for many families in India.

Home is more than a place. It’s a comfort, love and happiness. But most importantly, it’s family. Having grown up in a Bohri Muslim household, food is an integral part of my life. We eat different types of food on different occasions. Along with the different cuisine, it’s how we traditionally eat that stands out. The thaal is a large circular steel plate, placed on the ground. 7-8 people sit around it, with their heads covered and eat from the same dish. This tradition is followed in homes and at Bohri weddings.

Looking Back

I’ve been in Newcastle for two years now, and I never anticipated missing the thaal. The Bohri New Year thaal is one of my favourites. It’s nothing short of a royal feast – how often do we get 35-40 items placed in front of us at a single meal? The dishes range from sweet to savoury, from fruit and dry fruits. My grandmother says, “Relish the family time of everyone eating together on this happy occasion after all you never know.. Kal ho na ho [Life is short].” This couldn’t be more true, as I terribly miss my nana (grandfather) even more during this annual celebration. He was always first to check what sweets I wanted to eat that day.

Indian weddings are known for their food, glitz and glam. While the buffets are more common these days, food at traditional Bohri weddinga is unlike any other. There are fun traditions associated with bridal thaals. I was fortunate to experience this first hand at my best friend’s wedding. The bride’s thaal is not allowed to be picked up until the groom pays the bride’s friends. And in case you’re wondering, I did a get a couple of 1000 rupees richer.

Looking Ahead

We are moving away from traditions as time progress, mostly because we claim to not have the time. This extends from no longer setting up the elaborate thaal to rare occasions of sharing a meal with the entire family. For me, the thaal represents a sense of sharing and togetherness and I hope we don’t lose that in our fast pace lives.

Written by Ummulkiram Unwala and edited by  Jashan Sippy.

‘Food, the Feeling of Home’: A series of stories exploring nostalgia, the power of food, our memories and stories of ‘home’. Want to share your story? Send it to us at info@sugarandspace.in