Desserts
Why do people like to celebrate events such as Christmas with a sweet taste? Is this intense craving for sweetness in sorrel drinks, rum, wines, cakes, chocolates p(a)rasad, kurma, maleeda and sawine related to nature or nurture? What has been our tradition in the Indian Diaspora in making, serving and consuming sugary drinks and foods?
Despite the link between sugar and its adverse health effects such as diabetes, obesity, cancer growth, and fatty liver and cardiovascular diseases, the consumption of sweet beverages, desserts and confectioneries are part and parcel of gatherings, festivals and ceremonies. Why is sugar so significant in our social and religious events?
Today, Uttar Pradesh – the ancestral homeland of many Caribbean people who are descendants of indentured sugarcane labourers – is called the “sugar bowl of India” because it is the largest producer of sugarcane in India. It is Indian chemists in the 5th Century AD who developed the process of crystallizing sucrose extracted from cane to make sugar transportable. India is currently second to Brazil as the world’s largest producer of sugar. Is it any wonder that sugar is in our blood and history as well as in our food and drink?
TOPIC: The Significance of Sugary Beverages and Desserts during Christmas: The Indian Diaspora in Trinidad, Guyana, Suriname & South Africa
SPEAKERS:
- BADRU DEEN (Trinidad/USA) – Son of Emamool Deen (aka Mamoo Deen), the creator of the number-one street food (“doubles”) in Trinidad; author of the book on “doubles”
- WENDY RAMNARINE (Guyana/Canada) – Teacher of Yoga and Vedanta; treats imbalances and dis-eases of the body and mind; founder of the Institute of Ayurveda and Wellbeing
- SHARMILA RAMRATTAN (Suriname) – Short-story writer, author, Hindi teacher, cook and entrepreneur in the business of clothing, household items and vegetarian food
- ASHA MAHARAJ (South Africa) – International Chef, author of many cookbooks, corporate home economist, lecturer, examiner, and Food and Lifestyle Consultant based in Durban
- SHALIMA MOHAMMED (Trinidad) – Psychologist (MBS, Franklin University); strong advocate for health and wellness practices based on Traditional and Alternative Healing
Followed by Q+A
SEE VIDEO RECORDING by touching or clicking on this link
For more information, or to become a presenter in a ZOOM Public Meeting like this, or to suggest a topic or organise a panel, please contact indocaribbeanstaff@gmail.com
WhatsApp +1 868 756 4961 in Trinidad. To add your name to our growing list of invitees, please send your request to the same contacts above.
Join us ON SUNDAY (BOXING DAY), (26/12/21), for a ZOOM Public Concert headlined: “The Indianization of Christmas Music in the Diaspora: Trinidad, Guyana, Suriname, Belize and South Africa” with Performing Artistes: Taxi (Trinidad) Recorded, Marcia Miranda (Trinidad) Recorded, Scrunter (Irwin Reyes Johnson) (Trinidad) Recorded, David Ramoutar (Trinidad) Recorded, Sharlene Boodram (Trinidad) Recorded, Badru Deen (Trinidad) Live, Terry Gajraj (Guyana) Recorded, Kries Ramkhelawan (Suriname), Professor ‘Chats’ Devroop (South Africa) Live, and Liji Yeshudas (South Africa) Recorded. Brief discussion after each item.
Join Zoom Meeting ON SUNDAY (BOXING DAY), (26/12/21) by touching or clicking on this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86710731165
Meeting ID: 867 1073 1165
No Passcode Needed
Live-streamed on the Facebook page of Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre
https://www.facebook.com/indocaribbeanculturalcentre
Hosted by www.indocaribbeanpublications.com
WhatsApp +1 868 756 4961 or + 1 868 381 0386
E-mails: dmahabir@gmail.com, indocaribbeanstaff@gmail.com,
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