: No Indian festival is complete without specific sweets like for Ganesh Chaturthi or

Millennials are skipping the 20-minute process of making tadka (tempering mustard seeds and curry leaves in oil) in a pan. They are using air fryers for samosas and instant pots for Rajma . Yet, they cannot skip the Chaunk —the act of pouring that hot spiced oil over the finished dal. That sound (the tadka ) is the non-negotiable soul of the meal.

India's geography dictates its plate. While common spices like turmeric and cumin are ubiquitous, the primary staples shift dramatically across the country.