JB Life January 2017

“BEING” IN JEONBUK
48
By SWARNALEE DUTTA
JB Life Contributing Writer
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is the first
in a new section for 2017 titled “‘Being’
in Jeonbuk.” The intention of this section
is to share how local expats maintain their
lifestyles and their sense of “being” while
living in our province. This might include
being from a certain nationality, whether Indian,
Mexican, or Ethiopian, or being part of
a certain lifestyle, such as being vegetarian,
gay, or Muslim. Keep an eye out for this section
to see how people from all walks of life
survive and thrive while abroad.
As an Indian staying abroad, festivals are
the times I really feel homesick and wish
to be at home enjoying the celebrations, food,
excitement, and enthusiasm. I miss the jubilant atmosphere
spreading an intoxicating and infectious
feeling around. Everybody comes together to rejoice
in the traditions, keeping aside their differences.
While some festivals are just close-knit family affairs,
some are arranged and celebrated all together
as a community. Whether deities are worshipped or
just traditional playfulness prevails, the décor and
Rangoli
made of
spices for
Diwali
in 2016.
[Photos
provided by
Swarnalee
Dutta]
food are a must in all. As a child, wearing new clothes
and savoring the delightful food unique to each festival
was the ultimate fun, more so because studies were a
forgotten affair during festivals.
An agriculture-based country, most of India’s festivals
are season-oriented and surround the annual activities
of farming. Nature heralds every festival with
unique blossoms and a signature climate. We can just
feel the approach of a festival in the air without having
to look at the calendar. Staying away from home in a
far-off land, our biological system is so in tune with the
festivals that even if we do not find those welcoming
bouquets of nature here, our body and mind automatically
trigger the festive button sensing the vibes coming
from our native land.
So cherished are my childhood memories of festivals
that I want my child to have the same. But alas! I am
in a foreign land. It is not always possible to join some
of the Indian festivals celebrated by fellow expats here
due to constraints of time and distance. Back home,
the environment and people around make it easy for
the child to grasp the vibes and essence of celebration.
Here, me and my husband are on our own. So, on one
hand, we try to weave the origin, cause and concern,
social and psychological significance of each festival
into stories, narrating them for my toddler’s knowledge;
while on the other hand, we give our best to celebrate
and recreate the aura of a few festivals for him
to enjoy. Doing everything together and the tiny tales
that are created during those moments are actually the
joys we look forward to. The arrangement and preparation
of customary decorations as a family, wearing traditional
dresses, and food are our way of celebration.
Having said that, let me begin with the easiest one first.
Food
Every occasion has unique traditional dishes, and we
are fortunate to have an Indian grocery store at hand
with all the essential supplies. And thanks to globalization
and online markets, ingredients are available
worldwide to prepare the spicy Indian platter. Given
the hectic routine that we have between our respective
jobs, we prefer to make the easy-to-cook snacks like
Laddos made of coconuts,
chickpea flour, and sesame.
Eco-friendly Ganesh idol from
flour, turmeric, and kumkum.
Sweets made from chickpea
flour.
Jeonbuk Life 49