सभी का स्वागत
All Welcome
All Welcome
Along with each new month comes a smattering of new cultural happenings. And as the sun shines brighter, diaries fill up faster. This May, make space in your calendar for some of the brilliant things Dishoom Loves.
We’re spending each morning
Reading sublime poetry (alongside a hot cup of Chai) from poet and performer Ankita Saxena’s debut collection and recently-launched book – Mother | Line. Verses and odes swirl around the themes of female rage, endurance and compassion, drawing directly from Ankita’s own experiences and heritage. Over a decade’s worth of work is visible in this book – work that explores lineage at its core.
We’re heading over to
The British Film Institute (BFI) for a screening of The Luminaries. Directed by Sanvir Singh, it’s a history lesson, imparted by way of Dishoom King’s Cross. Upon the walls and corners, and through the decor of the café, lies the untold story of Indian Independence. As history teacher Shalina Patel and our co-founder Shamil walk around the space, they share dialogue over key events and inspiring figures. One such figure is India’s first female photojournalist – Homai Vyarawalla – whose photographs immortalised some of the most iconic moments in Indian history as they unfolded. Do visit Dishoom King’s Cross to view Homai’s breathtaking work and join us at the BFI on Thursday 11th May.
We’re listening intently to
Poppy Jay and Rubina Pabani’s critically-acclaimed and award-winning podcast Brown Girls Do It Too. Sex and sexpectations. Love. Politics (of the family kind). And racism. Poppy and Rubina talk about it all with a heavy dose of humour and some very quick wit. This time we’re listening IRL, at a live-show in Soho Theatre. And we’ve been told, waiting in the wings are songs, sketches, a few gasps, lots of relieved sighs and belly-hurting laughs.
We’re spending bank holiday weekend
Getting the popcorn ready and gearing up to watch the newly-released Polite Society. As we do that, in the film, British-Pakistani teenager Ria Khan is gearing up to save her sister Lena from marrying the charming Salim. But why can’t she accept her sister’s choice? Is it just teenage angst or is there something sinister behind the scenes? Watch to see how it unravels. As the film puts it, “Big Trouble. Little Sister”.
Vaisakhi, a day marked across India by people of many faiths, is celebrated in the Punjab as the start of the new Harvest. It falls on the 13th or 14th April depending on the calendar for that year.
Spring has gently tiptoed in. As the days lengthen and the sun grows bolder, here’s a glimpse of what we eagerly await in April.
We’re turning page after page of Ayesha Erkin’s recipe book Date of the Day, featuring 30+ recipes for the modest date – timely for breaking fast and after. Our dear friend Ayesha has now kindly shared a recipe for you to make at home. Try it this Iftar or any time you need a salty-spiced sticky treat.
The holy month of Ramadan is upon us, when Muslims around the world fast daily from dawn till dusk. It is a time of private worship and spiritual discipline, but also of shared joy and abundant feasting. Families and communities come together at suhoor, the pre-dawn meal, and at iftar, the evening meal, to break their fasts with copious, delicious dishes. Join us on 7th April for our own Iftar celebration – for an evening of feasting and live music.