Eid-ul-Fitr delights: Srinagar homes blend tradition with modern cuisine

Srinagar, Apr 9:  On this Eid-ul-Fitr, households in the summer capital are abuzz with excitement as families prepare to relish a delectable array of dishes, blending traditional Kashmiri Wazwan with modern culinary delights.

This festive occasion, traditionally celebrated with elaborate feasts, sees a harmonious fusion of age-old recipes and contemporary favorites, reflecting the evolving tastes of the community.

Home makers are getting euphoric to make a selection of the menu and assuring that every member of the family takes part in the selection process so that the menu would include everyone’s choice.

Rahila, a homemaker, says that her family is planning the list of recipes that she is cooking on this Eid. “We are cooking various dishes of Wazwan on this Eid festival that includes, Rista, Chicken, Kabab, Tabhakmaz and some vegetable dishes,” she said. Not only the traditional Kashmiri dishes, but they are also cooking some non-traditional Kashmiri food to add new varieties. “We are cooking some seafood varieties of fish which are being exported from outside the state. It is the demand of my 15-year-old son to cook fish on this occasion rather than traditional Kashmiri Wazwan,” said Nayla, a housewife from Rajbagh.

Chicken Biryani, Mutton Biryani, Malai Kofta, Chicken and Mutton Burra, Shahi Panner, Smoked Chicken, Zeera rice, and other varieties are being prepared on this Eid-ul-Fitr.

"I wanted to add a touch of variety to our Eid celebrations this year, so alongside the customary Wazwan dishes, I'll be preparing some non-local delicacies to surprise my family," said Sana, a resident of Srinagar.

The decision to incorporate non-traditional dishes stems from a desire to explore new flavors and expand culinary horizons. "Eid is a time for joy and celebration, and what better way to celebrate than by indulging in a variety of delicious dishes from different cultures," said Rahila Bashir from Barbashah area of Srinagar.

The trend of preparing non-local dishes for Eid has gained traction in recent years, with many families eagerly experimenting with recipes from diverse cuisines.

Khadija, 60 believes that nowadays most of the eatables are fried foods as well as other dietary items making the festival complex. “There is a lack of traditional touch and culture in the festival as everything is non-local. The makers are outsiders but the people here are local. We elders are helpless as we have to accept this new trend otherwise we have to face adjustment problems,” she said.

Keeping the ever-changing public taste in mind, the bakery owners have added several new varieties to their menu this year that include, mango cake, leachy cake, fresh fruit cakes, trifler cake, almond cakes, and with ice-cream.

“Every other Eid festival, the mood of customers keeps changing. So we have included a few new varieties this year, and the people were enthusiastic to purchase those varieties,” said a bakery seller.

While many choose to try different cuisines, some are still interested in preparing traditional wazwan items like Rogan Josh, Yakhni, Kabba and Rista.