सभी का स्वागत
All Welcome
All Welcome
January is a most divisive month. For some it heralds the hopeful turning over of new leaves; for others it is a month to trudge begrudgingly through towards the promise of spring. Whichever camp you find yourself in, we have plentiful diversions to share. See them as the cherry atop your already gleeful January cake, or a welcome distraction while you await winter’s end.
We’re feeling grateful for:—
Urooj Ashfaq, a Bombayite whose debut UK tour will surely brighten up gloomy January evenings. Settle in for her sharp show Urooj Ashfaq: Oh no! at the Soho Theatre and see why she was named Best Newcomer at this year’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards. (As fellow Bombayites we were extremely proud and not at all surprised).
We’re gaining fresh perspectives at:—
Race, Indian Revolution and the Colonial Camera, a talk at London’s Paul Mellon Centre led by Sushma Griffin, an expert in the visual cultures of South Asia. Often, photography explores colonialism by capturing it in action. But Sushma will explore strange and distorted images, whose commentary is created by what is not shown. An eye-opening evening in prospect.
Celebrating the small with:—
A new book and exhibition about the impact of South Asian Miniature painting on contemporary art. Read Beyond the Page: South Asian Miniatures and Britain, 1600 to now and learn about the exquisite beauty and extraordinary impact of these ancient, small-scale paintings. Then visit the MK Gallery to see examples of miniature painting dating from the mid-16th century.
Celebrating girl power with:—
Our Choti Dishoom tote bag – created to celebrate the opening of our newest café in Battersea. This fine cotton tote is spacious and sturdy – perfect for carrying morning chai, lunch dabbas or late-night shopping – and available on the Dishoom Store now. We warmly invite you to take a look. We hope it proves both inspiring and useful for your own adventures.
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.