Remmy's Kitchen: Kerala Sadya recipes

Let us celebrate Onam..Onam is the most popular festival of Kerala.It is a harvest festival and is celebrated by Malayalees all over the world. It is a festival lasts for ten days but the main day is THIRUVONAM of chingamasam(first month of malayalam calendar).

My niece with her Pookalam

Story behind Onam:

Once Kerala was ruled by a n Asura King MAHABALI.Every body in Kerala was so happy.But when he extended his rule to heaven and the God felt challenged and began to fear his growing powers.For controlling his growth and power Loard Vishnu transformed himself in to a dwarf Brahmin called VAMANA and approached the King MAHABALI .King recieved the boy with all respects and asked to him that what he desired as a donation.The boy asked only 3 feet of land to be measured by his own feet.The generous King allowed him to take what he desires.

Then the boy began to grow and he grew and grew..with the first steps he measured the sky and with the second steps he covered the earth and heaven.For the third step there was no other option so for keeping the promise King bowed his head and offered his own head for the third step.The king was pushed inside the earth.

The King himself made a request to be allowed to visit his people once in an year.Load Vishnu allowed the same and so the people of Kerala is waiting for MAHABALI and celebrating Onam every year to mark the visit of their King

Onam celebrations:

POOKALAM: Arrangements of flower in beautiful designs is the most important thing in Onam.ie,pookkalam which is usually arranging in the front courtyard.Ususally kids and ladies will do the same.And they will dance and sing..Some of the folk performance in Onmam are : kaikottikkali,thumpi thullal,pulikali etc.
VALLAM KALI : ie, snake bot race is an another feature of Onam.It will bring a festive moods to all
ONAKKODI: Exchanging of new dresses...As a child it was my sweet memory related to Onam than anyother thing.
ONASADYA :The traditional sadya consist about 18 to 25 different verieties of dishes.But now a days we are avaoiding many items .From south to north sadya preparation may differ.

How to serve Ona sadya?

Arrange the banana leaf in front of the person pointing the tips towards the left side.
Serve pappadam on left bottom
On the top of the pappadam arrange small banana ,upperi and sharkkaravaratti
Next is pickle,arrange one by one naranga curry ,manga curry and then inji curry /inji puli
Right side of the pickle occupies thorans and mezhukkupuratti
Next to thoran arrange pachadi and kichadi
Then arrange aviyal,olan,kootucurry,erissery etc
Next is rice...serve it in the center .
First serve parippukootan along with ghee followed by sambar ,pulissery and rasam
Now it is the time of payasam..along with payasam serve boli too(this is a trend in southern side)