GOSHT ON OUR MIND
With preparations for Bakri Eid on in full swing, we take a look at the significance and culture associated with the food savoured during the festival
More commonly referred as Bakri Eid, Eid-alAdha the textual name of the festival, honours the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son upon the command of God. The celebrations of the festival will begin in the evening of August 11 and will continue till August 12.
While Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated with much fervour and excitement, after religiously fasting for 30 days during the holy month of Ramzan, the significance of this festival lies in the sacrifice of a male goat.
The meat of the goat is then feasted upon after dividing it into three parts. The first part is gifted to the friends and relatives, the second is given to the poor and needy people, while the last part is devoured by the family. “In a majority of Muslim households, haleem or biryani is prepared from the goat that has been sacrificed. Mutton biryani is made and distributed among all,” says Bhumit Gandhi, chef, The Craft Kitchen. “The essence is to teach the community the value of giving and sharing with the community,” affirms Shikha Nath, culinary director, Copper Chimney
India.
SIGNIFICANCE OF LAMB
“Gosht is significant as the tradition started when God replaced Abraham’s son with a goat during his test of sacrifice,” explains Rohan D’Souza, chef of Basanti and Co, about the significance of lamb or goat meat.
Elaborating further on why certain ingredients and meats are used during food preparations, Chadi Bayram, chef at Rue Du Liban, says, “Since a lot of people fast during this time, the meals are traditionally protein-rich primarily made from goat or lamb meat. There are also special sweets made during this Eid to give the perfect balance of sweet and flavours.”
A wide variety of delicacies, from gosht korma to an array of biryanis, are whipped up on this day to ring in the festivities. “Bakri Eid is also known as Namkeen Eid (savoury Eid), with several kilos of meat to cook from. In this festival, there are many varieties of food preparations made with the same meat, each having its own unique taste,” says Chef Ishijyot Surri, executive chef, Mulk, Andheri (W).
ARRAY OF FLAVOURS
A country like India with its diverse cultures, has food preparations that are influenced from different regions. “The dishes that are prominent during Bakri Eid are about traditional cooking and regional flavours. For instance, the Bengalis will savour biryani, keema and parathas, while down South, korma and biryani are the show stealers,” adds Ishijyot.
Chef Raheman of Biryani Hazir Ho lists other dishes that are commonly prepared during festivities. “Apart from the meal prepared from lamb, goat or sheep, in India, there are various meals prepared on Eid. However, Lamb Gosht and Mutton Biryani are the most common. Some of the other famous dishes include biryani, pulao, korma, bhuna gosht, roasted or tawa chop etc. ,” he says.
Here is a peek into some traditional dishes that always make an appearance at the lavish Eid spread.