By Pi-O Kuo | India
At Suryapura Middle School in India, a new sense of excitement filled the air. The school’s principal, Bajnath Kumar, a long-time vegetarian, had a heartfelt vision — for all the students and teachers to embrace vegetarianism, believing it not only promotes health but also nurtures compassion. To achieve this, he sought help from Tzu Chi volunteers, whose efforts in promoting vegetarianism had already garnered significant success. With their support, a unique and meaningful event was organized: a vegetarian cooking competition.
Cooking Delicious Vegetarian Dishes: A Culinary Competition
On July 13, the school became the center of a vibrant initiative to inspire students to try vegetarian meals. As part of the effort, students calculated how many vegetarian meals they had eaten in a week and how many lives were saved by their choices. Tzu Chi volunteers further introduced the idea of "rainbow meals," explaining the unique nutritional benefits of different-colored vegetables. With this foundation laid, the volunteers set out to show that cooking delicious vegetarian food can be both simple and fun.
The schoolyard was transformed into the perfect venue for the competition, shaded by two grand Bodhi trees — a fitting symbol of wisdom. Early in the morning, the organizing team hurried to the local market, filling tuk-tuks with an array of colorful vegetables. Tzu Ching youth volunteer Wan Shi Lim from Malaysia carefully chose ingredients while keeping an eye on the market prices, supported by local volunteer Upendra Kumar in negotiating with the vendors.
Lighting the Fire: A Test of Skills and Life Lessons
At 9 AM, the competition began. Ten teams of eight students each were given two vegetables, one fruit, a plate of curry, and an assortment of Indian spices, with the challenge of cooking two vegetarian dishes and preparing a fruit platter within two hours. Each team had to light their stoves using cow dung cakes as fuel, adding to the challenge of the event.
LEFT: Most children in India help with household chores, and they are quite skilled at chopping vegetables and stir-frying. | Photo courtesy of Chun-Chih Cheng | India | 2024/07/13 RIGHT: A layer of mud on the outside of the pot prevents it from burning! Students shared practical life wisdom and learned from each other. | Photo courtesy of Mun Fei Yong | India | 2024/07/13
Starting a fire proved to be one of the toughest hurdles. As students struggled with the task, teachers stepped in with helpful advice, like adjusting the wind direction or stacking bricks higher to increase the flame's reach. Despite some setbacks, such as using plastic bags to ignite the fire — a hazardous practice quickly corrected by a volunteer who explained the dangers of toxic fumes — the students demonstrated creativity and determination.
As the fires finally roared to life, some teams encountered another problem — scorching their pots. The students quickly improvised, smearing mud on the backs of their pots to prevent them from burning. This display of quick thinking and teamwork created a spirit of camaraderie, with students teaching and learning from one another in real-time. Those unfamiliar with the vegetables they were given collaborated to figure out how to prepare them, showcasing impressive resourcefulness.
When it came time to plate their creations, the challenge continued. The importance of presentation was emphasized, and students carefully arranged colorful slices of fruits and vegetables, creating platters that were as beautiful as they were nutritious.
Unlocking Potential to Embrace Vegetarianism
By the end of the competition, excitement filled the air as each team presented their dishes to a panel of judges, including the school principal, teachers, and volunteers. The eighth group, composed of five boys and three girls, won first place. They had faced early difficulties with cutting a pumpkin and figuring out how to cook it, but thanks to their teamwork, led by Nigam Kumar, they succeeded. Overjoyed, they vowed to cook more vegetarian meals for their families at home.
Even students who didn’t win felt a sense of accomplishment. Rani Kumari, who had arrived late and initially felt anxious, found comfort and support from teacher Upendra Kumar. Despite the limited time, her team managed to prepare a delicious dish of long beans. Rani shared how Tzu Chi’s teachings on the benefits of a vegetarian diet influenced her, leading her family — except for her father — to adopt vegetarianism.
LEFT: Sixth-grader Radhika Kumari (second from left) thoroughly enjoyed learning during the competition. She doesn’t cook at home as her mother says she’s too young, but she loves cooking with her friends. | Photo courtesy of Chun-Chih Cheng | India | 2024/07/13 RIGHT: Each team completed a delicious dish, with impressive fruit plating skills. | Photo courtesy of Chun-Chih Cheng | India | 2024/07/13
Another student, Radhika Kumari, a sixth-grader and already a vegetarian, expressed her gratitude for the event. Though she wasn’t allowed to cook at home because of her age, participating with her friends in the competition was a joyful and empowering experience. She learned the diverse nutritional benefits of different colored vegetables, deepening her commitment to vegetarianism for health and compassion.
Principal Bajnath Kumar was deeply moved by the event's success. He praised the volunteers for educating the students not only on how to prepare vegetarian meals but also on the values of compassion and health. He was particularly pleased to see boys as enthusiastic as the girls about adopting a vegetarian lifestyle.
Through this vibrant cooking competition, Tzu Chi volunteers once again succeeded in inspiring young minds. The event not only taught practical cooking skills but also nurtured a sense of compassion and responsibility toward animals and the environment. Students left the competition with more than just culinary knowledge — they carried home a newfound commitment to vegetarianism, sharing the message with their families and beyond.
