India, April 2 -- The daily food habits of a community usually find a place within the festivals of the deity they worship. Dishes that sustain their work, express their values, or carry ritual significance are offered as "prasad" and take on a sacred character. What starts as an ordinary practice gathers meaning and becomes part of a shared tradition.

In 19th-century Maharashtra, much of the thinking around social change was framed through a religious lens. The spread of Western education, along with social reform movements that challenged established religious authority, led to a concerted effort to reinforce religious sentiment among the people. At the same time, the belief that religion and nation were inseparable led to a renewed em...