THE LITTLE FOOD STALL

Recently, being slightly ill, had to resort to purchasing food from outside for lunch.  It happened that lunch had to be ordered for three consecutive days.  It was not possible for me to take off from work due to important things to attend to at work.

There were few things that amazed me during this short period.  I had chosen a small shop by the road for my temporary but consequent purchase. The man at the counter very respectfully takes your order and you can see through the kitchen where the food is being prepared.  Couple of people engaged in making roti (Indian Bread) and the other items on your plate were already ready to be served.  Very diligently and lovingly the people there prepared and packed the food for you.  Along with me everyday, there is an uninvited guest - a cow that waits patiently like me for her share of the meal today.  The cooks when free slightly in the period between attending customers do quickly grab a set of two Rotis and present it to the guest.  The guest too accepts it humbly and once received leaves the place without being told to.  The board on the shop apart from its name also displays - "Aabhar - Fari mulakat leso" which means "Thank you - Do visit again".

Being ill and extremely hungry due to the medicines too, after coming home when I had the food, blessings came from the depth of the heart naturally to all the hands who had prepared and packed the food for me and my family. I realized how important it is get food in our plates when we need it.  During this Covid-19 pandemic as well, there were many families who had to depend on somebody else for one square meal, except those who had family or friends who were ready to help. 

This illness did emphasize on one important thing - that along with the Doctors, Nurses, the people who helped to keep the areas clean there was one more very crucial group of people - the people who arranged for meals for any such families who needed it. The treatment, the cleanliness, the medicines would all have been in vain if these patients did not get food on time.  The hands who fed them are to be worshiped.

In our daily life, our mothers, sisters or wives are engaged in this daily ritual of cooking and feeding.  I prefer to call this now as a ritual as it feeds hungry mouths.  They constantly think, make and improvise so as to give the best to the family.  Different type of foods- baked, fried, roasted, ground, chopped and the list will not end. It is just that these efforts go unnoticed as the remarks depend only on the final product served. However, the efforts will continue incessantly to not only satisfy the hunger but also to satisfy your taste buds.  A deed that needs undue appreciation!!!

May be that is why in Indian Hindu families the ladies of the house are known as Annapurna or Annapurneshwari - the Hindu Goddess of food and nourishment. Our age old customs do teach us to value this aspect of women in the household only that we have to remind ourselves.

Regards

SRN