That one morning breakfast..



It was a cold winter morning in Connaught Place, New Delhi. The early December weather, cold and dry, somewhat resembled to my experience in San Diego, where the winters are never as harsh as in Delhi. 

Most restaurants don't open till 11 am. The sweeper was cleaning the dried leaves and the crackling was waking up the dogs on the way.

 A few roadside stalls started preparing their breakfast menu.. people there enjoy heavy meals in the morning and the weather is dry enough to help it digest well. The meals are rich in proteins as well as carbohydrates with chickpeas and lentils with 'kulchas' and 'poori'(form of bread). People queue up before some popular outlets for dining or takeaways. 


The people of the region are quite outspoken and audible. They are comfortable in their skin and generally have clarity of thought. The newspaper talks in detail about the farmer protest against newly introduced Farm laws in the country and a trend towards  privatisation and corporate culture.I accompanied my younger brother to one of the tea stalls which is also a unique preparation. A wood burn flavour of tea prepared on the 'chulha', gives a rusty feel to the beverage. Discussions on the breakfast table covered covid restrictions, vaccination status, focussing on health and building immunity.. ironically this discussion while having oil and butter rich food.


But that's the logic that people have with regards to food. A happy stomach creates positive vibes, without much tension and stress, one can live a long life.


The uncle owning the small outlet was extremely warm and shared with us the specials. It is common courtesy in India to have some small talk to make the other person comfortable. His questions to us revolved around my travel and stay in India, life in USA, food in San Diego and my experiences.


I sensed contentment and peace in his voice, with his life and the decisions he took.. it gave me a sense that ambition and drive towards growth should be complimented by gratefulness and contentment in life to help you enjoy each day as it comes. 


This is the sense I carried on my way back home. People here are fond of their cuisine, their culture and find absolute joy in welcoming people and feeding them. There is a concept of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ in India which means guests are like Gods who need to be welcomed and treated well and that its an honour if they choose to stay longer. This concept has passed over generations, stood the test of time and is celebrated largely even today in most parts of the country. 


My one fine day in New Delhi which started with sipping tea and enjoying breakfast on the road, directed me to the larger culture values and the basis of healthy tourism in the country.

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