Showing posts with label Wishes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wishes. Show all posts

Nov 8, 2012

Deepavali - Festival of Lights

 Deepavali Sweets and Savory

 The Indian Festival of Lights is the most widely celebrated festival of the people from the Indian sub-continent and across the whole world. Deepavali means rows of lights; it is the festival symbolizing victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. The lighting of lamps is a way of paying obeisance to god for attainment of health, wealth, knowledge, peace, valor and fame.  

History of Deepavali:  Please see the link



Deepavali Sweets:(Please see the links)

Almond Cashew Burfi                                      Ashoka Halwa

                              
Microwave Thirattipal                             Badam Burfi/ Almond Burfi

                            


Carrot Halwa                                                   Coconut Burfi 

                           

Peanut Urundai                                                     Gulab Jamoon

                         


Shahi Tukda                                         Gulab Jamoon with Khoya

                       


Almond Shrikand                                   Soft Mysore PaK

                 

RasGulla                                                          Kasi Halwa

   




Rava Kesari


Maladu



Deepavali Savories (Please click the links)

Mullu Thenkuzhal                                 Thenkuzhal Murukku


                       


   Ribbon Pokada                                  Cornflakes Mixture 

                        


Thattai                                                          Omapodi

                      

Thool Pokada                                    Kara Sev                        
                     

Kara Boondhi                             Puzhghal Arisi Murukku  Murukku


                  

                                                 Puzhungal Arisi Thattai






Wishing all my dear readers and everyone out there a Happy Deepavalli

Jan 1, 2012

Happy New Year 2012

Dear Readers


I Wish in 2012
God gives You...
12 Month of Happiness,
52 Weeks of Fun,
365 Days Success,
8760 Hours Good Health,
52600 Minutes Good Luck,
3153600 Seconds of Joy...and that's all!




Dec 31, 2011

Madappalli turns one - 200th post



My Virtual Kitchen turns one today! What a great year it has been. The first post here on the Madappalli was exactly one year ago, December 31st 2010.  When I started this blog, I had little idea of what I wanted it to be. I didn’t have much experience in professional blogging. The wonderful comments that kept coming by were my biggest inspiration of all!! Now, I’m really happy to have a small community of people who encourage me by commenting regularly and sharing my posts.


Looking after the blog over the year has been a great experience, and after writing about 200 posts and 35,484 page views, I learnt a lot. I hope you’ve enjoyed it, but remember that I always welcome your feedback.

Let me say a BIG THANKS to all my readers who visited, read my posts, commented, sent me emails, joined my network and subscribed to my posts. I want to   say special thanks to my lovely husband Paddy, Anudinam.org and SNDG (Seattle Nalayeera Divya Prabhatha Ghosti), It has been an exciting journey and without your support it won’t be possible. Thank you very much to all for supporting my blog.


I pray that the Lord Krishna will continue to bless this blog!




Sep 8, 2011

Onam Festival.



Onam (Malayalam: ഓണം) is the largest festival in the Indian state of Kerala. It falls during the month of Chingam (August–September) and marks the homecoming of the legendary Emperor Mahabali. Story goes that during the reign of mighty asura (demon) king, Mahabali, Kerala witnessed its golden era. Every body in the state was happy and prosperous and king was highly regarded by his subjects. For all the good deed done by Mahabali, God granted him a boon that he could annually visit his people with whom he was so attached. People make all efforts to celebrate the festival in a grand way and impress upon their dear King that they are happy and wish him well.
Onam celebrations are marked in Trikkakara, (one of the 108 Divya Desam) a place 10 km from Kochi (Cochin) Trikkara is said to be the capital of the mighty King Mahabali. A temple with a deity of 'Trikkakara Appan' or 'Vamanamurthy' who is Lord Vishnu himself in disguise is also located at this place. Nowhere else in Kerala can one find a deity of 'Vamanamurthy'.  


There is also a tradition to play games, collectively called Onakalikal, on Onam. Men go in for rigorous sports like Talappanthukali (played with a ball), Ambeyyal (Archery), Kutukutu and combats called Kayyankali and Attakalam. Women indulge in cultural activities. They make intricately designed flower mats called, Pookalam in the front courtyard of the house to welcome King Mahabali. Kaikotti kali and Thumbi Thullal are two graceful dances performed by women on Onam. Folk performances like Kummatti kali and Pulikali add to the zest of celebrations.





