‘Did you know..’ library series. Now up at the Hopkinton Public Library since January this year!
What is this series about?
'Did you know' series is a cultural education series created and organized by SACH in collaboration with the Hopkinton Public Library. It showcases different aspects about South Asia throughout the course of the year including festivals, culture, history, geography and other fun facts. This includes a small window display, a short literature in the form of a poster and related book suggestions pertaining to the subject being showcased if available at the library or other online resources.
Visitors were able to learn about this history of chai drinking and also enjoy the different smells of tea varieties that we displayed. Different types and shapes of tea cups were also displayed including cutting chai cups and kulhads.
The beginnings
As per the history of tea drinking in India, local people used to brew and drink tea using the leaves of the wild native tea plants. The first Tea Garden was established by the British East India Company by the end of the 19th century after the Company took over tea cultivation in Assam, a region in the North Eastern part of India, where the commercial production of tea started.
(Source: tea.in/history)
Credit: madrascourier.com
Drink of the royals to the common man’s drink
Tea drinking has evolved in different ways over the years in India and differs from region to region. First thought of as the drink of the Royals, tea has now become the favorite of the common man as India leads the world in tea drinking. From the humble roadside tea stalls and the railway platforms to the boardrooms of corporate India, tea is easily available. Tea is India's most popular drink - the country consumes 837,000 tonnes of it every year.
Vendor serving chai to railway passengers (Credit: Dinodia Photo/Getty Images)
Major tea growing regions
There are 2 major regions in South Asia where tea is predominantly grown and it is from their place that they get their names. The North eastern regions are well known for Assam and Darjeeling varieties. The Western Ghats of South India and the Central Kandy province of Sri Lanka are known for the Nilgiris and Ceylon teas respectively.
Masala Chai - the country’s favorite brew
Known for its uniquely power packed flavor, masala chai is a spice-filled concoction that comes with a dose of wellness, thanks to the anti-inflammatory properties of ginger and cardamom. Masala chai is brewed strong with thick milk and usually sweetened to give you a sugar high alongside the caffeine rush.
What, When, Who & Where
Marking the end of the winter solstice
Solar versus Lunar calendar
Sankranti is one of the few festivals following the Solar calendar. Hindus mostly celebrate their festivals as per the lunar calendar. The Hindu calendar itself happens to be lunisolar in nature. Since this festival is celebrated as per the solar cycle it falls on the same date (January 14th) on the Gregorian calendar.
Celebrations and Festivities
March 2019 display: Chai - The Drink India can't live without
Visitors were able to learn about this history of chai drinking and also enjoy the different smells of tea varieties that we displayed. Different types and shapes of tea cups were also displayed including cutting chai cups and kulhads.
The beginnings
As per the history of tea drinking in India, local people used to brew and drink tea using the leaves of the wild native tea plants. The first Tea Garden was established by the British East India Company by the end of the 19th century after the Company took over tea cultivation in Assam, a region in the North Eastern part of India, where the commercial production of tea started.
(Source: tea.in/history)
Credit: madrascourier.com
Drink of the royals to the common man’s drink
Tea drinking has evolved in different ways over the years in India and differs from region to region. First thought of as the drink of the Royals, tea has now become the favorite of the common man as India leads the world in tea drinking. From the humble roadside tea stalls and the railway platforms to the boardrooms of corporate India, tea is easily available. Tea is India's most popular drink - the country consumes 837,000 tonnes of it every year.
(Source: BBC.com, Asia news)
Vendor serving chai to railway passengers (Credit: Dinodia Photo/Getty Images)
Major tea growing regions
There are 2 major regions in South Asia where tea is predominantly grown and it is from their place that they get their names. The North eastern regions are well known for Assam and Darjeeling varieties. The Western Ghats of South India and the Central Kandy province of Sri Lanka are known for the Nilgiris and Ceylon teas respectively.
Masala Chai - the country’s favorite brew
Known for its uniquely power packed flavor, masala chai is a spice-filled concoction that comes with a dose of wellness, thanks to the anti-inflammatory properties of ginger and cardamom. Masala chai is brewed strong with thick milk and usually sweetened to give you a sugar high alongside the caffeine rush.
January 2019 display: 4 Perspectives about Sankranti
What, When, Who & Where
The festival of Sankranti is celebrated by Hindus and is dedicated to the Sun God in the Hindu pantheon. It is observed on the 14th of January each year. There are at least 20+ regional variations of this festival celebrated throughout South Asia. Most notable versions include: Lohri - Northern India
Makar Sankranti - Western, Eastern and parts of Southern India
Sukarat - Central India
Bhogali Bihu - North eastern India (Assam)
Thai Pongal - Southern India (Tamil Nadu) and Sri Lanka
The celebration of Thai pongal is also notable in countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Seychelles and Mauritius that have large populations of Tamil migrant settlers who migrated from Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka to work in plantations during the British Raj.
Shakrain - Bangladesh
Maghe Sankranti - Nepal
Makar Sankranti - Western, Eastern and parts of Southern India
Sukarat - Central India
Bhogali Bihu - North eastern India (Assam)
Thai Pongal - Southern India (Tamil Nadu) and Sri Lanka
The celebration of Thai pongal is also notable in countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Seychelles and Mauritius that have large populations of Tamil migrant settlers who migrated from Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka to work in plantations during the British Raj.
Shakrain - Bangladesh
Maghe Sankranti - Nepal
Marking the end of the winter solstice
Makar Sankranti marks the end of the month when the winter solstice, which has the longest night of the year, happens. It also signals that longer days are here again.
Solar versus Lunar calendar
Sankranti is one of the few festivals following the Solar calendar. Hindus mostly celebrate their festivals as per the lunar calendar. The Hindu calendar itself happens to be lunisolar in nature. Since this festival is celebrated as per the solar cycle it falls on the same date (January 14th) on the Gregorian calendar.
Celebrations and Festivities
Makar Sankranti is celebrated with lots of decorations. People wear new clothes and savor homemade delicacies which are usually made of palm sugar and sesame seeds. In the Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, the festival is known as Thai Pongal and people eat rice, which is boiled with fresh milk and palm sugar. The dish is made more elaborate with toppings of cashew nuts, brown sugar and raisins. Other integral parts of the festival include fairs, bonfires, dancing, feasts and flying of kites.
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