AHAN- A Culinary Odyssey Through Cultures and Time
NPS Koramangala showcased PAAKDARPAN as part of its triennial cultural fest, AHAN on 30th October 2024. This remarkable production, celebrating culinary heritage transcending borders and cultures through two captivating shows, featured around 480 students from Grades 6-10.
Dr. Bindu Hari, Vice Chairperson of NPS Group of schools, NAFL and TISB along with other dignitaries graced the occasion.
Both shows opened with a tribute to India’s ancient culinary wisdom through Charaka, which revered food as pranah, the very essence of life and, ahara, our diet, as the product of the five fundamental elements which form the building blocks of life and existence on this planet.
In the first show, the narrative transitioned to Japan, showcasing the elegance of the Japanese tea ceremony, Matcha, which embodies simplicity and mindfulness. This was followed by a journey into Vietnam where every dish is a harmonious blend of flavours, textures, and traditions. From the paddy fields to the dining tables, rice in Vietnam is a symbol of life’s essentials. The students then enacted the story of Akshaya Patra, representing food as a symbol of hospitality and sustenance. They drew parallels to African folklore with the story of the magic pot, emphasizing shared beliefs about food’s unifying nature. The performance went on to celebrate Greek cuisine's ties to mythology through the story of Zeus and the horn of abundance before moving on to the origins of Italy’s delightful gelato. It then highlighted French gastronomical art through a lively enactment inspired by Babette's Feast, symbolizing generosity and culinary creativity.
The second show maintained the spirit of connection through food by seamlessly transitioning from ancient India’s culinary wisdom to ancient China. The students showcased how food played a key role in mobilising the ordinary people of China in their fight against oppression. The spotlight then shifted to Peru, where the Cocoa leaf symbolizes celebration and festivity, illustrating its cultural significance across continents. The narrative revisited the metaphor of Akshaya Patra, emphasizing reverence for the Sun God and His bounty. From there, the audience was transported to the two culturally rich nations of Turkey and Spain, where people have always expressed their faith and traditions through unique observances and culinary delights.
What followed was a majestic pageant exploring the grandeur of Mughal cuisine and the historical dynamics between Akbar and Shivaji, using Khichdi as a metaphor for food’s power to nourish physical, mental and intellectual wellbeing. The journey continued to South India, where the vibrant culinary heritage was depicted through the rustic charm of a Thotti Mane kitchen in Karnataka, alongside representations of a Telugu Manduva Illu and a Thinnai Veedu from Tamil Nadu. The celebration of Onam Sadhya in Kerala highlighted the joy and gratitude inherent in traditional meals. It was food for thought as the students reflected on modern India’s evolving food culture, illustrating how digital platforms now connect culinary traditions globally, merging heritage with innovation, but at a terrible cost. In the run-up to the impressive denouement, the young artists chronicled the captivating story of Nala and Damayanti and how Nalapakkam has become synonymous with excellence in culinary art. The grand finale set to the melodious Tamil song Naam Ondre reminded us of our shared humanity and the deep ties that bind us all together.
Both shows of PAAKDARPAN took the audience on a breath taking journey through global culinary landscapes. Through mesmerising presentations that masterfully wove the colourful threads of storytelling, music, songs, history, and culinary traditions into a beautiful visual and auditory tapestry, the students of NPS Koramangala encouraged the audience to reconnect with the sacred nature of food, successfully driving home the message that every shared meal connects us to our past, the present, and the future.
