SANGEETA SHARMA

 

Ministry Of Colours

 

‘Unity in diversity’

best represented by intricate rangoli patterns

Peacocks, betel-leaves, motifs, birds, flowers,

and geometric designs

made with colourful powder embellish households,

temples colleges and schools

Varied hues pregnant, profound

Beautiful borders - white, red, blue,

green and yellow at the insides

Amalgamating diverse religions,

cultures, national pride

or burning societal issues

portray cultural harmony and unity in creeds

Non-verbally, through patterns, convey

what cannot be conveyed in words easily

all in one image

represent how different elements

can not only be together peacefully

but through the union of colours

showcase discrimination, malpractices and disparity

The ministry of colours indicates ‘Unity in diversity’

 

United Through State Banquets

 

The Grand Service of the state banquets

showcases India’s signature cuisines

Strict protocol, sartorial swishes

glittery feast, royal toasts

trumpet fanfares

and diplomatic conversations

are not euery

Provincial cuisines,

the value-addition, top it all

instrumental in strengthening the bonds, political

Each region lays out its characteristic delicacies,

piece de resistance,

bonnes bouches for the premiers

Gujrati nylon khaman,

khandvi, fafda-jalebi,

undiyu, methi thepla and aamras

Maharashtrian vada pav, missal pav,

sabudana khichdi and modak

Kerala and Tamil Nadu lay out

their pan-Indian popular idli, dosa, sambar,

rasam and desserts payasam and rava laddoo,

when they visit the south-Indian states

In North-India, non-vegetarian dishes like butter chicken,

rogan josh, chicken biryani

and vegetarian curries

such as dal makhani,

palak paneer and malai kofta and jalebi,

gulab jamun and gajar ka halwa decorate the buffet tables

Assorted regional dishes unite to offer the ultra-exclusive effect

Demonstrating ‘unity in diversity’ through food pleasing the palate.

 

SANGEETA SHARMA

 

SANGEETA SHARMA, a Toronto-based academic, is the Senior Editor of Setu, bilingual, international peer-reviewed journal and former head, English, in a degree college affiliated to the University of Mumbai. She has authored a book on Arthur Miller, three collection of poems, edited seven anthologies on poetry, fiction and criticism (solo and joint) and two workbooks on communication. A nemophilist at heart, writing poetry as a Romanticist exalts her.