Lohri legends of unsung, unacknowledged heroes

When the delightful aroma of peanuts and sesame seeds fills the air, it's Lohri season! For me, the star of this festival has always been my mom's gurwale chawal—perfectly sweet, topped with fried groundnuts and coconut slivers, and, according to her, nothing short of magical.

- Sonika Sethi

When the delightful aroma of peanuts and sesame seeds fills the air, it's Lohri season! For me, the star of this festival has always been my mom's gurwale chawal—perfectly sweet, topped with fried groundnuts and coconut slivers, and, according to her, nothing short of magical. My mother insists that this humble dish didn't just win hearts, it won me a husband.

Over the years, it was a practice that she sent a plate of her culinary masterpiece to our neighbours on Lohri night. The next thing we knew, one of the neighbours sent back a marriage proposal for their nephew. My mother's convinced it wasn't my charm or wit but the allure of her rice that sealed the deal. To this day, she proudly credits her gurwale chawal as the unsung hero of my love story.