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The norms of the Mawaid are an expression of
Dawoodi Bohra culture and heritage. "A family that eats together stays
together" this wisdom has been sewn into the eating habits of Dawoodi
Bohras and extended not only to the immediate family but to the larger family -
i.e. the community. A Thaal or a large serving dish has a capacity of 8
people to eat together ensuring group interaction and a familiar environment.
A close monitoring of the students is an integral part of the curriculum and
this benefits Mawad in setting their menu, disbursing food and recycling
leftovers.
Food, as a connoisseur would attest, is not only
about what you eat, it is about how it is made, served and consumed. To the
Dawoodi Bohra, food at Al Jamea, at a social gathering or even at home, is all
about the right kind of food, cooked in a particular manner, served in a
traditional way and eaten in a particular way.
Beginning with the name of Allah and
ending by thanking Him, a daily practice which emphasizes the magnanimity of the
Almighty.
Washing hands before and after the meals using a chilamchi
lota traditional basin) is a mandatory age-old tradition. The fact that the
people at the thaal assist each other for using the chilamchi lota underlines
the values of equality and dignity of labor.
Tasting of salt before and after the
consumption of food is a custom which present day scientists suggests helps to
cleanse the body of germs.
Respect for the elders is shown by the fact that
the eldest on the thaal starts the consumption of food and divides the bread. In
a Dawoodi Bohra thaal, the food is divided into multiple courses that start with
a sweet course and alternate with savory dishes followed by the main courses of
bread and rice with compliments. The meal ends with fresh fruits. Recent studies
have shown that this tradition, which has been followed for generation, has a
scientific theory to it, the consumption of food in alternation of sweet and
savory and ending with fruits assists in digestion of the food, something our
forefathers knew well in advance and passed on to us.
In a community dinner or at home, the food is
served by the members of the family or the community. Equality is again
reflected in this simple tradition of the Dawoodi Bohra where feeding people is
considered as a great sign of humility and cuts across economic and social
strata.
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