Kashmir has long been celebrated as the land of favors and traditional dishes. As the shivering cold of Chilliakalan descends upon the snow clad picturesque landscape, the flavors of Valley’s traditional delicacies, made mostly during harsh winter months by our elderly women, not just highlight the region’s rich and delicious culinary heritage but it also invites us to reflect on the memories that are woven into the fabric of our lives. No doubt, presently, our heroic house wives make varieties of dishes in their kitchens during winter, while watching u-tube videos of famous Kashmiri food vloggers who are featuring diverse local delicacies. Yet, in real sense, they can’t compete with the delectable traditional dishes of our culinary matriarchs (grandmas & great grandmas) who were not merely the keepers of Kashmir’s rich flavor, and tradition but were the true masters of the kitchens. Those elderly women, whom we have now totally neglected, were once the true custodians of Kashmiri cuisine and richer culinary treasures.

Nowadays, our modern women, some of whom have represented the Valley globally in dish making contests, can never prepare tasty dishes that our elderly matriarchs made once during winter season. Like women now, they didn’t rely on any additives, or coloring agents, etc to their dishes. Rather, they prepared everything in their kitchens with great simplicity and homemade items. Undoubtedly, we make most of those traditional........

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