The traditional Onasadhya is incomplete without these recipes. They are simple and easy to prepare. Do try them at home!
Onam, the harvest festival of Kerala, is a celebration of the homecoming of the legendary King Mahabali and is marked by traditional festivities that include Onasadhya or the traditional Onam feast.
Since the festival celebrates a good harvest, the feast is a strictly vegetarian affair and involves elaborate preparations in rice, wheat, fruits and vegetables.
Onam celebrations begin on Attham day (September 7 this year) in the Malayalam month of Chingam and the sadhya is served on Thiruvonam, the tenth and main day, September 16, 2013.
In some places Onasadhya is also served on the eleventh day Avittam (September 17, 2013), only it is less elaborate.
The Onam feast is served on a banana leaf with its tapering end placed to the left.
Traditionally, you have to sit on the floor with your legs crossed while having the sadhya.
The elderly women or men of the house serve the items of the sadhya in a particular order of significance starting with salt, papadam (papad), banana, sharkara upperi (a sweet made from yam), banana chips and different types of pickles. The rice and curries are served at the end.
A typical Onasadhya comprises not less than 20 different preparations -- a sign of luxury, prosperity and happiness.
In fact some of the popular proverbs in Malayalam are: Onnam unnan bhagyam venam (You have to be lucky to enjoy an onam feast) and Kanam vittum onam unnanam (You have to have the onam feast even if it means having to sell your property/riches).
Now that you know the significance of the feast, let me share with you some traditional delicacies without which the Onasadhya is considered incomplete.
I hope you'll try them and share it with your loved ones.
Also see: Saambaar, Avial, Oalan and more Onam recipes.
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1. Kaalan
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2. Pulissery
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3. Erissery
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4. Inji Puli
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Important Tip: Never store this pickle in a steel, copper or silverware as it can cause a chemical reaction that will spoil both the pickle and the container .
5. Narangya Curry (Lime pickle)
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Important tip: Never store the pickle in a silver, copper or steel container.
6. Godhambu Payasam (Kheer made of wheat)
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