Parsi Lunch

Parsi lunch with a Parsi

We ate at Jimmy Boy's in the afternoon and had a traditional Parsi lunch with a Parsi gentlemen.  This link has a good article about the Parsi's in India. asia/india/9612009/Indias-dwindling-Parsi-population-to-be-boosted-with-fertility-clinics.html. I asked the man to share the five most important characteristics of Parsi's with us.  He thought for a moment and came up with well educated, western-viewpoint, invested in learning and the Humanities, kind-hearted and large sense of humor.  Good list!

The food was served on a banana leaf. The first course was a whole small fish in green curry steamed in a banana leaf.  Then came chicken in Masala sauce.  Parsi's like meat I guess.  This was my first meat.  Some of us have been all veg and are terrified to eat the meat but we do it when it is part of the hospitality.  So far so good, but we have had a few very sick group members.  That was followed by a potato and rice dish and chapati's.  The dessert was a boiled milk that had caramelized and was frozen.  It was all delicious and most of it was on our list of what not to eat.  Oh well.  We are meeting local people and eating is a big part of the hospitality.  Salads are big on the do not eat list sadly.  Apparently the warm monsoons make fresh vegetables generally unsafe.

One interesting thing I do know about the Parsi's is that they have a special roof which we saw where they lay out their dead.  We saw it. Part of their ritual is to let birds pick the bodies.Then the final prayers are said.  Vultures used to do the deed.  Neighbors complained about the smell so they put out chemicals to diminish odor.  The vultures were poisoned and are now extinct in India.  Now the crows do the deed, big black and gray crows.

We have the afternoon free and so I am resting for the first time.  I have a little cold - probably from going from the heat to frigid air conditioned buses and hotel rooms.  Last night I had to sleep with a sweater on.  No in between I guess.  There are a lot of adjustments, but I am really glad I had the support and encouragement to make this trip.  It is stretching my mind and my heart.