Gur

'Gur,' or jaggery, holds a cherished place in both Bengal and its cuisine, captivating me with its sugary essence and the unique process behind its creation, pivotal to Bengali culinary traditions. Notably, it replaces the conventional birthday cake with a rice pudding enriched by its flavor, marking a distinctive birthday celebration tradition. Gur is produced exclusively in the winter months by nomadic artisans who masterfully craft it through the traditional method of simmering date sap. These photographs are among my favorites, capturing the essence and intimate moments of Gur production.