A picnic recently organized in the backyard of a house in California, USA, has stirred a wave of nostalgia among Bengali expatriates. Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, the arrangement of traditional cooking on a brick stove and a native ambiance seemed to rekindle childhood memories. This special event was not just an ordinary picnic, but rather a connection to roots and a reflection of bygone days for a generation growing up abroad.
According to organizers and participants, many did not have the experience of cooking on a traditional clay stove in a village, having grown up amidst the hustle and bustle of the city. In the era of electric stoves and ovens, cooking on a clay stove remained a secret hobby. Failed attempts to light a fire in the field with potatoes and rice in childhood, and the regret of not having a clay stove, haunted many. Even though school picnics offered a dreamy environment for cooking on a clay stove, the memory of not being able to get close to the cooking area was etched in many minds. This picnic seemed to bring an opportunity to fulfill all those unfulfilled desires.
For a long time, the opportunity to cook on a wood-fired stove was limited due to the habit and availability of gas stoves in Sweden or the USA. The primary mindset in busy lives was to simplify things and reduce hassle. However, a few months ago, during a friends' gathering in the backyard of a poetic house in California, a proposal arose to have a picnic with cooking on a wood-fired stove. The house's front and back gardens, adorned like an old English movie, with beautiful rows of stones, seemed to inspire this unique event. When the creative Farhat Apu agreed to this proposal, the planning for the event began to take shape.
As per the plan, that dreamy picnic took place on a recent Saturday. The picnic was organized by building a stove with bricks and adhering to all fire safety regulations. Although initially it seemed like a mere fantasy, as participants viewed the preparation photos, memories of childhood pleas to go on picnics and crying to their mothers for saris came flooding back. Despite their busy schedules, everyone quickly finished their work, donned saris, tied their hair in a bun-like style, and rushed to the event.
Upon arriving at the event venue, a captivating scene caught everyone's attention. In the backyard, dal and beef were being cooked on a brick stove, while jilapi and eggplant fritters were being fried nearby. Traditional Bengali dishes like mango bhorta, jam bhorta, chanachur makha, and piyaju were arranged on one side. A dazzling afternoon, adorned with lights and flowers, slowly transformed into evening. Women draped in single-pleat saris and with hair tied in buns looked as if fairies were walking around.
Many photos were taken with friends, some posing with spatulas, pretending to cook, and getting captured on camera. After sunset, the evening became even more vibrant with group games, mothers dancing with their daughters to the rhythm of songs, and performances of songs like 'Leelabali'. Everyone was satisfied after eating the traditional food cooked on the stove. This unique event has opened a new horizon for Bengali culture abroad, where native customs and traditions are carefully nurtured.
Farhana Ahmed Lisa, one of the key organizers and participants, stated that such events hold a special place deep in the heart. Especially when people like architect Farhat Apu organize such heartwarming events, their impact becomes even more far-reaching. Everyone present wished that such touches of joy would repeatedly come into everyone's busy expatriate lives. This picnic was not just a social gathering, but an celebration of Bengali identity abroad, which will also inspire future generations to uphold their traditions.
