Race/Related: It’s not Diwali without mithai

We visited five South Asian sweet shops as they prepare for one of their biggest days of the year. [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlNlJaP4QpAWh0dHBzOi8vbWVzc2FnaW5nLWN1c3RvbS1uZXdzbGV0dGVycy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS90ZW1wbGF0ZS9vYWt2Mj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zNyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ycl8yMDIyMTAyMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD03NTM0MSZubD1yYWNlJTJGcmVsYXRlZCZwcm9kdWN0Q29kZT1SUiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTEwNzYxJnRlPTEmdXJpPW55dCUzQSUyRiUyRm5ld3NsZXR0ZXIlMkYwODI5ODk5Mi03Y2VhLTVhNzQtODNlYS0yNDBhOTE0M2NlYzUmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjTlrNU2P8JTQUUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)|[nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlNlJaP0SxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM3JmVtYz1lZGl0X3JyXzIwMjIxMDIyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTc1MzQxJm5sPXJhY2UlMkZyZWxhdGVkJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMTA3NjEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmNOWs1TY_wlNBRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~)[Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-ad-marquee) ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlNlJaP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjA3NTgwJmxpPVJSJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1SUl8yMDIyMTAyMlcDbnl0QgpjTlrNU2P8JTQUUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ [More Race/Related](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlNlJaP0S_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc3BvdGxpZ2h0L3JhY2U_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzcmZW1jPWVkaXRfcnJfMjAyMjEwMjImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NzUzNDEmbmw9cmFjZSUyRnJlbGF0ZWQmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTExMDc2MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY05azVNj_CU0FFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) October 22, 2022 Maharaja Sweets, one of New York City’s most beloved South Asian sweet shops, does brisk business on Diwali.Gabriela Bhaskar for The New York Times Diwali Is Their Prime Time By [Priya Krishna](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlNlJaP0TBaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvcHJpeWEta3Jpc2huYT9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zNyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ycl8yMDIyMTAyMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD03NTM0MSZubD1yYWNlJTJGcmVsYXRlZCZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTEwNzYxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjTlrNU2P8JTQUUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) Food Reporter, Food Visiting a South Asian sweet shop during [Diwali](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlNlJaP0ThaHR0cHM6Ly9jb29raW5nLm55dGltZXMuY29tLzY4ODYxNjkyLW55dC1jb29raW5nLzM2MTcyNzAyLWRpd2FsaS1yZWNpcGVzP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM3JmVtYz1lZGl0X3JyXzIwMjIxMDIyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTc1MzQxJm5sPXJhY2UlMkZyZWxhdGVkJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMTA3NjEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmNOWs1TY_wlNBRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) is a joyous and chaotic experience. Lines trail out the door. Employees furiously pack ornate boxes containing laddoos enriched with ghee, spongy rasgula and all manner of colorful sweets, often made with dairy, sugar and nuts and sometimes topped with a layer of edible silver foil. Friends and relatives meet around the display cases by happenstance, exchanging good wishes. Diwali, which will be celebrated within South Asia and among its diaspora on Oct. 24 this year, commemorates the triumph of light over darkness. Central to that celebration is mithai, or sweets. Mass-produced mithai are readily available online, but these five independent shops make their sweets by hand every day, offering their local South Asian communities a taste of the familiar. Diwali is their prime time. Sukhdev Bawa in his kitchen at Maharaja Sweets.Gabriela Bhaskar for The New York Times Maharaja Sweets, Jackson Heights, Queens When Sukhdev Bawa immigrated to New York in 1981, his first job was driving a taxi. “My wife thought it was too dangerous,” he said. So he switched over to the sweets business, working for two other shops before starting his own. At [Maharaja Sweets](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlNlJaP0S1aHR0cHM6Ly9tYWhhcmFqYXN3ZWV0c255LnVzLz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zNyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ycl8yMDIyMTAyMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD03NTM0MSZubD1yYWNlJTJGcmVsYXRlZCZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTEwNzYxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjTlrNU2P8JTQUUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~), which he opened on a busy stretch of Jackson Heights, Queens, in 2000, he prepares snacks like mathi, deep-fried dough rounds that can be sweet or savory. Mr. Bawa’s employees travel to India frequently to bring back ideas for regional sweets to add to the menu, like anarkali, a Bengali sweet filled with cherry and pistachio, and rose bahar, squares filled with rose-flavored sugar. An assortment of mithai in the display case at Maharaja Sweets.Gabriela Bhaskar for The New York Times Maharaja sells about 80 different kinds of sweets. And while some shops use shortcuts, like milk powder, to produce such large quantities of mithai, Mr. Bawa prefers to use fresh milk: “We get the proper taste.” Mr. Bawa estimates that Diwali business accounts for 20 percent of his annual sales. He also ships his sweets across the country, and recently opened a factory nearby that has