A Migrant's Take - Lost and Found Spices of the Valley

Koshur Pandit households exude not the aroma of saffron, or snow, but of instant choley masala on Sundays, saunth on non-veg-free Tuesdays, and the intriguing vaer for Roganjosh on English birthdays.

My visit to Matamaal revealed that the creation of intervention and remembrance is paramount. Nostalgia operates uniquely here, functioning in extremes.

“Matamaal also serves as an educational platform, fostering awareness of Kashmiri culture regardless of religion. There is a conscious effort to bridge what was systematically broken, using food as a tool to provide fleeting comfort.”

In Matamaal, we find not only sustenance for the body but also nourishment for the soul - a reminder that in the act of breaking bread together, we forge connections that transcend time and circumstance.