A mixture of Indian food, a journey of taste and everything else on my
plate I smell right now. The food from India is so full of aroma with herbs and
spices, delightful to the hungry nose. A
piece of bread, deep fried to brown, just plain bread, gummy to taste yet
delightful to bite. Some garbanzos in tomato sauce I believe taste salty and a
green sauce to dip plus sour cream to add, creating a vegetarian meal. And oh,
some freshly cut onions on the side, too. This is my first time to try
something foreign to me. I love spices, please understand but India's food
overwhelms me with spices so strong the aroma drowns me to my deepest. I will
eat like a real person who hails from India just to challenge myself. I am not
a picky eater so it should be fine. I have no clue how it would taste for now.
All I have is smell.
It was a Sunday, after church I happen to pass by a temple, Sikh temple
perhaps? Cars everywhere, covering all areas surrounding the temple. By the ditch, a few took courage to park. Some
parked on the side of a green field and the lucky ones parked on the side of
the road, next to the temple. There were people everywhere inside the gated
temple, the majority wearing fancy dressed and men with turban cloth. The women
in particular look stunningly beautiful with their dark features and round
eyes. The dress in bright colors adorned with glittering beads and matching
silky pants made it obvious of the word respect of body, covering mostly all for the Sikh Festival.
No baring, no midriffs and short lengths for them. Little children go around
dress like the women and men of Sikhism - a monotheistic religion that
originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region.
There are vendors lined along the gate as I enter the wide open gate.
They each have a space, a shade from the sun, selling picture frames mainly of Sikh
Leaders to jewelry of beauty and toys. Mostly are things from India, something Sikhs
use as part of life like materials for the temple. The jewelries are abundant,
most vendors display jewelry of some sort; earrings, bangles, necklace and
something for the forehead. There are jewelry sets that are gorgeous, fit for a
special occasion like this festivity. I fell in love and bought some earrings
of soft baby colors and necklace to match for $10.
I look around and suddenly it seems like I am in India. The thought of
being a stranger; to them as they are to me, scattered everywhere hold together
in a moment. Some looked at me with curiosity and animosity, I felt, wondering
how different I was in clothes and look. I did the same stare but with curiosity
and admiration with the way they carry their faith, decent and modest. I poked my head
just enough to take a look inside, step back out in a minute and walk away from
the temple. Then, I
noticed on one side of the open area, people line up with plates on hand. I wonder
what is going on there and walk towards the line to explore...
Not sure what is going on, I ask one of the servers how much they sell
the bread for. She responded to me - FREE. What? Free? Again, she spoke in a
gentle voice "Food is free today. Would you like to try some?"
I said yes quickly, not wanting to give her a chance to change her mind
though I am not desperately hungry. She got a plate for me, a piece of bread
(still warm), a serving from each pan ladled on my plate and hand it to me. I tried
them all with enthusiasm, burn my tongue from the chili but happy my tummy is
now filled. I sat on the edge of the pavement to eat my meal just like them and
smiled.
After consuming my plate clean as a slate, I stood up and went back in
line to get seconds for my husband. This time, I was an expert, line up like going
with the flow, no questions because I know what to do. I did ask for a plate to
bring home and the server smiled, meaning it is all right. I wish to say
goodbye but there was nobody to talk to and just like that, I walk to the gate
to get to my car. A couple was getting out behind me and said something about
the bread so good. I replied "Yes, indeed. It is very good with a smile on
my face."
Does it look like someone starving, leaving only the bones?