allowed him to expand production. Maharaja Sweets, 73-10 37th Avenue, Queens, N.Y., 718-505-2680, [maharajasweetsny.us](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlNlJaP0S1aHR0cHM6Ly9tYWhhcmFqYXN3ZWV0c255LnVzLz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zNyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ycl8yMDIyMTAyMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD03NTM0MSZubD1yYWNlJTJGcmVsYXRlZCZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTEwNzYxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjTlrNU2P8JTQUUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-0) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlNlJaP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTc0MTQ5JmxpPVJSJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1SUl8yMDIyMTAyMlcDbnl0QgpjTlrNU2P8JTQUUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ The Guduru family, including Srini, left, Sai, right, and their son Charan, 8, decide which mithai to order at Punjab Sweets.Genna Martin for The New York Times Punjab Sweets, Kent, Wash. Before she opened [Punjab Sweets](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlNlJaP0TeaHR0cHM6Ly9wdW5qYWJzd2VldHNvbmxpbmUuY29tL2Zvb2QtZHJpbmtzLXN3ZWV0cy1zbmFja3Mvb3VyLWhpc3RvcnkvP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM3JmVtYz1lZGl0X3JyXzIwMjIxMDIyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTc1MzQxJm5sPXJhY2UlMkZyZWxhdGVkJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMTA3NjEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmNOWs1TY_wlNBRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) in Kent, Wash., in 2001, Iqbal Dha, the owner, said she used to drive more than three hours to Canada to buy mithai like besan burfi, which is made with chickpea flour, and milk cake, which is prepared by cooking milk down to a thicker consistency and mixing it with sugar. Ms. Dha, wearing a colorful salwar kameez alongside her employees, learned to cook from her mother, and from preparing meals for [langar, a Sikh tradition](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlNlJaP0TmaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNi8wOC9kaW5pbmcvZnJlZS1mb29kLXNpa2gtZ3VuZHdhcmEtbGFuZ2FyLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzcmZW1jPWVkaXRfcnJfMjAyMjEwMjImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NzUzNDEmbmw9cmFjZSUyRnJlbGF0ZWQmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTExMDc2MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY05azVNj_CU0FFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) that provides free communal meals to anyone who needs one. She’s particular about what she eats, she said. “If I go to any wedding parties, I never eat because I don’t like it,” she said. “I like my food. I always eat at Punjabi Sweets. My employees, too.” Her kitchen staff is made up entirely of women. “Men only clean up.” Nirmala, left, and Iqbal Kaur Dha cook in the kitchen of Punjab Sweets, in Kent, Wash.Genna Martin for The New York Times She shut down indoor dining during the pandemic, but hopes to have it back up and running soon. Like many mithai shops, Punjab Sweets is a watering hole for the local Desi community. “People are calling me at home, saying, ‘We miss Punjabi Sweets,’” Ms. Dha said. [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-1) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlNlJaP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjA3NTc3JmxpPVJSJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1SUl8yMDIyMTAyMlcDbnl0QgpjTlrNU2P8JTQUUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ “People have been buying from here since they were kids,” she said. Customers call her auntie, nani, dadi and grandma. “They go to college, get married, they still come to buy sweets and make me happy.” Punjab Sweets, 23617 104th Avenue SE C, Kent, Wash., 253-859-3236, [punjabsweetsonline.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlNlJaP0S4aHR0cHM6Ly9wdW5qYWJzd2VldHNvbmxpbmUuY29tLz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zNyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ycl8yMDIyMTAyMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD03NTM0MSZubD1yYWNlJTJGcmVsYXRlZCZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTEwNzYxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjTlrNU2P8JTQUUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). Jayasri Gampa flattens and rolls out dough for kaja by hand every day her shop is open in Herdon, Va.Sanjay Suchak for The New York Times Jayasri Sweets, Herndon, Va. Jayasri Sweets in Herndon, Va., is known for its kaja, a flaky, deep-fried pastry from Andhra Pradesh. It is a specialty of the owner, Jayasri Gampa, who shapes the dough every day the shop is open. You won’t find the regional confection at many other mithai shops in the United States. Her version is glazed on the outside and crunchy with sugar on the inside. [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-2) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlNlJaP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzI4Njk5JmxpPVJSJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1SUl8yMDIyMTAyMlcDbnl0QgpjTlrNU2P8JTQUUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ Freshly made golden brown kaja is ready to be boxed up for customers at Jayasri Sweets.Sanjay Suchak for The New York Times The kaja has developed a reputation outside of the Washington, D.C., suburb. “People even started taking it back home to India to show them how the American kaja is,” said Ms. Gampa’s husband, Dilipkumar, who helps run the business. “It has become that popular.” Jayasri Sweets, 313 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon, Va., 703-787-9649, [jayasrisweets.