A Cultural Analysis of the Special Meal for Ed-ul-Adha Celebration

This assignment provides a detailed description of a special meal prepared for the Ed-ul-Adha celebration, a significant event for the author's family in Kuwait. The meal consists of two drinks (Jallab and Amar-el-Deen), two main dishes (Khoresht Ghaimeh and Kuwaiti Chicken biryani), and a dessert (Kunafa). The assignment outlines the food choices, the manner of preparation, emphasizing family involvement and traditional recipes passed down through generations. The preparation involves acquiring ingredients, with the main cooking done by parents, and other tasks by the author and their brother. It also describes the rules for consumption, including seating arrangements based on seniority, appropriate attire, and the importance of conversation about Kuwaiti culture. The assignment concludes with a list of references supporting the cultural context of the meal and its traditions.

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Name of Student-
Name of University-
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Table of Contents
Special meal for Ed-ul-Adha...........................................................................................................1
Food choices....................................................................................................................................2
Manner of preparation.....................................................................................................................3
Rules for consumption.....................................................................................................................4
References........................................................................................................................................4

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Special meal for Ed-ul-Adha
The special meal that is to be prepared is for celebrating the special occasion of Ed-ul-
Adha. For this special occasion, the meal, which is to be prepared consist of two drinks, namely;
Jallab and Amar-el-Deen, two special dishes; Khoresht Ghaimeh and Kuwaiti Chicken biryani
and a desert; Kunafa. As, it is the special occasion of Eid-ul-Adha, all of the family members,
including the elders, cousins and their little ones are coming for the special dinner (Kaposi
2014). Along with them few neighbors are also invited for dinner.
This celebration of Eid-ul-Adha is to be held at our home. The celebration will begin
from 6.30 pm in the evening, after the moon appears. The special meal includes two special
dishes. These two dishes are mandatory for the event of Eid-ul-Adha and this meal is a
traditional one. As, it is difficult to cook, it is to be prepared by me, my parents and elder brother,
together, as my parents have been cooking this traditional meal for years now.
Food choices
The menu for the dinner consists of various items. Firstly, there are two types of drinks
that include Jallab and Amar-el-Deen (Alzaid, and Abu-Shady 2018). The drinks are followed
by Kunafa (starter). Then the main course of the meal is to be served, i.e. the Kuwaiti chicken
biryani and Khoresht Ghaimeh. Finally, after the main course of the meal, the dinner will end
with Low fat Mohallabiah (desert).
The basic food, required for the preparation is coming from the Olive Supermarket of
Fahaheel, Kuwait (Mostafa 2015). The Jallab is made mainly with grape molasses and has
artificial coloring and is smoked with Arabic incense. It has a mixed color of dark red and
purple. The Amar-el-Deen is made with apricot nectar and rosewater and is orange in color. The

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Khoresht Ghaimeh is usually prepared with stewing cubed lamb or beef. It is spicy and has the
flavor and texture of split peas and lamb, melt together. The Kuwaiti chicken biryani is basically
a preparation of rice, made by using the five spices used in Kuwait. It has a strong flavor and is a
mixture of yellow and white rice (Al Dhaher et al. 2017). Finally, the Kunafa is a traditional
desert that is mainly made with cheese, rosewater, pistachio and sugar. It looks like a small pan
cake and has a very cheesy flavor.
When it comes to food preferences in relation to the meal planning, it is in accordance
with the preferences of the elders. The items to be prepared for this special occasion are different
from those, which are consumed on a daily basis. Like machboos (chicken, beef or meat), spiced
rice and the Kuwaiti tea. These daily food items are easy to make and is much simpler than the
special meal.
Manner of preparation
Usually, in case of any occasion, the food is usually acquired by me and my elder
brother. Therefore, for preparation of the special meal the food is to be acquired by us. The main
part of the cooking is to done by our parents and the other relative small tasks like cutting of
vegetables, washing the meat, etc is to be done by us (elder brother and me).
As to the main manipulative techniques, artificial cmade from coloring is to be used
instead of using saffron for making the Biryani. The biryani and the Ghaimeh are the dishes to
be made “from scratch” and the two drinks and the desert is “from the box”.
The recipes of Biryani and Ghaimeh are traditional and our generation is the 10th one to
use it. The recipes of the two main dishes are of great traditional value, as it has been in used
every year on this occasion for the last 9 generations.

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As to work of cleaning up, it is to be done by my elder brother and me, which includes
washing of the plates, cleaning of the table and cleaning of the kitchen.
Rules for consumption
Approximately 2 hours will be required for preparing the biryani and another 1 hour for
making the Ghaimeh and arranging the drinks and deserts. After making the arrangements of the
meal in the kitchen, the meal is to be served at the dining room on the dining table.
On the table, glass plates and glasses are to be kept along with sets of spoons and forks
for everyone and paper napkins (placed under each plate). The chairs are to be set in accordance
with the age and seniority of the guests (Macknight 2016). The oldest member of the family will
be seating in at the head of the table and the rest will seat facing each other on the other sides of
the table.
As to the dress, men are to wear Sherwani and women are to wear anarkalis or sarees
(Northcott 2015). This has been a tradition of the family, which is to be followed mandatorily.
The food will be self-served by everyone, according to their needs and quantity they
prefer and the appropriate topic of conversation shall be the myth and traditions of the Kuwaiti
culture.
After the meal is over the post meal ritual is to pray for the family and the well being of
everyone and wishing everyone “Eid Mubarakh”.
This special meal is different from the daily ordinary meals, as special dishes are not
cooked on a daily basis and all these rituals and traditions are not maintained on a daily basis,
everyday.

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References:
Kaposi, Ildiko. 2014. "The Culture And Politics Of Internet Use Among Young People In
Kuwait." Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace 8(3).
Alzaid,, H. M., and A. I Abu-Shady. 2018. "Study Of Trace And Heavy Metals Content Of Soft
Drinks In The State Of Kuwait." International Journal of Engineering Research and
Applications 6(5), 01-06.
Al Dhaher, A. S et al. 2017. "Glycaemic Index And Glycaemic Load Values Of Commonly
Consumed Foods In The United Arab Emirates." British Journal of
Nutrition 117(8):1110-1117.
Mostafa, M. M. 2015. "Knowledge Discovery Of Hidden Consumer Purchase Behaviour: A
Market Basket Analysis." International Journal of Data Analysis Techniques and
Strategies, 7(4):384-405.
Macknight, E. C. 2016. "Dining In Aristocratic Households Of Nineteenth-Century France: A
Study Of Female Authority." Virtus. Journal of Nobility Studies.
Northcott, R. 2015. Festivals Around The World (Oxford Read And Discover Level 3). Oxford
University Press.