The Magic of Kashmir

Kashmir was not unheard of, for me; a beautiful naturally blessed region, sadly full of chaos and ridden with dispute, long since I knew of it. Of course, I had heard the name of Kashmir in several movies, their famous chili powder, in the map of the world, what I didn’t know and realize was the magic of their food and their culture.

The curiosity awoke by watching “Raja, Rasoi aur Anya Kahaniyaan” on Netflix. The very first episode I watched was that of Kashmir, and it was quite captivating to say the least. It was when I saw this whole other side of Kashmir, and came to know about their popular delicacy Kashmiri Wazwan, their Kashmiri Kehwa, their noon chai, their leafy greens and peculiar taste, their influences, and so much more, Among these, Kashmiri Wazwan caught my interest the most.

The Kashmiri Wazwan, comprising two words Waz and Wan where Waz means cook and Wan means chop. An intricate dinner consisting of several dishes and courses. Guests are seated in groups of four and share a meal out of a large copper plate. A ritual hand washing in a portable basin is done to the attendants. We got to experience all of this at Sarposh, a Kashmiri restaurant in Bangalore. As soon as we set foot in the place, we were transported into a homey yet well decorated ambiance. Every corner was well utilized, every item had its own story, and the music just added to the atmosphere. We chose to sit on the floor in a traditional way amidst all the Kashmiri decoratives. The wazwan was served steaming hot after we were made to wash hands using a traditional portable basin. The wazwan came with several items and curries, each one delicious and unlike anything we had every had before. It is just something you will have to try for yourself. If you truly want to experience Kashmir, what better way than to enjoy a Kashmiri Wazwan, and heading to Sarposh is a great start!

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