Do you know what the biggest difference between India and the United States of America is? It's not the economy, standard of living, language, pollution, cleanliness, discipline, etiquette or even the food!
I hit upon this insight yesterday! It’s the smells!
After living in the United States for almost an year, I discovered this subtle olfactory fact! All smells are muted here. It's almost as if all smells were diluted.
As I started thinking about smells, I realized that I have strong memories associated with smell. In fact, I don't remember reminiscing about a memory that was triggered by a scent or being moved by an aroma even once after coming to the US. In fact my initial home sickness may have been associated more with this diminished potency of aromas, than the 3 ‘F’s’ -- Family, Friends and Food!
The wafting spicy scent of “Pav bhaji”, or the rich aroma which emanates from restaurants always triggers memories of great parties with friends and family! Chatting through the night, enjoying great food, and having a great time. On the other hand, restaurants in the US are so clean, that there is only the smell of Lysol -- even that is very mild. No memories there!
The smell of the “mogra-gajras” (a garland worn in the hair by ladies, generally on festive occasions) always takes me back to those amazing Diwali, Ganpati and Holi gatherings. Music, dances, festive lighting, and of course great food! Here, in the US, festive occasions are once in a blue moon, and even then, the predominant fragrance is the resultant of mixing Chanel, Elizabeth Arden and Christian Dior. Talk about subtle!
The smell of fresh rain on the soil always evokes powerful rainy-day memories. Watching the rains swirl around you, the high-bass rumble of thunder, the crazy zig-zagging of lightning, like some drunk driver in the sky, sipping hot ginger tea while enjoying the trees dance to the rhythm of the winds, are all memories that flood the mind. Even this scent is muted in the US. It's very disconcerting not to be able to inhale the invigorating air just after a fresh shower!
Weddings have their own aromatic charm. Gulab-Jal (rose-water), Chandan (Sandalwood), Steaming Pulav, bouquets, ladies wearing copious amounts of perfume, the fried “puris”, all add up to create an atmosphere. Ceremonies in the US are mild (in the olfactory domain) to the extent of being bland!
As winter closes in, and Diwali approaches, there is a distinct change in the overall air. The air carries a smell which invokes excitement and festivity. In fact, the cold air makes the smells in the air more potent, and cause them to linger longer. Here, in the US, winter air is especially odorless! Maybe all that snow absorbs all odors from the air!
Even the flowers in India smell better than those here. Fruits and Vegetables have a better flavor. Tea tastes better. Cheese is tastier, even the water is sweeter!
Maybe its me ... my nose has been extra sharp for as long as i know. But in my opinion, the US may have one of the most leading economies, but it still lacks richness in it’s smells! India on the other hand may still be a developing country, but as far as my nose goes, it's far more advanced in the area of Flavors, than most advanced countries!
I hit upon this insight yesterday! It’s the smells!
After living in the United States for almost an year, I discovered this subtle olfactory fact! All smells are muted here. It's almost as if all smells were diluted.
As I started thinking about smells, I realized that I have strong memories associated with smell. In fact, I don't remember reminiscing about a memory that was triggered by a scent or being moved by an aroma even once after coming to the US. In fact my initial home sickness may have been associated more with this diminished potency of aromas, than the 3 ‘F’s’ -- Family, Friends and Food!
The wafting spicy scent of “Pav bhaji”, or the rich aroma which emanates from restaurants always triggers memories of great parties with friends and family! Chatting through the night, enjoying great food, and having a great time. On the other hand, restaurants in the US are so clean, that there is only the smell of Lysol -- even that is very mild. No memories there!
The smell of the “mogra-gajras” (a garland worn in the hair by ladies, generally on festive occasions) always takes me back to those amazing Diwali, Ganpati and Holi gatherings. Music, dances, festive lighting, and of course great food! Here, in the US, festive occasions are once in a blue moon, and even then, the predominant fragrance is the resultant of mixing Chanel, Elizabeth Arden and Christian Dior. Talk about subtle!
The smell of fresh rain on the soil always evokes powerful rainy-day memories. Watching the rains swirl around you, the high-bass rumble of thunder, the crazy zig-zagging of lightning, like some drunk driver in the sky, sipping hot ginger tea while enjoying the trees dance to the rhythm of the winds, are all memories that flood the mind. Even this scent is muted in the US. It's very disconcerting not to be able to inhale the invigorating air just after a fresh shower!
Weddings have their own aromatic charm. Gulab-Jal (rose-water), Chandan (Sandalwood), Steaming Pulav, bouquets, ladies wearing copious amounts of perfume, the fried “puris”, all add up to create an atmosphere. Ceremonies in the US are mild (in the olfactory domain) to the extent of being bland!
As winter closes in, and Diwali approaches, there is a distinct change in the overall air. The air carries a smell which invokes excitement and festivity. In fact, the cold air makes the smells in the air more potent, and cause them to linger longer. Here, in the US, winter air is especially odorless! Maybe all that snow absorbs all odors from the air!
Even the flowers in India smell better than those here. Fruits and Vegetables have a better flavor. Tea tastes better. Cheese is tastier, even the water is sweeter!
Maybe its me ... my nose has been extra sharp for as long as i know. But in my opinion, the US may have one of the most leading economies, but it still lacks richness in it’s smells! India on the other hand may still be a developing country, but as far as my nose goes, it's far more advanced in the area of Flavors, than most advanced countries!
Hello, just visited your blog. Nice one!
ReplyDeleteI do have a Music and movies related site. Feel free to visit if you are interested to download music, movies or games
That's really nice, no wonder you miss home!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm not advertising anything :)
woo i loved reading ur blog..good to see a fellow indian!:D
ReplyDeleteLoved reading this blog. You nailed it. Miss the festival smells, especially during Chaturti.
ReplyDeletehi sandeep....i have never read anything that made me relate to my feelings more than what you have to say here.....all of this pulls on every strand that connects me to my past.....
ReplyDelete.. I think growing up in Canada I too have strong memories associated with living here and though they may not have the piquancy of Indian smells, to me, they still smell like home.. snow falling on a quiet winter night.. you can smell it in the air.. over the smoke of burning wood from the chimmnies.. roasting marshmallows on a campfire..the sweet smell of lilacs perfuming the air in the spring.. a dozen different BBQ's all fired up in the summer.. leaving a mouth watering aroma in the air..breakfasts of bacon, coffee and maple syrup.. heavenly!
ReplyDelete