Proceedings of The 6th International Conference on Future of Social Sciences
Year: 2023
DOI:
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Culinary Trends at Hindu Weddings That Contribute to Perceptions of Middle-Class Identities: The Indian South Africans
Sheetal Bhoola, Simangele Constance Cele
ABSTRACT:
Marriage ceremonies and celebrations globally are often celebrated with pomp, exuberance, and glamour. Hindu wedding ceremonies in the diasporas globally purposefully contributes to sustenance of Hindu rituals and lifeways. The Hindu Indian South African community in Durban, South Africa have continually upheld their marriage traditions and rituals which have also been influenced by other local cultural attributes. Contemporary global and social influences are evident in the culinary consumption trends at these weddings. Food consumption patterns and preferences has been modified and serve as identity markers of socio-cultural patterns and class representations amidst middle-class Indians in Durban. This qualitative study is based on 25 in-depth interviews and the data retrieved reflects the sociological perspectives of food and the way in which food is used to celebrate, represent traditions and Hindu ideologies at Indian South African Hindu weddings. This study contributes to the lacunae of scholarly literature on Hindu weddings in the contemporary era.
Keywords: Hindu wedding foods, biryani, Indian South African middle class, Durban