Saturday, September 14, 2013

Happy Senses - 3

Any more absence from me and people might conclude that I have actually lost one of the senses about whom I have been blabbering away in this series.

You can see the first two at Happy Senses -1 and Happy Senses - 2

Taste:

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net


After a long and arduous journey, the first sight of food would fill one with a kind of bliss. Be it a simple roti dal at a roadside dhaba, idly chutney sold on a cart or a table laden with an array of home cooked items.Food that reaches and satisfies one at the hungriest of hours is the tastiest on earth. 

A cup of coffee my husband makes after forcing me to sit and take a break from the household work, the single grape my son pops into my mouth, the bowl of curd rice my father used to bring to my room during the uncomfortable days of my pregnancy, every meal my mom prepares with gusto each time I visit her - When love gets mixed, food always becomes delicious.

The cup of steaming tea on the highest points of Ooty or Kodaikanal, hot crispy molagai bajjis(chilli pakoras) on a rainy evening, A lick of that icecream or a bite of that watermelon slice after being out in the scorching sun - Weather and surroundings have a huge impact on the taste buds.

I have always been a foodie, a vegetarian one though. Food is something man has been experimenting with, since time immemorial and we have a million varieties under the sun . In todays globalized world we need a lifetime to try out all thats available - Indian, Italian, Lebanese, American, Mexican, Thai, African, Japanese, Chinese - Sweet, Spicy, Hot, Sour, Hot, Cold, Bitter!. Being healthy, eating it right is definitely good. But every now and then, one does need to indulge, immerse and relish. After all we live to eat don't we? Once in a while say good bye to that no-carb, no-fat diet and pop some pani puris in. Your system deserves it.

Touch:
Image courtesy of twobee / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

At a function or in general, whenever an elder touches me on my head to wish me good and bless me, it gives me a feeling of being loved , cared for and protected.

A hug, a pat, a tap, a hold, a kiss any expression of affection is amazing. That's why perhaps the emotion is called being touched.

In our marriages we have a practice where the bride has to hold her fingers like a closed lotus and the groom would be asked to hold it and not let go till all rituals are over. Its a lovely symbolic representation of the life long promise to love, share,care and safe guard.

At the end of an exhausted day, sitting next to a loved one and dozing off leaning on their shoulder - one of the simple nice things in life.

The most cherished touch I have had is something my unfortunate male friends will never get to experience. Every time I felt the baby in my womb move or kick . I don't even know if it can be classified as touch but its an extraordinary and a beautiful feeling indeed.

Our touch can make a huge difference in so many lives. A simple pat on the head to a boy acting as a waiter at the small restaurant, holding a blind person while helping her get aboard a bud, helping an injured sick relative to move lending him a shoulder support, handing out books to some poor kids- These are very mediocre examples that came popping in my head. A touch can go a very long way in adding a new meaning to people's lives.  The first and strongest expression of love and affection is nothing but a simple touch.



46 comments:

  1. I was just wondering why it has been a long time since you wrote and there i saw the notification :)
    I so agree, food cooked with love always tastes nice. Also food cooked in bhakti as an offering always tastes superb. That is how I feelAnd your concluding statement...just brilliant. A touch can make such a difference, fully agree

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    1. Oh Yeah, I love the chakkara pongal they give at Parthasarathy Temple in Triplicane and Tirupathi ladoos too

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  2. So, you are back, Jaya. As for me, a baby's touch is loveliest!

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    1. Of course a baby's touch is amazing. In fact anything about a baby - sight smell touch! Beautiful!

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  3. beautifully written!! and yeahhh... be it any diet... i cant skip pani puris.. ;)

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    1. Thanks for stepping in Sahithya :) Yep, Any day pani puris make my mouth water.

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  4. Nice touch given to the sense of Touch.

    The highlight was how you talked about your family making you feel good, though! Superb!

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    1. Thanks Vishal. Families do make us feel loved and cherished!

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  5. Loved the post Jayashree..Always believed the same what you have written about taste. I will not eat when I'm served with the greatest of food but will go mouth watering when I see daily wage labourers preparing their curd rice, with hot baked potato with onions and green chillies. So I agree that "Food that reaches and satisfies one at the hungriest of hours is the tastiest on earth"

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    1. That combination actually sounds mouth watering Anupam . Thanks for the comment

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  6. There are those who are very selective about food...yes,I am one of those.
    It was nice to see you after so long

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    1. Food is everyone's individual choice. Some are particular about the calories, some about the taste and some about the hygiene practices followed . :)

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  7. Hi Jayashree

    Welcome back to the land of letters! And its a sensory delight!

    Happy Onam!

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  8. nice. and so you now enjoy your moms preparations.... reading "taste" at 1 AM @Nagpur Rly w/hall develops little hunger and mind wanders for hot sambar idly. but no chance. keep writing

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  9. I like the way you have transformed from food to touch :) Yes, a touch makes a subtle difference.
    Btw, where have you been? I was just thinking the other day about how you disappeared? Didn't have your email id to inbox a message. Hope all is well.

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    1. All eeez well FiF :) just held up with a lot of personal things

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  10. A lovely post about tingling taste buds and with a touch of love, Jaishree!

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  11. Jaishree happy to see you after a long time. Taste and touch are two very strong reflexes.

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  12. Fantastic post in the series. The last line is so true.

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  13. Beautiful ! I think your previous ones on the same topic.Will soon catch up on them.
    "A cup of coffee my husband makes after forcing me to sit and take a break from the household work, the single grape my son pops into my mouth..." So true and lovely lines.
    As far as touch goes, nothing can substitute the warmth of a touch, sometimes not even words.

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    1. True. A lot can be expressed in silence with a single touch

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  14. Amazing! don't know what else to say. am loving these posts. guess, i have missed one post in this series. will read it soon.

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  15. Good to see you back after a long time! It is so very true, 'Food that reaches and satisfies one at the hungriest of hours is the tastiest on earth'... A simple dal-rice also tastes heavenly!
    And yes, they say touch has a memory and that is so very right!

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    1. Thanks for stepping in Shilpa. some of ones best memories may be related to touch

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  16. Of course a hug any day is the best tonic for a troubled mind

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  17. I read this post lunch and still i was salivating over curd rice which is a favourite...and i have left paani puri as a sacrifice for one of my wishes to get fulfilled..although i curse myself on a daily basis over this decision.
    Its said that a doctors touch cures some of the portion of the ailments, so i guess touch is more important for us the doctors.
    I have personally experienced that if you touch a patients arm, he loses some of the agitation in the process.
    Wonderfully explored.

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    1. I am sure that wish might have been extremely important for you to take such a decision :)

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  18. ...And you are back! BTW which sense would you love to indulge in?

    Touch and Taste; what's life without it!

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  19. a good article :D thanks for coming back and writing

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  20. Finally you are back Jaish! And with a 'touching' post! Relived many of them...mom made food, a kicking baby in the womb who is communicating only with you, a single pat or a spontaneous hug...they are all so powerful without saying a word!

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  21. Hunger they say is the best sauce. And what can be better than being hungry and be able to eat food cooked for you with love.

    As for touch - what need one say more than the fact that touch-deprivation is probably one of the major causes of depression.

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    1. Of course, anyone offered food cooked with love is lucky indeed :) Thats true Suresh. Thats why a simple hug can go a long way in soothing the troubled minds.

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  22. Taste and touch -- I love how you weave your posts about these wonderful senses! The aroma of delicious, piping hot food and the warm touch of a loving hand = sheer bliss!

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    1. Thanks Rachna. Delicious piping hot! Reminds me of basmati rice :D

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