Genre: Food & Spirituality.
#readwithharpercollins
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FOOD AND FAITH explores the powerful yet intimate intertwining of food with faith, history, myth and identity.
A very interesting combination, indeed.
FAITH in general, gives us strength, irrespective of the religion we belong to, or the teachings we follow.
The author, visits 15 pilgrimage or iconic places of worship in India. She decodes the history, the myths & the lore, the practices & traditions and also brings into light the special (sacred)food associated with them, adding her own personal experiences, her thoughts, her inquisitive mind- asking questions & answering them herself.
✍️Shoba Narayan is an award- winning author & columnist who writes about food, travel, fashion, art and culture.
It’s an 270+ pages read .
A very detailed read, with descriptive write up on the place & everything associated with it.
I loved the parts where the author brings in her own experiences, her thoughts, her views & opinions.
There’s an index, for ease, at the end.
The writing style is not for beginners with quite some words which add to your vocab.
It’s chirpy, bubbly, oozing with energy & human curiosity & dilemmas.
From Udipi to Kashi, Ajmer to Palani, Mumbai to Madurai, Jaipur to Goa, Thiruvananthapuram to Amritsar, Puri to Kumbh Mela and Kerala to Patan & Mathura- it covers the length & breadth of the country, literally!
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After reading this book, you would have gained more knowledge about your own religion & of other faiths, more wisdom on the history, practices, teachings & Prasad. Also you may have got few answers to the the various webs of thought in your mind regarding faith, spirituality & religion.
The human mind is an inquisitive, question bank. The author covers her questions brilliantly, in the book & brain storms for answers, perfectly.
It helped me gain insight on a lot of things which were alien to me before. ______
What is the role of spirituality in your life?
Is religion a part of your identity or does it make you uncomfortable?
Do you pray? Do you follow rituals to pray? I
Is the food given at the “place of faith” sacred to you?
P. S. : The author has accepted that while a few other faiths make cameo appearances, this is largely a book on Hinduism.
totally agree & felt it throughout the read. Nonetheless, I loved devouring it at a snail’s pace, absorbing everything, gradually.
READ IT to gain wider insight on the man-made religions & traditions and find some answers to the questions which have always troubled your mind.
