Rachel Laudan says it very plainly:
Yeah, my new book, Cuisine and Empire: Cooking in World History will be out very soon. Continue reading
Culture
Naivedyam – Kadum Payasam
Photo credits: Ranjith
Naivedyam (Kadum Payasam) is offered on banana leaves after a pooja ceremony at many South Indian temples. The traditional dessert is placed before the temple deity and consumed as a holy offering. Continue reading
Kamal Mahal – Hampi, Karnataka
Photo credit: Ramesh Kidangoor
Hampi is a World Heritage Site village located on the southern bank of the river Tungabhadra in Karnataka. Kamal Mahal is one of Hampi’s secular or non-religious structures Its unusual design blends elements of Muslim and Hindu architecture. The building’s function is not exactly known but the quarters are believed to have been used by Hampi’s female guards.
World Tourism Day 2013
Photo credit: Ranjith
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) invites people world wide to participate in World Tourism Day on September 27 every year. Kerala enjoys unique geographical features that have made it one of the most sought after tourist destinations in Asia. Continue reading
Flavours Of Kerala – Dum Biryani
Dum biryani
Dum biryani is a baked rice dish layered with meat (chicken, mutton or beef ) that first originated in the Mugal cuisine of the 16 th -19 th centuries. It was a festive dish, costly to prepare and eaten mainly in the royal courts. Traditionally the biryani pots were sealed with dough before baking then cracked open at the table in a technique called Dum. Continue reading
Anachamayam – Elephant Decorations
Photo credits: Dileep
In Kerala during temple festivals, elephants are decorated with gold caparisons (Nettippattom), bells and necklaces. People mounted on the elephants hold ornamental umbrellas (Muttukuda) up high, swaying white tufts (Venchamaram) and peacock feathers fans (Alavattam). Continue reading
Uthrattathi Vallamkali – Aranmula
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
The world famous Aranmula boat race will be held this year on September 20th. The uthrattathi Vallamkali sees 26 boats participating in the two days of festivities. The festivities involve the oarsmen singing traditional boat songs and wearing white Mundu and turbans. The boats are decorated with golden lace at the head of the boat and a flag and ornamental umbrellas in the center. Continue reading
Pulikkali – Kerala
Photo credits: R R Ranjith
Pulikkali, which means “tiger play”, is a popular folk art form, also known as Kaduvakali. This iconic Onam event is mainly practiced in the Thrissur and Palaghat districts of Kerala. Participants painstakingly paint their bodies like tigers and don tiger masks. (The process can take the entire day to complete with first the removal of body hair and then the application of multiple layers of paint.) The procession also includes men representing hunters. The best performers are chosen out of the hundreds of participants. Continue reading
Cattle Race – Onam Celebrations
Photo credits: R R Ranjith
The cattle race is one of the many charismatic Onam celebrations enjoyed by farmers during the end of the harvest season. A special 100 meter track filled with mud and water is created. The skilled drivers balance precariously on a modified plow while the pairs of bullocks charge through the farmland at hair-raising speed. Continue reading
Onam – 2013
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Once upon a time an Asura King Mahabali ruled Kerala, he was dearly loved by this country and was known to be a just and wise ruler. His story is recaptured in the popular folk song:
When Mahabali ruled the land
Everyone was equal
Happily they lived
Danger befell none
There was no falsehood or fraud
And no untruth
Onam Celebrations – 2013
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Kerala is a land of celebrations and Onam in particular transcends regional and religious profiles. Of the many festivals that are celebrated here, Onam is the most spectacular event of all. It celebrates the return of King Mahabali, who sacrificed his life to save his people but is said to visit his subjects annually at the harvest time. Continue reading
Vinayaka Chathurthi – 2013
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Vinayaka Chathurhi is celebrated throughout India by Hindus with a great enthusiasm on the birthday of Lord Vinayaka (Lord Ganesha) the elephant-headed son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. This year Chathurhi fell on September 9th. Continue reading
Athapookalam
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
The first day of the Onam celebrations starts on Atham day during the Malayalam month of Chingam, which this year falls today, 7th September 2013. The date is ten days before Thiruvonam. The creation of Athapookalam is an important part of every Onam festival. This special, circular arrangement of flowers is one of the most iconic Onam traditions. Continue reading
Kolam – Tamil Nadu
Photo credits: Renuka Menon
Kolam is a traditional form of street painting in Tamil Nadu that is created using colored rice powder. The designs are based on simple elements such as loops, dots and geometric patterns. Women create these auspicious patterns in front of the household deities in Pooja rooms and the area just outside the entrance of their houses.
Traditional Duck Farming of Kerala
If you visit Kuttanad, Kerala at a certain time of year, you are able to hear on the rice fields a noise one might not expect, the quacking of ducks. It is not the sound of a few ducks, but the sound of thousands. In Kuttanad when the harvest season is finished duck farmers move in, and take their flocks through the pre-designated rice fields for feeding.
Aby, a 38-year old duck farmer calculates that his 10,000 ducklings are worth around Rs. 24 lakh. According to him, if the ducks survive through the period, one can save up to Rs. 5 lakh a season, despite expenses for medicine and daily wages for his helpers.
This is a livelihood for many of the farmers, but their process differs greatly from many of the commercial duck farmers you will see in the United States. Some US duck farms can process up to 70,000 ducks per week at a single site, but the good news is that duck farmers who visit Kuttanad have neither the facilities nor manpower to produce or maintain such large quantities. Instead these farmers spend 6 months of the year keeping their flocks on the move, to keep them feeding until they are ready to sell. In some ways this is the definition of “free range” meat, but at what cost? Continue reading
Ashtami Rohini
Photo credits: R R Ranjith
Ashtami Rohini is the celebration of the birthday of Lord Krishna. Also known as Sri Krishna Jayanti, the festival is celebrated during the month of Chingam on the Rohini star in Kerala’s Malayalam calendar, falling this year on August 28 , 2013. For this festival all the temples of Lord Sri Krishna are decorated with lights and devotees visit the temple with children dressed up as Lord Sri Krishna. Continue reading
Pulluvan Pattu
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Pulluvan Pattu is the music sung by the caste known as Pulluvas, which means lower caste. It is accompanied by hand-made stringed instruments such as Pulluva Veena. In Kerala this is the traditional music is associated with the worship of Snake Gods.
Semi-Classical Dance – Kerala
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Semi-classical dance is a style that combines classical dance steps with a more contemporary feel. The movements are not as intricate as pure classical forms. This hybrid style features extensive body movements, expressions, grace, speed and immense creativity, giving the final product a more modern feel. Continue reading
Avani Avittam
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Avani Avittam or Upakarma is one of the ancient Vedic rituals practiced annually in India. This year the ritual day falls on August 20th, 2013. Avani Avittam is a highly auspicious ceremony for the Vedic Brahmin community. The main activity performed is the changing of the sacred thread worn by devotees. Continue reading
From Behind the Wheel: Cook Food, Serve Love
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