Onam 2009

Onam is one of Indian festivals celebrated by the Keralites in India. Onam sadya is BIG lunch taken along with family members and friends. This will always have lots of dishes and desserts. Desserts are always different kind of Payasams. All these years I was either having sadya prepared by my mom or from take-away hotels. But on 2009 I and my better half decided to prepare our own..as it was first time preparation, did not invite friends. I, my 6 year old kid were only part of the experiment.

We shopped twice to make sure we have all items required and made sure all is fine. We woke up early had a nice cofee and did all morning chores. Had a wonderful breakfast with Dosha/sambhar/chutney. It was yummy.

We started preparing the sadya. I tried to help Sangeetha(wife) but it was understood that, it was better for me to be out of it. She really worked hard (she was helped by our housemaid). she was preparing one items after another. All was going fine. It was the turn to prepare dessert i.e Pradaman Payasam. I was asked to get the milk of coconut, well I did it but with lot of water, Sangeetha was not happy with it. But she couldn't help it as I had messed it up beyond repair. There were few other messups too.. but finally we had a OKAY output.

It was time to have the Sadya. Bananna leaves were cleaned(I did it) laid. Bananna chips, mango pickle, inji(ginger) curry, pachadi, thoran, merkoritti, aviyal, bannana, papaddam decorated the bannana leaf. Rice was served, on which parippu was server hot. With ghee and pappadam. After that a little rice with Sambhar. Then had the pradaman. The a little rice with Pulicheri...WOW santhrupti...what a wonderful sadya.

Sangeetha declared 2010 Onam we will invite guests too.