Wazwan

The Wazwan is Kashmir's most formal meal! It is a ritual serving before the guest, of all the food there is in the house. This wazwan must in turn be fully appreciated by the guest, for the wazwan is a ceremony, not a simple meal. Days of planning and hours of actual cooking go into the making and serving of a wazwan. The wawan is normally restricted to special occasions of celebration in homes, the wazwan tradition includes table settings for groups of four on the floor where choice dishes are served, included are aromatic herbs and the fresh vegetables of the community.

The meal begins with a ritual washing of hands at a basin called the tash-t-nari, which is passed around, and diners wash their hands from warm water in a samovar. The waza (chief cook) supervises each dish, the ingredients for the meal have been hand-picked, and sacred effort has ensured that each dish is a one-of-a-kind. Choice delicacies such as Methi and Tabakmaaz, Roganjosh and Rista, and a variety of Kababs and vegetable preparations are served.

Jammu and Kashmir is blessed with the tradition of Wazwan, the fabulous aromatic banquet consisting of over 36 delectable dishes. Most of these are meat based and contain heavy dose of spices, condiments and curds. Rista, Tabak Maaz , Rogan Josh are just some names of the dishes from this awesome region.