We are two different people!

I recently found myself amidst back-to-back 'one-dish' parties with two entirely different groups of people in my community (not the virtual one).

It's a potluck gathering where everyone contributes a dish to share. If the organizer prefers more control, they can assign individuals to bring the salad, dessert, sides, or dishes from main course.

The first one was a welcome baby party, at one of the senior-most lady wife in the lot. (I live in a government facility, hence the tiers and all.)

I think, the significance of this one-dish party is that it's interactive, diverse, and suits various preferences. The menu is varied and is more like a kind of bouffee.

Following are some of the glimpses from this party:

You can hear the chirpy kids in the background. Didn't want to edit it. It was such a happy background:)

_{We are two different people:) although, she is my favourite one in the lot}

_{yummiest Banoffee pie by her}

And the next day, we had a one-dish barbecue party! Ever heard of it?? Barbecue cuts, chicken boneless malai boti (cream, yoghurt marinated), minced beef seekh kebab, fish, potato wedges, corns, chutneys, salads, naans, cold drinks and two desserts — everything was distributed amongst the invitees. Thankfully, I was not the host again. Took a lot of pressure off me. Though I have hosted these parties at my place.

Unfortunately, I couldn't capture the finished products because by the time everything was ready, we had a massive appetite. Cameras and phones were simply dumped in a corner ;)

There was another grill as well for vegetables and malai boti, but as I said, hunger got the better of us. And I couldn't focus on photographing much.

It was the most yummiest barbecue of my life.

I was thinking about the community's strength in the reflection, the one-dish parties showed me — how teamwork matters. Different opinions and flavors, like a symphony, bring variety to everything!!! You get a mix of each flavour without over exerting yourself.

Ah the word symphony:

noun. /ˈsɪmfəni/ /ˈsɪmfəni/ (plural symphonies) a long, complicated piece of music for a large orchestra, in three or four main parts (called movements) ~ Oxford

Figuratively speaking, it refers to a harmonious combination or arrangement of different elements, often used metaphorically to describe a pleasing blend of diverse components, such as opinions or flavors.

This is the true essence of a community! Be it a virtual or an actual one.

Think about it...