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THE PEOPLE
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FOOD
The dietary of any people generally is determined by the availability of the chief agricultural produce of the district concerned and fish and other possible animal food. Brahmans, Jains and Marwadis are generally strict vegetarians and others too are mainly vegetarian but do not object to fish and flesh whenever available and could afford it. Christians and Muslims are non-vegetarians as a rule. Beef is taboo for Hindus and pork for Muhammedans.
The vegetarian food consists of bread prepared from jowar flour and amti or varan prepared by the mixture of boiled pulses with condiments and spices, salt and chillies and vegetables like potatoes, vangi (brinjals), bhendi (lady's fingers), onion, cabbage, etc. On the days of feasts and festivals, the menu comprises rice, some sweet dish, often prepared with milk.
Those who observe fast on specific days eat fruits, and dishes prepared from vari, sabudana, shingade, groundnut, etc. Non-vegetarian food comprises preparations from meat, eggs, fowl, fish with other articles of food.
The afternoon (lunch) and evening food (dinner) consists of bhakri and kalvan (curry prepared from pulses) or zunka made of gram flour. Rice and wheat are consumed on festive occasions such as weddings, family festivals and days like Dasara and Holi.
The middle class and well-to-do people eat rice, vegetables, curds, buttermilk, etc. They are more particular about the timings and the manner of taking their food. They sit on flat wooden stools (pats) and the meal is served in dining plates of metal (stainless steel and brass) with bowls for curry and metal glasses of water. Their diet includes side dishes like pickles of various sorts, papads and koshimbir.
Generally they take tea in the morning and morning meals at about 10 a.m. when they leave their homes for work. Tea-taking has become popular with all classes of people.
The main sweet dishes prepared on festive occasions are puranpoli (wheat bread stuffed with gram dal cooked with gul), shira, puri, shrikhanda, basundi, jilebi, etc. Among the non-vegetarians chief dishes prepared are mutton and chicken, fried or in the form of curry, khima and preparations of eggs.
Milk of cow and buffalo is quite common in use. However, goat's milk is also used by poorer, people. Fruits do not always constitute the item of common dietary. Fruits like bananas, guavas, oranges and mangoes are often taken by even common people during the season.
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