Food-Dee-Dum

An Indian Food Blog with Step-by-Step Recipes, Photos and other Foodie Adventures

  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Recipes by Email
  • About
  • Press
  • Contact
  • Portfolio
  • Etcetera
    • Photography & Styling
    • Travel
    • Food Talk
    • Reviews & Listings
    • Sitemap

Vishu Sadya

April 16, 2012 By Praerna Kartha

I may have mentioned before that I’m crazy about festivals and tradition. 14th was Vishu, the Malayali New Year. Although relatively new to me, I was most excited when AK’s cousin invited us for the “sadya” (literally “banquet” in Malayalam) at their home!

Traditionally, the leading lady of the home sets up the Vishukanni – some specific auspicious items like food items, metal mirror, lamp, holy text placed in an urli/ vessel – the night before. And this is supposed to be the first thing one sees in the morning. It is believed to be an auspicious beginning to the year. This is followed by a visit to the temple and the sadya/ banquet/ lunch.

Oh, and I almost forgot about firecrackers! Not that I have lit a firecracker in over 10 years… But it’s part of the whole scene!

Since AK & I don’t live with his parents, we didn’t manage the Kanni, but we did take it in at the cousin’s home. Obviously silly me didn’t take a photo. But I did get a few captures of the sadya itself. And here it is…

Did I not mention that the sadya is served on a banana leaf? And that technically you’re supposed to eat on the floor and eat with your hands? Well we did eat with our hands, but not on the floor since “certain people” in my household cannot eat sitting on the floor! It’s too uncool for him, ahem, them.

Anyhow, just to give you a brief description of what’s on the plate, erm leaf (clock-wise from bottom centre):

Papad/ Papadum

Banana Chips, Savoury and Sweet (coated with jaggery)

Pickle

Manga Pullisheri – mango curry

Olan – pumpkin, coconut milk & ginger

Aviyal – mixed vegetables with coconut

Thoran – sauteed beans with coconut

Pachdi – okra/ ladies fingers with yoghurt

Rice

Sambhar – lentil and vegetable stew

Parippu – thick lentil dish (not pictured above)

Payasam – rice & milk pudding (not pictured above)

I think I got it all right, but apologies if I didn’t. I’m open to correction/ amendment!

The point being, it was extremely delicious and enjoyed the experience of having all this yummy food on a banana leaf, with my hands. Although the next pic isn’t really of MY leaf, but I promise mine looked exactly like this! I licked it clean, VERY quickly

Overflowing with good food and love, my MIL and I posed for photos (in our traditional Kerala sarees)…

And the rest of the gang, including our lovely hosts…

All in all, an extremely satisfying lunch. I’m hoping I can learn how to make all (or at least some of) the dishes by Onam this year and serve my very own sadya!

 

Filed Under: Special Occasion Tagged With: Banana Leaves, Banquet, Feast, Festival Food, Sadya, Traditional Food, Vishu

« Dosa & Chutney: Simply Satisfying Brunch
Bun (Chicken) Samosa »

Search the Blog

Get Recipes via E-mail!

    
* indicates required
         
    
    
Food-Dee-Dum is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. Food-Dee-Dum posts may contain affiliate links to products that I mention and recommend. (I will only recommend products that I personally use and/or trust for my family.) I earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you, to help with blog expenses when you make a purchase through an affiliate link. Thank you for your support!

Some of my Favourites

Rum-n-Raisin Pound Cake with Rum Butter Syrup

Classic Sour Cream Pound Cake

Micheladas | Spicy Beer Cocktail

Ruggedly Loaded Brownies

Spiced Pineapple Upside Down Cake

See More...

Copyright © 2023 · Foodie Pro Theme by Shay Bocks · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress