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Feeding the Gods: Memories of Food and Culture in Bengal
Feeding the Gods Memories of Food and Culture in Bengal Author:Chitrita Banerji As the pungent fragrance of spices transports the author back into memories of childhood, we too are plunged headlong into the rich tastes, textures and colors of food in her native Bengal. Here, food is a ritualized and intrinsic part of the culture, particularly of the culture of women's lives. Beyond the meals prepared and cooked for everyday... more » life, food offerings blessed by the gods are shared by devotees in daily ceremonies of worship, special dishes are cooked on auspicious days, and ritual ways of preparing foods are carefully mastered. Combining social critique with the intimacy of memoir, Banerji writes of growing up from girlhood to womanhood in Bengal, a land where food and ritual are intimate experiences which shape day-to-day life.« less