For centuries now, Parsis have been and continue to be pivotal to the business and cultural identity of India both within the country and outside. Some of the most respected names of Indian industry such as the Tatas and Godrejs are today iconic brands that command the pride and respect of the nation. In the arts, there is the celebrated composer Zubin Mehta and the unforgettable Freddie Mercury – regarded as the greatest rock singer of all time.

Zorastrianism is a philosophy that was founded in Persia around the 6 th century BCE and in India, the Zoroastrian community came to be ...

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The fascinating alchemy that India presents in its artistic and cultural traditions is well-known and to many it will come as no surprise that it also finds expression in the many cuisines of India. Some of the country’s most loved culinary traditions are the outcome of a melding of indigenous traditions and external influences that came by way of trade, exploration or military conquest.

The Mughals for instance ushered in the use of aromatic spices and an era of elaborate cooking rituals in assembling, finishing and garnishing. The Portugese introduced the use of vegetables like ...

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The other day, at the end of a dramatic meal with a few friends, we found ourselves needing to decide on dessert. Dinner was fantastic. Some very piquant flavours paired in extraordinarily surprising ways for a delicious albeit unusual culinary rollercoaster. We decided that we could do with a helping of dessert but whatever it was going to be, it had to be snug and comforting -- we were quite done with drama. Besides it was raining savagely outside and it was the end of a tiring day. None of us cared to pass our eyes over the dessert menu and we were thankfully saved the trouble. Our ...

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We often fall into the trap of thinking that historically, only regions with verdant landscapes and fertile soil could engender anything like a dynamic and inspired civilization. I’m guilty of thinking that way myself. Until I think of Rajasthan and stop right there in my tracks. That’s the effect Rajasthan has even on those who encounter it between the pages of history books. You are at once caught off-guard and overcome by a historic civilization so exceptional and artistically prolific; one that carries forward to this day with touching devotion to the past.

So just how could a ...

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With its strong colours, definite textures and fresh flavours, it’s no surprise that in the last several decades, demand for the food of the Far East has become almost maniacal in urban centres around the world. But a lot of us haven’t really ventured beyond the ubiquitous Chinese though it has to be said, Chinese cooking – which has distinct regional traditions such as Cantonese, Szechwan and Mandarin – has historically influenced and today undoubtedly dominates the cooking styles of the Far East.

The cuisine of Indonesia and Malaysia is heavily influenced by Chinese as well Indian ...

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