Preserving Bhatia culture

The Sindhi Thathai Bhatia community website ensures that the unique identity and beauty of its food and culture is not lost in this age of globalisation

The sprawling Sindhi Thathai Bhatia culture, which flourished in Dubai since the 1950s has found a new way to network with each other using social media platforms and literature put together by Deepa and Bharat Chachara. This approach is a means to sustain their time-honoured ways in the new millennium, just as the era before the partition of India and Pakistan.
"As a couple, my husband Bharat and I love to spend time together, and the joy of researching and writing these books on our traditions and Thathai Bhatia recipes is an unforgettable experience and a gift that goes on giving," says Deepa who has been married for 22 years. 
 The book, Panja Khada (meaning, Our Food) contains over 150 dishes in 10 sections along with an illustration of each cooking utensil, along with their names. The book outlines all of the elements to style kitchens and homes located almost anywhere in the world, with timeless Bhatia appeal. Thathai Bhatia food is a specific, wholesome and health-conscious vegetarian cuisine comprising mostly of various lentils and vegetables. Since onion and garlic are not used in any of the food items, they are replaced primarily with asafoetida, cumin and mustard seeds. 
Deepa says: "Some of our favourite dishes include Dal-Bhaat-Kadi, Koki, Boondi-Besan and Maghamethi. We use ingredients that suit the community, that tend to eat vegetarian home-cooked meals. Most of the ingredients are readily available in and around the UAE, making it easier to reintroduce Bhatia cuisine into our own homes. The Bhatia community is a hospitable one. Family and friends from our community and other communities take great pride in experiencing our meals together." 
The rites and rituals are illustrated in a book called Panja Reeti Rivaj, which offers a glimpse into Thathai Bhatia traditions, and is written by Deepa and Bharat. The book is a tool to pass Bhatia values to the younger generations, who in turn partake in the virtues of cooking, dressing, and conducting their daily lives in a loving, healthy and vibrant way, especially when they are staying away from homes. 
"The elders from our community take immense pride in these books as they are a guide to celebrate each occasion in a way that upholds our traditions to the tee," adds Deepa.
 "Like all communities, we Bhatias also have our quotes that we have been using for generations. In the book, we felt that it was important to preserve the quotes, often witty and rhythmic, with an English translation, as many of us in Dubai are well versed in the English language.
"One of these is 'Sooan dissi tharya, luchhana disi bharya' (Saw the beauty and it made me happy, saw the behaviour and it caused heartburn) implying don't be impressed by a person's physical beauty, be impressed by their behaviour or nature.
 "We love our news and tidbits of information about our vivid and chatty community," says Deepa, who admits that the Facebook group - Bhatiabuzz with over 6,000 registered users, has inspired members from the fun loving community to use social media to further engage with each another in modern ways.
 
Pushpa Asarpota
Bhatia Buzz set up in 2012 has brought the Bhatia community around the world much closer. It started as a great platform to announce new births, engagements, weddings and festivals and its significance to congratulate and celebrate occasions. It notifies us about obituaries and brings our community together in times of sorrow. Bhatia Buzz provides the platform for healthy discussions where the new and old generation actively participate and express their views. 
 
Nisha Gautam 
Perhaps I value Panja Khada because I'm so far away.  Today, with so many of our elders having passed away, carrying on these traditions, recipes, language and festivals are invaluable to us.
 
Manju Karani
Well into my 60s, I took up learning Kathak, something which I was passionate about a year and half ago. When I passed the first level and was featured in our community group, Bhatia Buzz, I was bombarded with congratulatory messages from all corners of the world. With this recognition, I felt like a mini-celebrity. Never in my life had I felt so encouraged and that has motivated me to work harder to ensure I master this form of dance. Bhatia Buzz is such a positive platform that I browse through with my morning cup of tea to know what all is happening in the community. It makes me wonder how we got our information before Bhatia Buzz came into being.
 
Kiron Bhatia
Panja Khada was an answer to every mom's cookery delight and every teenager's dream of having recipes accessible on their gadgets. As my son says after every cooked Bhatia recipe, "very delectable", and my daughter goes, "yummilicious".
 
Jayshree Deepak Karani
Thanks to Deepa and Bharat Chachara for Panja Reeti Rivaj which has helped in lifting our tradition and giving our roots the face value that it deserves.
 
Madhav Ajay Nardhani
Whenever my sister and I would quarrel, my granny would scold me, and say Aato Khado Noar, maar paiye ghabay khay. I never understood its meaning until I read the book Panja Reeti Rivaj. 'The mouse ate the flour, the ox got the beating, which implies one person does something wrong and someone else gets blamed for it. Now since I have the book, I use the various idioms from it in the relative contexts and stun everyone in my family.

Deepak Purshottam Bhatia
Bhatia Buzz in terms of good and bad news gives the feeling of having an extended family beyond those we live with, and it's the go-to page for catching up on 'happening' events of those who lie within its network.
 
Jaya Bhatia
Our community's backbone is Bhatia Buzz that gives us various ways and materials leading to our old and new culture. It told us about Halo Dhol Vajayoun, a compilation on a CD of wedding songs we played during our daughter's wedding in November 2017 and our function was a success. 
 
Kusum Kandhari 
We live in Germany and lack guidance from anyone on our culture, so Panja Reeti Rivaj is the book we refer to whenever we want to perform any pooja and rituals.
 
Sheetal Vinod Bhatia
As an avid reader, I immediately dived into the pages and realised there were so many rituals that I was not aware of. The book also gives us a detailed description from our jewellery, to our saris and even our relations. It also showcases our long forgotten sayings. I am definitely going to pass this book on to my children when they are ready to move forward in life, so that they are familiar with their culture and rituals and follow them.