Receta Luqmi/Lukhmi
Years back I still remember when I was in school, I happened to attend a Hyderabadi wedding…which happened to be my mom’s cousins….my mama’s….and it was for the first time I am attending a Hyderabadi wedding…I was very much excited and I can see my mom more exited than me to attend four day wedding fare….meeting all her cousins, friends and relatives….though we had attended Hyderabadi weddings before….this one is special because we are going to stay there for four days all for Mehendi , Haldi, Shaadi (Wedding) and Valima (Reception). Mehendi and Haldi are much like Sangeet in North Indian weddings…Pre wedding ceremony….mehendi, henna – Indian Tattoo is applied on bridal hands and feet and also applied by all the relatives present at home by each other or by trained tattoo designers…In Haldi, scented turmeric paste is applied on bride’s and groom’s face, hands and feet for the glow….though these are small rituals, when celebrated with family and friends they turn out to be huge celebrations….In the end weddings are all about Fun, Food, Family and Friends….togetherness, love and bonding….
Hyderabadi weddings are known for its bling…….zardossi stitched clothes, stone studded bangles, pearl jewelry….the richness of the royal Nizams is still seen in the Muslim weddings of Hyderabad…This was the first time I am going to indulge in a five course lavish wedding meal….and most of the names…I was heard for the first time…from the fading memories all I could recall are luqmi, shimakpuri kabab, fish cutlets, sheermal, rumali roti, dum ka murgh, kache ghost ke biryani, mirchi ka salan, dahi ki chuntey, falooda, gil-e-firdaus (a bottlegourd dessert), qubani ka meetha (dessert with apricots) and double ka meetha….I think I am missing 2-3 names here…but right now could not recall….Everything tasted just wonderful….In the end came silver leaf draped paan (beetle leaf stuffed with saunf, gulkand, coconut, fruit preserve etc.,)…I bet if you have food at any of the Hyderabadi Muslim wedding….you will remember the taste and hospitality of the people for very long….the taste just touches your heart….which you can never forget….
After many years….I celebrated Ramadan at my mom’s place….whole through the fasting period I was at mom’s place…..My mom loves making many different Iftaar recipes and we love devouring them. Going through the memory lane and was talking about weddings one fine day, I got struck with food menu and luqmi kept on coming to my mind….I asked my mom whether she could make it for the readers of my blog….with no delay she said ‘YES’….