This personal account is penned by Isma Ishtiaq, a resident of Delta, B.C. For more insights into CBC’s First Person narratives, please refer to the FAQ.
One cherished memory from my childhood involves family gatherings where we would sit on a small beige mat, legs crossed. The setting sun would cast a warm amber hue, illuminating our feast of flavorful Pakistani dishes. The highlight was often a pot of fragrant biryani adorned with saffron, filling the room with its tantalizing aroma. Sometimes, it would be butter chicken and homemade naan. We formed a circle, passing dishes around, sharing stories, and recounting the events of our day. This tradition, passed down from my father’s upbringing in Lahore to mine in the quieter suburbs of north Delta, was a significant part of our family bond.
My father stressed that these meals were not just about food but about the humility and gratitude instilled by sitting on the ground together. As I sat on that humble woven mat, I recognized it as a symbol of our family unity and a way to honor our heritage across generations.
Over the years, as my siblings and I grew busier with work, school, and other commitments, the tradition of family dinners on the mat faded. More than a decade passed without us gathering in that familiar way.
It was during a Thanksgiving dinner at the age of 23 that I revisited our tradition of dining on the floor. I invited my friends, who came from diverse cultural backgrounds, to join us and experience this custom. Despite the worn-out state of the mat, my friends embraced the idea. We recreated the circle on the ground, placing our Thanksgiving feast in front of us.
That evening turned into a poignant moment. My father, noticing our gesture, joined us on the floor, explaining the significance to my friends while the other parents observed with interest. Most of my friends found the experience enjoyable, with one likening it to a campfire gathering!
This moment symbolized the fusion of my heritage’s traditions with our Canadian home customs.
The following day, my siblings and mother arranged the leftover dishes on the