Mahabali's rule is considered the golden era of Kerala. The following song is often sung over Onam:

"maveli nadu vaneedum kalam,

manusharellarum onnupole
amodhathode vasikkum kalam
apathangarkkumottillathanum
kallavum illa chathiyumilla
ellolamilla polivachanam
kallapparayum cherunazhiyum
kallatharangal mattonnumilla
adhikal vyadhikalonnumilla
balamaranangal kelppanilla"......

(Translation)



When Maveli, our King, ruled the land,
All the people were equal.
And people were joyful and merry;
They were all free from harm.
There was neither anxiety nor sickness,
Deaths of children were unheard of,
There were no lies,
There was neither theft nor deceit,
And no one was false in speech either.
Measures and weights were right;

No one cheated or wronged his neighbor.
When Maveli, our King, ruled the land,
All the people formed one casteless races.



http://youtu.be/s6VfZ5Giqbo






Onam Sadya








Rich and the poor, everybody prepares Onasadya in a grand fashion as people of Kerala are extremely devotional and passionate when it comes to Onasadya. So much so that, it has lead to saying, 'Kaanam Vittum Onam Unnanam'. Meaning - men go to the extend of selling all their possessions  for one onam Sadya.


Rice is the essential ingredient of this Nine Course Strictly Vegetarian Meals. All together there are 11 essential dishes which have to prepared for Onasadya. Number of dishes may at times also go upto 13. Onasadya is so elaborate a meal that it is called meals, even though it is consumed in one sitting. Onasadya is consumed with hands, there is no concept of spoon or forks here.

Traditional Onam Sadya meal comprises of different varieties of curries, upperies - thigs fried in oil, pappadams which are round crisp flour paste cakes of peculiar make, uppilittathu - pickles of various kinds, chammanthi - the chutney, payasams and prathamans or puddings of various descriptions. Fruits and digestives are also part of the meal.

The food has to be served on a tender Banana leaf, laid with the end to the left. The meal is traditionally served on a mat laid on the floor. A strict order of serving the dishes one after the another is obeyed. Besides, there are clear directions as to what will be served in which part of the banana leaf.

These days Onadaya has toned down a little due to the urban and hectic living style. Earlier, Onasaya used to be even more elaborate. There were about 64 mandatory dishes - eight varieties each of the eight dishes. At that time
three banana leaves were served one under the other to accommodate all the dishes. How exactly they were accommodated in the tummy..is a food for thought!.
This colourful arrangement on the lush green banana leaf makes the food look even more tempting and irresistible .

Hold on...Be a little patient....you need to wait a little before you start gorging the lip smacking meal. There are some rituals which need to be followed. First full course meal is served for Lord Guruvayoorappan i in front of a lighted oil lamp (Nila Vilakku). This is in accordance with the Malayalese trend of starting everything in the name and presence of God.(www.onamfestival.org)


Wishing all my dear friends, my dear readers and everyone out there a Happy and Prosperous Onam! 
On behalf of Onam I am reposting the recipes .Click on the recipe title to take you to the recipe.. (Please click the links)


Sadya dishes                                       Moru Kachiyathu                                                       

                                                          
                        




Ada pradhaman,                  Cabbage Carrot and Peas Thoran
                                   

A                           


Cherupayar Payasam                                kai-mezhukkupuratti-

                                                              
 
 Nei Payasam -Aravana Payasam                         Kottu Curry

                          



Inji Thayir                                                         Beetroot Pachadi
                                                                             


Banana Chips                                          Pavakkai Kichadi
                                  


                                                 

Malabar Aviyal                               Gothuma Payasam(Cracked Wheat)

                                        
                                                 Chekka Pradhaman
Pal Ada Pradhaman


                                                                       
                                          


CURD RICE/DADDOJANAM

Yogurt Rice Tempered with Spices and. Pomegranate.   This moist, pleasantly seasoned rice and yogurt dish in the South Indian ...