Hyderabad: Dawoodi Bohras begin the new year by decorating their thaals with the choicest delicacies.
Thaals are massive plates that can be shared by up to seven people. Community members believe in sitting around a single plate, on the floor, and eating together. On the first night of the new year, 21 or 52 delicacies, including the tastiest traditional dishes, are served.
Every thaal must have coconut, betel leaves, or paan and supari, as these are considered auspicious. These components are used for prayer and then moved in a clockwise direction over the thaal.
Members of the family sit around the thaal wearing their traditional attire. Women have their heads covered and men wear prayer caps. The coconut ceremony is performed by either the oldest woman in the household or the newest daughter-in-law.
Delicacies that are served include rice, dal, drumstick curry, fish, chicken and mutton preparations, and sweet dishes. Not a single grain of food that is served on the thaal must go to waste, which is why portions sizes are kept small to compensate for the large number of dishes served. The period of mourning begins from the third day of Muharram in the community.
