9/13/2023 0 Comments Mango seasonAs well as the kids who had taken over the face painting table and were eagerly patching images of mangos onto cheeks.Alphonso, which is among the most expensive varieties of mango, is a major horticulture crop in Maharashtra's Konkan belt and parts of the Western Ghats in the state. It could be seen in the young people’s art work and their drawings of eating the fruit or blitzing it into a smoothie to be guzzled down. Expression that was visible in various forms with people at the party showing their fondness for the mango in a way that resonates with them. Like the pit of the mango, expression is at the centre of the mango party. Maybe it's more about that and not so much about things you do or learn but more about having a space to express what you want.” Ragini adds that the workshops aren’t just a space for rigid learning, but to provide people with spaces like Rumpus Room: “They’re about creating spaces where people feel comfortable to come. So besides geographical location and ethnic groups, caste is also a very significant feature and it is caste that defines norms around who eats what.” “When we go back to the Indian subcontinent, you think about caste because it determines what position you hold in the society and what access you have. But also understanding how the food we eat comes to our table… Food also raises the question of who eats what. “It has been a space to reconnect with the foods that we eat and ask questions – like what memories do these foods hold for us and what memories do we feel. “My favourite part has been doing the art because I usually spend most of my time in a lab so I don’t get much time for art.”įor Lorelai, who works with OSCH, the workshops granted a space to learn about the Scottish South Asian experience whilst also having critical conversations about caste in relation to food: It was just meant to be a few sentences at first but then I ended up doing a whole extract. Sammy, who attended the workshops, spent time meticulously translating a few pages for the group to understand: “It was a lot harder than I thought. The group at Rumpus Room were also given a book from Uronto, written by Mahbub Siddiqui, which provides a history of mangos. Ragini touches on how the exchange with Uronto has allowed the group to gain different perspectives and hear the experiences of those who have: “grown up around mangoes because they have mango trees in their garden, whereas here it’s more seasonal and it’s very different.” Hussein recalled, during a workshop, someone expressed that for them “mangos taste like freedom.” So far they have looked at mangos in relation to memory, labour and their history which has created space for a variety of discussions.įor some, the mango is more than just a fruit but a representation of autonomy and self expression. Hussein and Ragini have led three workshops exploring different themes, granting space for various perspectives and conversations. It was really interesting to hear everyone's memories of mangos and family events or big occasions.” Hussein explained how the mango has been used as a starting point to initiate an array of conversations about the importance of foods and their relation to culture and history: “It's almost unlimited what you can explore through a certain object. The workshops are for young people of South Asian heritage and are being led by artists Ragini Chawla and Hussein Mitha to explore the political and nostalgic elements of the mango which are imported from Pakistan and India. It was also a celebration of the sweet pulpy fruit finally coming into season and a continuation of the workshops at Rumpus Room that are in collaboration with the Our Shared Cultural Heritage (OSCH) project and Uronto, an artist-led collective in Bangladesh. Read more: Events happening around the Southside as part of Refugee Festival Scotland The party is one of many events taking place as part of Refugee Festival Scotland which aims to bring together people from various backgrounds across Scotland to form new friendships and build friendships and greater understanding between communities. Celebrating mango season, Rumpus Room hosted a mango party complete with South Asian melodies, games, an abundance of mangos, lassi and delicious food from Parveen’s (a Pakistani inspired vegan restaurant).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |