First, a large vessel was placed in an open ground. Then, boxes of rice were tossed in. It was followed with an assortment of ingredients, including finely sliced zucchini, grated carrots, spring greens and red chilli paste. People standing around grappled to take hold of the eight huge ladles in the sot , so that they could begin mixing the Bibimbap. The signature Korean dish, scooped into large boxes, was then handed out to the many onlookers of this cooking spectacle.
The Korean Bazaar, held at Santhome Higher Secondary school, hosted many such preparations and performances to celebrate Madras Week. “We want to celebrate the long history of Koreans in the city by joining in the Madras Week celebrations,” said Joseph H. J. Song, secretary of the Korean Association in Chennai that organised the event.
With over 4000 Koreans in the city, they form the largest expat community and yet, the Koreans live in a bubble of their own. Since many are here on contract only for 4-5 years before they move to another country, they often don’t have adequate time to adapt to the local culture. H. J. Song spoke of friends and acquaintances who’d left the city, without ever having tasted the food or exploring the art that it offers. “I think the biggest challenge is bridging the culture gap and these kind of events help in that,” said Inkook Kim, Consulate General of the Republic of Korea.
The Korean Bazaar, which sold an assortment of things including clothes, jewellery, artwork and food, was manned by Korean volunteers. Even with the few who spoke English, interactions included dramatic hand movements and vigorous nodding. “Little little I know Tamil,” giggled 23-year-old Niki On in heavily accented English before she counted up to three on her fingers. While language is a huge barrier that separates us, the willingness to adapt and embrace differences keep bringing us closer.
A counter dedicated to washable tattoos and nail art had 10-year-old Irene Sancia making intricate Mehendi art for Korean women and children. “They all ask for full hand designs,” she said, flipping through pages of Mehendi patterns at her side. The Koreans, quite rooted in their own culture, are still open to exploring what Chennai and India has to offer. While they drank their Ginseng tea, they followed it up by biting into hot samosas available at the bazaar.
“Korean mothers wanted pictures of their kids with the girls in Bharatanatyam outfits,” observed Girija Raghavan, president of the K. K. Nagar Rotary club that partnered to bring in the Indian cultural elements to the event. There were many Korean performances interspersed with Bharatanatyam, as shoppers taking a break watched on. When seven-year-old R. Priyanka, in her pink Bharatanatyam outfit, salangai and odiyanam took the stage to talk about the importance of wearing a helmet in Tamil, the Koreans watched in rapt attention.
“We don’t want to feel like expats, we want to feel like locals,” said H. J. Song. As the largest expat community in Chennai keeps growing, events that promote cultural exchange are paramount in making them feel at home.
