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would use this opportunity to tell them about the advantages L ook Up of shifting to Delhi. Though his wife Jer Bai would occasionally and Understand object to unknown visitors, she was always overruled. This was the beginning of the community of Parsis in Delhi.... ...Writing about Parsis in the Delhi of old is not easy. There are cajole memories of my grandparents and parents  — a collective memory dainty of generations past and people long gone, yet here in spirit.... extensive During festive gatherings, the women went to town with the food; outside catering was unheard of. The poorer members of overruled the community never knew who had paid for what. This tradition vouch continued in the northern cities of Lucknow, Kanpur, and Allahabad well into the ‘70s. Sadly, that kind of life has almost gone forever. Food preparations began two days in advance. Dar ni pori (rich pastry stuffed with sweetened lentils) and malido (halwa) were carried in big vatus (pots) and served with puris. Anyone who has made malido can vouch for the fact that you need strong biceps; it is an exhausting exercise. The first time I made it under my grandmother’s supervision was also the last. I could hardly move my arms for the next two days! Since then, I gained a healthy respect for my dainty grandmother. The menu was extensive. Breakfast would start with either sev—brown vermicelli cooked in milk and served with fresh cream—or ravo, semolina pudding, Mithu dahi or sweetened curd made with full cream milk was an absolute must. This was followed by bafellaeeda, hard-boiled eggs, and kheemo kaleji, mutton mince with liver. For lunch, there was almost always smori dal chawal and macchi no patio — white boiled rice with yellow dal offset by a tart and tangy fish curry. Teatime was special at our home. My grandmother made it a point to dress for tea; I was made to do the same. Once we were ready, out came the treats: Parsi biscuits — batasa, nan- khatai and flaky khari; patrel rolled, steamed arbi leaves stuffed with besan masala; kumas, rich Parsi cake; and my favourite, bhakra, sweet deep fried doughnuts. That tradition has stayed with me. I certainly don’t dress up, but I still need a snack with at least three cups of tea!... (Source: ‘Down Memory Lane with the Parsis of New Delhi’ by Shernaz Italia, The Wire) 58 W ords aEdxpressi2 – lassX Reprint 2026-27