March 9, 2006

Picking the best and unique things from different cultures and adapting it to local customs are gaining momentum

The brilliant confluence of eastern and western influences in a harmonious and refreshing manner is evident in the present cosmopolitan lifestyles. Whether you switch on your TV, visit a trendy restaurant, buy a music CD or step into a clothing store to update your wardrobe, you cannot ignore the allure of fusion.

Most of us have experienced localised culinary delights in pizza parlours and Pakistani style Chinese restaurants. With items like chapli kebab pizza, chicken tikka pizza to very spicy Pakistani style sweet and sour soups, fusion foods aim at tantalising the taste-buds with exciting fruity, peppery, and spicy flavours that keep adding zest to the dining experience.

At upscale restaurants, the chefs take pride in the melding of fine ingredients, cooking styles and presentation techniques.

They say music is food for the soul and world/fusion music is definitely what quite a few of us thrive on. From the rare genius of Ravi Shankar’s rendition of classical Indian ragas on his sitar with symphony orchestra, Nusrat Fateh Ali’s gripping score in the Hollywood movie, Dead Man Walking to Asha Bhosle’s youthful collaboration with Boy George on a catchy number, the artists of the subcontinent have embraced and excelled in fusing traditional music with modern/pop music.

Adding to the momentum, a number of international bands like Silk Road Music which bring Chinese/western music together and the French Canadian group Jou-tou whose players draw on Celtic, Chinese and Latin backgrounds, bring the essence of music together in a soul-riveting and captivating style.

On the fashion scene, who can ignore the craze of the delicately embroidered kurtis or tunics. Sported by Hollywood celebrities to commoners, the kurtis can be combined with long flowy skirts or jeans accessorised with dangling ethnic earings, hand stitched cloth bags and kolapuris. Mehndi tattoos, nose-rings and glass bangles have been adopted by the youth of the West while we have blended jeans and T-shirts in our style repertoire.

All over the world, due to free movement of goods, people and ideas, the picking of the best and unique from different cultures and adapting it to local customs and preferences is gaining momentum. Some might think that blending of cultures takes us far from our own roots and traditions but the truth is that fusion is a message of peace, unity, hope and harmony by today’s progressive, socially conscious and culturally diverse populace.

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