Indian food and festivals mark the glory of our traditions and symbolize the warmth of our emotions! Spices and pickles hold a prominent ground in our celebrations, whether it be hospitality, gifting, or cherishing the culinary legacies together.
Whether it is about weddings, parties, celebrations, or gifting culture, the mystical bond of Indians with pickles, spices, and foods is a testament to culinary liking. Few know that gifting pickles is considered auspicious in India and considered a sign of prosperity and goodwill by many.
Spices and pickles are known for their versatile tastes and endless benefits, making them a no-brainer choice for every Indian home. The fact that these culinary delights are a gift from our ancestors makes them even more special and worth cherishing. Ranging from their health benefits to diverse cultural preferences, there’s a lot connected to pickles and spices in India.
Now, let’s elaborate on the importance of pickles and spices in Indian festivals and foods.
Reasons why Pickles are a Part of Celebrations in India
- Traditional Strings: Pickles have been integral to our diverse cultural heritages for ages and define regional cuisines with their unique taste and value. We greet and honour guests with pickle gift hampers or serve them a side dish along with a culinary feast on tables.
- Symbolic Importance: It is a belief that gifting pickles bring prosperity and good luck to their lives. As per old Indian traditions, the beginning of weddings was incomplete without preparing and sharing foods like pickles, spices, lentils and Papad.
- Diversity of Taste: With over 25 types of popular Indian pickles from various regions and countless secret recipes, they remain an unbiased, flavorful choice for food lovers. The amalgamation of distinct vegetables and fruits with mustard or sesame oil and spices in different variations curates different taste experiences.
- Health Advantages: Indian pickles, prepared from a wide range of natural ingredients, are enriched with minerals, vitamins, and numerous antioxidant properties, making them healthy. They are good for gut health and even boost the immune system.
- Ghar ka Swaad (Homemade Touch): Indian pickles are treasured, and traditional recipes have been passed down from generation to generation. Each jar has a unique personalized value. Sharing pickles with someone means you’re willing to share something very close to your heart. It’s like distributing love!
Pickles can amplify the vibes of a festival as they bring smiles and happiness to people’s faces with their unique identities. They are a budget-friendly gifting option and are readily accepted by everyone due to their homemade touch. People can cherish their taste with numerous types of snacks or meals as they amp up the flavours in dishes significantly.
Importance of Indian Spices in Festivals or Celebrations
The symphony of colours, tastes, and aromas which Indian spices behold adds a magical touch to every recipe and cuisine. People from various backgrounds come together to cherish the finger-licking flavours of Indian spices to foster cultural pride. Here are the reasons why Indian spices jazz up the festive moments with its presence and prominence:
- Melodious Flavors: When you think of Holi and Diwali, the sweet smell of cinnamon in sweets, the warmth of cumin seeds in snacks and the pungent kick of cloves hits the mind. It is something we have inherited for generations, and the profile of spices used in Indian meals has an emotional tangent, too. Festive delicacies made at home remain incomplete without the spices treasure box held with pride by every Indian woman in their Kitchen pantry. The existence of rich Indian spices like nutmeg, cloves, Saffron, coriander, chilli powder and cinnamon evokes the connection to these traditional recipes and connect with the tradition.
- Time Travel with Aromas: The fragrance of Indian spices, complemented by its delectable flavours, compounds its excellence in every meal prepared. These elements hold a heavenly feel to them and assure the grandeur of taste in planned feasts at your place. The comforting fragrance of cardamom or earthy clove tint to the festival palate enriches the meal experience and transports you to childhood memories. It is a nostalgia we all eagerly wait to witness!
- Vibrant Hues: Every food serving in India consists of different colours curated from the combination of spices in it. Every spice has bright colours and scents, making it prominent in the recipe you make. You can all be related to the striking orange shade of Saffron and the fiery red hue of paprika, making your festival delights a visual treat as well. Spices are a mode of passing on joy and happiness with their beautiful canvas of colours placed meticulously on the tables.
Summary- ‘Stock up Your Favorite Pickles and Spices for Upcoming Celebrations!’
In short, we agree with the fact that Indian spices and pickles enrich the experience of festive celebrations with their existence on kitchen countertops. Whether you consider them for a gifting purpose or in preparation for delicacies, the way they enrich your life is unmatchable. One can’t even imagine the beginning of festivities without ample stock of spices and pickles at their homes.
After all, we have the privilege to cherish and preserve the rich Indian culinary heritage with us in the form of these precious spices or pickles. Send it as a token of love to your close ones who stay abroad and crave the staple Indian flavours snuggled into these food items. Indians were the first to make sustainable food choices, may it be the pickling process, use of spices or storage in environmental-friendly jars made of ceramic or glass and wood.
Hold the honour of being the recipient of such glorious culinary culture and make all possible attempts to preserve it till the end of time. Enjoy the upcoming festival spirit with the delectable meal preparations to bring happiness and joy to the faces of everyone around.
Share your secret pickle recipes or traditional festival-special food delicacies to help us collect the culinary treasure of India. After all, festivals and foods walk hand in hand!
