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Hindu eating habits in Trinidad (video)

29 December 2006 2,677 views 7 Comments

Found an interesting article on Hindu Eating Habits in Trinidad from DesiJournal.com. Like many Trinidadians I’ve attended pujas/Indian weddings/Divali festivities. It’s always a grand time! :) Filling and lighting deyas is one of my all-time favorite childhood memories :)

Excerpt:
The Soharee leaf, a plant native to Trinidad, has served the Hindu community for more than a century. In fact, local Hindu scholar and activist, Ravindranath Maharaj, believes that over 100,000 leaves of this plant are used in one month alone for the various Hindu functions held in this country. Soharee is a bhojpuri word that means “food for the gods.” Originally the word Soharee was associated with a special kind of roti served to Brahmins at religious functions. The small rotis were basted in ghee and served on the large leaves found in Trinidad. Soon the leaves adopted the name of the rotis themselves. These days, the word “Soharee” is most commonly associated with the large leaves used as plates at religious functions. Indian food needs space because of the variety of dishes served. This is why a large leaf such as the soharee is preferred to accommodate rice, kharee, curry mango, pumpkin, potato, channa, bhajee and salad.

Preparing Parata Roti and Curry for a Hindu Wedding in Enterprise, Chaguanas

Immediately you will see the soharee mentioned above. You should also be able to notice the difference between the size of what we call roti, and the size of the rotis prepared by the Guyanese :)


You can tell a Hindu home in Trinidad from the prayer flags that wave in the yard.
Each color represents a different god and therefore type of request.

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7 Comments »

  • Chennette said:

    I feel like this is becoming a habit…but in Guyana :) lol

    In Guyana, they use the leaf of the lotus plant. The lotus grows in abundance in the canals (“big drains”) and the bowl like shape of the leaf is perfect. People can also easily close it and carry it away like a pouch, which is harder for the leaves we use I think in Trinidad.

    # 29 December 2006 at 10:17 am | link
  • Sarina said:

    hahahaha you mean … “like this one time… in band camp” … haha you watched the American pie movies? :D

    the idea of walking away with my food in a leaf… that’s kinda hott yo :D
    you get any pastelles baby? i worrying about yuh! :D Woman can’t live on Dixee and Pinehill!

    but fuh rizzle, i find we should go back to more biodegradable stuff man… time for a leaf as dinnerware renaissance round the board! who’s with me??? :D

    *watches the room empty out*

    # 29 December 2006 at 11:05 am | link
  • Chennette said:

    I did watch the first movie and yes, I can see how I’ll begin to sound like Alyson Hannigan…

    BTW That roti making video was excellent – THAT is a wedding roti – the size of the tawah and all implements bring out the festivities :-)

    # 30 December 2006 at 11:39 am | link
  • Sarina said:

    Mom’s trying to remember where she put our tawah…. i’m in the mood peoples!!!!

    (but seriously, how she could forget where she put it? :D )

    # 30 December 2006 at 12:44 pm | link
  • Chennette said:

    you mean all tawahs don’t live in the oven?
    Or perhaps permanently on top the stove, for those who make sada roti every morning (my grandmother) or when we used it as a toaster (tawah grilled-cheese sandwiches are the best). Hope your mother finds it soon!

    # 30 December 2006 at 6:14 pm | link
  • Sarina said:

    hahahaha well i guess i’d be letting you know part of my background if i tell you now that we had a jumbo wok living in the oven for over 10 years? lol! haaha so i suppose de tawah is de next version.. hahahaha

    tawa sandwiches? the next panini? :D

    i will make her find it, have no fear!!! :twisted:

    # 30 December 2006 at 7:17 pm | link
  • Chennette said:

    tsk tsk – the original panini (in our house anyway!) – although I must say Lilandra’s panini machine is much easier than pressing down on your hops with a fish slice/cheese slicer until your hands hurt. We didn’t know about panini back then, that was decades ago ;-) but we needed it flat tomake sure the cheese melted.

    # 30 December 2006 at 9:36 pm | link

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