Winter in Bangladesh is always special! As summer is the main season here, most people look forward to the winter season. And when winter comes, people switch into festive mode! During this time, students get their winter vacation after the final exam, families can arrange long trips in different tourist spots. Not only that, but some families plan for get-togethers and picnics. We are one of them! To us, winter means visiting our grandparent's house and trying to gather all our uncles and aunt! Since our extended family is huge, the picnic becomes even more exciting!
This weekend, after a lot of planning, we fixed a date and gathered on our grandfather's rooftop. The crisp air, the gentle warmth of the sun and misty blue skies created the perfect setting for outdoor gathering.
We reached there in the early morning and started to decorate the roof. Since I am good at crafting, my family put me in charge of decoration (which meant I can avoid cooking duties!:P). With balloons and colourful poster papers, the rooftop took on a festive look in no time! We also spread some mats in the sunniest corner and set up some portable tables and chairs for the elderly. To me, the rooftop always offers a lovely view of the neighbourhood. It is a perfect place to observe your surroundings and enjoy the limitless sky!
The thing that made the picnic truly enjoyable was cooking food right there on the rooftop! My aunt and nani (grandmother) are the best cooks in our family, so they took charge of preparing the feast.
We set up portable stoves on the shady side so that the wind couldn't mess up the fire. The main dish was a classic Bangladesh favourite! Aromatic polao with chicken roast, egg curry and mixed winter vegetable dish. I along with the rest, started to chop the vegetables for salad. I believe salad and chutney creates a meal incredibly satisfying!
When the food was almost done, the rich aroma spread everywhere, making us even hungrier!
After finishing the cooking, we gathered all the dishes and arranged the plates alongside cold drinks. Everyone served themselves in a buffet-style system.
Having lunch with all the family members, under the winter sun is really something special! With everyone's busy schedules, we hardly get the chance to meet face-to-face. This kind of get-together makes days both memorable and meaningful! We ensured that the children got the food first. We started our lunch after them.
We didn't have lots of fancy food items but what made the meal unforgettable was the effort and love put into cooking together!
After lunch, we spent the rest of the time relaxing and playing games! The seniors were chatting along and we the children, gathered around on the mat for playing games. We played Chor-Dakat, which is a traditional Bengali game. Our excitement and laughter filled the air with joy!
As time went by, the winter sun started to soften, casting a golden light over our rooftop. The sight of the setting sun reminded me how lucky I am to spend these quality moments with my family!
Before the day ended, we celebrated the evening with a gorgeous chocolate cake which was specially made for the kids! But it turned out so delicious that even the elders loved every bit of it! The cake disappeared in minutes!