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlNlJaP0S3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuamF5YXNyaXN3ZWV0cy5jb20vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM3JmVtYz1lZGl0X3JyXzIwMjIxMDIyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTc1MzQxJm5sPXJhY2UlMkZyZWxhdGVkJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMTA3NjEmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmNOWs1TY_wlNBRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). Read the rest of the story [here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlNlJaP0TcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8xMC8xNy9kaW5pbmcvZGl3YWxpLW1pdGhhaS1zd2VldHMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zNyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ycl8yMDIyMTAyMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD03NTM0MSZubD1yYWNlJTJGcmVsYXRlZCZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTEwNzYxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjTlrNU2P8JTQUUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). EDITORS’ PICKS We publish many articles that touch on race. Here are several you shouldn’t miss. [[Article Image] David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Hadas Smirnoff.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlNlJaP0TvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8xMC8yMC9kaW5pbmcvdmVnZXRhcmlhbi1zbmFja3MtZm9yLWRpd2FsaS1hbmQtYmV5b25kLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzcmZW1jPWVkaXRfcnJfMjAyMjEwMjImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NzUzNDEmbmw9cmFjZSUyRnJlbGF0ZWQmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTExMDc2MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY05azVNj_CU0FFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Vegetarian Snacks for Diwali and Beyond Sweets, extra-crispy samosas, nachos layered with chutney and more recipes. By Tejal Rao](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlNlJaP0TvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8xMC8yMC9kaW5pbmcvdmVnZXRhcmlhbi1zbmFja3MtZm9yLWRpd2FsaS1hbmQtYmV5b25kLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzcmZW1jPWVkaXRfcnJfMjAyMjEwMjImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NzUzNDEmbmw9cmFjZSUyRnJlbGF0ZWQmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTExMDc2MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY05azVNj_CU0FFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [[Article Image] Tracy Nguyen for The New York Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlNlJaP0TraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8xMC8yMC91cy9sYS1jaXR5LWNvdW5jaWwtcG9saXRpY3MtYmxhY2staGlzcGFuaWMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zNyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ycl8yMDIyMTAyMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD03NTM0MSZubD1yYWNlJTJGcmVsYXRlZCZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTEwNzYxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjTlrNU2P8JTQUUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [In Los Angeles, Politics Are More Complex Than a Racist Recording Indicates Recently leaked audio of Latino leaders exposed their ambition to gain power. 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By Shaila Dewan](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlNlJaP0TsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8xMC8yMC91cy9tYXJ5bGFuZC1hdXRvcHN5LW1lZGljYWwtZXhhbWluZXItcmV2aWV3Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzcmZW1jPWVkaXRfcnJfMjAyMjEwMjImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NzUzNDEmbmw9cmFjZSUyRnJlbGF0ZWQmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTExMDc2MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY05azVNj_CU0FFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [[Article Image] Haruka Sakaguchi for The New York Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlNlJaP0ToaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8xMC8yMS9idXNpbmVzcy9qcC1tb3JnYW4tcmFjaWFsLWVxdWl0eS1wbGVkZ2UuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zNyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ycl8yMDIyMTAyMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD03NTM0MSZubD1yYWNlJTJGcmVsYXRlZCZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTEwNzYxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjTlrNU2P8JTQUUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Where $30 Billion to Fix Systemic Racism Actually Goes In 2020, JPMorgan pledged to invest significant resources in closing the racial wealth gap. Here is what the bank did, and what it looks like when a private-sector company tries to fix a societal problem. By Emily Flitter](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlNlJaP0ToaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8xMC8yMS9idXNpbmVzcy9qcC1tb3JnYW4tcmFjaWFsLWVxdWl0eS1wbGVkZ2UuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zNyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ycl8yMDIyMTAyMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD03NTM0MSZubD1yYWNlJTJGcmVsYXRlZCZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTEwNzYxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjTlrNU2P8JTQUUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [[Article Image] Photo illustration by Mohamad Abdouni](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRlNlJaP0TlaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vaW50ZXJhY3RpdmUvMjAyMi8xMC8yMC9hcnRzL2FyYWItZHJhZy1wb3AtaWNvbnMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zNyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ycl8yMDIyMTAyMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD03NTM0MSZubD1yYWNlJTJGcmVsYXRlZCZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTEwNzYxJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpjTlrNU2P8JTQUUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Meet the Pop Icons Who Inspired a Generation of Arab Queens A look at the TV stars of Lebanon and the larger Arab world that have influenced a burgeoning drag scene in Beirut. 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