Dehradun, April 19 -- Culinary Chronicles

"Mom, why do people eat karhi on Baisakhi?" My not so little Cub asked.

"Colour yellow marks happiness and is symbolic to the golden fields of wheat. It's for prosperity and abundance." I replied.

She thought for a while and did not seem too pleased with the idea of the modest gram flour and buttermilk curry.

"You shall steam rice with karhi, so why don't you just rustle up some biryani and add saffron to mark the occasion with its amber hues," she said with a twinkle in her eyes.

I took her suggestion, for festivals are for the happiness of the family. "Tomorrow, my mother is cooking biryani and she will send it for you too." I eavesdropped her conversation with someone over the phone.

On q...