A ceremonial Kashmiri Wazwan, unfolding in rhythm — presence before preference.
A ceremonial Kashmiri Wazwan, unfolding in rhythm — presence before preference.
The evening moves as one continuous gesture.
The evening moves as one continuous gesture.
You are not asked what you prefer.
You are not asked what you prefer.
The table unfolds in a fixed rhythm
The table unfolds in a fixed rhythm
— shaped by memory.
— shaped by memory.
Guided by hands that know
Guided by hands that know
when to pause
when to pause
and when to proceed.
and when to proceed.
You are invited to be present —
You are invited to be present —
New things begin by remembering old ones.
New things begin by remembering old ones.
to listen,
to listen,
to taste,
to taste,
to stay with what comes.
to stay with what comes.
Courses arrive not to impress,
Courses arrive not to impress,
but to belong.
but to belong.
In this surrender,
In this surrender,
something unexpected happens:
something unexpected happens:
attention deepens.
attention deepens.
conversation softens.
conversation softens.
time loosens its grip.
time loosens its grip.
Nothing is rushed.
Nothing is rushed.
Nothing is announced.
Nothing is announced.
The table remembers what to do.
The table remembers what to do.
This was not something to be owned.
This was not something to be owned.
This was not something to be owned.
It needed to be held.
It needed to be held.
It needed to be held.
But by discipline.
But by discipline.
But by discipline.
Not by reinvention
Not by reinvention
Not by reinvention
By standards earned slowly,
By standards earned slowly,
By standards earned slowly,
and upheld quietly.
and upheld quietly.
and upheld quietly.
Andaaz was never meant to be the voice.
Andaaz was never meant to be the voice.
Andaaz was never meant to be the voice.
It became the soil.
It became the soil.
It became the soil.
The stage.
The stage.
The stage.
The silent host.
The silent host.
The silent host.
So the work could continue
So the work could continue
So the work could continue
without being reshaped
without being reshaped
without being reshaped
for applause.
for applause.
for applause.
What arrives at the table is not a concept.
What arrives at the table is not a concept.
What arrives at the table is not a concept.
It is a continuity.
It is a continuity.
It is a continuity.
For the one who comes,
For the one who comes,
For the one who comes,
there is reconnection.
there is reconnection.
there is reconnection.
Reverence.
Reverence.
Reverence.
Nourishment that goes beyond the plate
Nourishment that goes beyond the plate
Nourishment that goes beyond the plate
This is not a transaction.
This is not a transaction.
This is not a transaction.
It is a table being widened.
It is a table being widened.
It is a table being widened.
A circle that grows —
A circle that grows —
A circle that grows —
not by declaration,
not by declaration,
not by declaration,
but by care.
but by care.
but by care.