My first experience in my new kitchen: Sasural's Kitchen.
The day after my marriage, my mother in law asked me to wear something green and get ready to enter the kitchen. She added that I need not panic about it, just need to be there for a few rituals. I got ready and rushed to the kitchen. I could see so many things lying on the kitchen floor like lots of Kosala saga (amaranthus - a green leafy vegetable), Jantuni (rice dough), Nadia Khora (grated coconut mixed with jaggery), and many more. Also, I could see many ladies in bright and colorful sarees.
My MIL – Do you know cooking?
Me – Yes (with a proud smile).
MIL – Do you know making saga kharada ( a typical Odia dish - green leaves stir fry)?
Me – Yes, I do.
She handed over me a kadhai and the required ingredients and asked me to make saga kharada. I just felt the ground was slipping beneath me as I was looking at the quantity of saga. I had prepared saga kharada before marriage, but it was only for myself and about whose taste I was not even sure.
Me to myself – How will I make this myself… Why did I nod my head…?
I gathered some courage and cooked the dish. Fortunately, it turned out to be good.
Then someone from his relative asked me – Do you know how to make 'Manda Pitha' (Steamed Modak)?
Me – Yes. (complete lie, I had seen my mom and aunty making it at home).
She passed me the jantuni and nadia kora and asked me to make them.
Me to myself – Why … Why ... Why… Why did I even lie …. Cursed me like anything.
I attempted to make a few, then some friendly lady saw my pain and jumped in to help me. God bless her.
After some time, my MIL asked me – Can you fry Rohu fish? Even before she had completed the sentence, Me – Sorry, I do not know preparing non-veg dishes.
MIL – No worries, we will make the fish fry.
Me to myself – Thank God. 😃
Around one year later, while having saga kharada for lunch, I asked my MIL – Mama, how could you leave me alone during the Saga- Macha episode… I got damn nervous.
She – I was confident about you. I knew that you would manage things pretty well. Moreover, I wanted to prove it to all that even 'WORKING Daughter-in-law can manage the home PERFECTLY.'
This was my 'Saga-Macha-Manda Pitha' Story.
Significance of this ritual:
- Salt is one of the essential ingredients in a dish that just gets dissolved and enhances the taste. Similarly, when a newlywed bride mingles with love and affection with her new family, it forms a strong foundation for a successful life.
- In the Manda Pitha, the perfect blend of outer covering (white part) and nadia khora (inner stuffing) makes it tasty. Similarly, the bride must embrace the ups and downs of her new family and always try to maintain the balance.
- It is challenging to apprehend the perfect salt quantity while preparing the green leafy vegetable. Likewise, it is challenging to adjust to a new environment. People say: If the new bride makes a perfect saga kharada, that means she knows the secret to get along with her new family.
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| Few pictures from my "Saga-Macha-Manda Pitha" day |
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