“Food should be a love offering”
Swami Satchidananda
My year and a half travel writing journey has taken me to popular destinations and places people haven’t heard of. While unearthing travel treasures, I have come across cultural experiences that weave a character into these destinations. The ‘InWords’ series seeks to look inward and talks of the culture around a place. I publish it on the first Saturday of every month.
Sweet Offerings – Getting closer to God
If nectar is the ambrosia of Gods, then on earth they have to suffice with sugary delicacies. The image above shows a sweet shop near Shri Balaji Salasar Dham. This 250-year-old temple in Salasar, Rajasthan, is famous for the self-manifested idol of Lord Hanuman.
Indian culture is high on devotion and irrespective of religion, small rituals dot a commoner’s life. Hindus view an offering of food as a quintessential part of living, and devotees bring sweet offerings to temples as a religious duty. Also, prayer flags with religious symbols are in order. They tie these flags to the spire or holy trees in the temple complex as a sign of wish fulfillment by the deity.
Sweet offerings
Divine stories associated with food fill the Hindu scriptures. Lord Krishna’s favourite was butter and curd, while the elephant god Ganesha feasts on Modak (a rice dumpling with sweet filling). Across India, the most prevalent sweet is the Laddoo. It is a round, golf-ball shaped delicacy made with sugar syrup and a variety of ingredients ranging from wheat flour, semolina, dry fruits to cocoa and coconut. The Laddoo offered at the Balaji temple is made of Gram flour.
Another delicacy, also seen in the image, is Choorma. A Rajasthani delicacy made with wheat flour, sugar, and almonds. On the occasion of happy moments in the family, or relief from difficulties, the devout make a thank-offering (Savamani) of 50 kg of Choorma, or Laddoo. This offering is then distributed to everyone visiting the Balaji temple and to friends and family.
