It is chaotic. It is loud. It is often exhausting.
Historically, three to four generations—including grandparents, uncles, and cousins—live under one roof, sharing a common kitchen and finances.
At exactly 7:13 AM in a thousand cities and a million villages, the sharp hiss of steam escaping a vented lid signals the start of another day. It is the unofficial national anthem of the morning: the promise of idli , poha , or upma .