Category:Indian Food Traditions and Festivals

The Wazwan is Kashmir's most formal meal! It is a ritual serving of all the food in the house to the guest. 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 wazwan is normally restricted to special occasions of celebration in homes as tradition includes table settings for groups of four on the floor where choice dishes are served, including aromatic herbs and fresh vegetables of the community.

First the Tash-t-Nari is passed around, and diners wash their hands from warm water in a samovar. The waza (chief cook) supervises each dish. Ingredients for the meal have been hand-picked and exacting 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 kebabs and vegetable preparations are served.