Food for the soul

I was watching a winter video uploaded by Cottage Fairy , a social media influencer whose videos are incredibly relaxing and hugely popular . It made me think about the place of pride that food holds in our lives .

Food is more than something to eat when hungry . Food is nirvana , nostalgia and joy rolled together . Historically , people ate food that was specific to the climate and geography of where they lived . With the world becoming more and more connected , people have become more comfortable with eating a lot of different kind of food . Our palates become varied as we grow older , travel and open our lives to multiple experiences . But the comfort and nostalgia associated with food that we ate growing up gives gastronomic joy .

India is a country of rich and varied flavours and tastes where food plays a major role in all celebrations and life events . I belong to a South  Indian family and rice is our staple along with pulses , vegetables and dairy . All the special occasions are celebrated with dishes made of rice and specific dishes are prepared for different festivals . One of my favourite dishes is the Akkaravadisal.

It is a type of sweet pongal prepared by families belonging to the Iyengar community on certain days in the Tamil month of Margazhi, which is from the fifteenth of December to the fourteenth of January . The coldest part of the year , Margazhi is a celebration of the life and poetry of goddess Andal. Believed by many to be an early healer and a feminist , Andal pursued her passion for poetry by proclaiming her love for lord Vishnu in her work Thiruppavai, a collection of thirty poems .She insistied that she would only marry lord Vishnu . Legend has it that lord Vishnu came in the form of a young groom and married Andal on the last day of Margazhi. 

While I do not understand most of Thiruppavai, which is supposed to have many layers of meaning , I find calm in listening to it . The smell of steaming Akkaravadisal on a foggy morning, against the backdrop of the melodious Thirrupavai, transports me to a space where time comes to a standstill .

Replete with iron rich jaggery and the warmth of ghee, it is a comfort food that builds resistance against cold and cough .

The celebration of Margazhi and savouring of the Akkaravadisal is an experience that will last for a lifetime .


image courtesy; Sharmis kitchen

Comments

  1. VarshaFebruary 28, 2022 at 9:25 PM

    Beautifully written! It's true how food is more than just what we eat and also what all it represents. Thank you for sharing this ❤️

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aditi SowmyanarayanFebruary 28, 2022 at 9:41 PM

      Thank you Varsha madam.. for foodies like us food is love in its purest form😂

      Delete
  2. UnknownFebruary 28, 2022 at 9:25 PM

    Excellent dear and so true it's a great delicacy!

    ReplyDelete
  3. DeepaFebruary 28, 2022 at 9:26 PM

    😍🤗

    ReplyDelete
  4. vijiMarch 1, 2022 at 12:30 AM

    Drooling😍, grew up in Chennai, and so mazhagi has always been a special month for me. Lovely write up.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Aditi SowmyanarayanMarch 1, 2022 at 1:07 AM

    Thank you Viji auntie

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownMarch 1, 2022 at 1:07 AM

    Very beautifully written about food, as many of us just eat it for the sake of eating, but now many of us will know food plays a major role, very nice

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownMarch 1, 2022 at 4:24 AM

    Very beautifully written 🤗😋

    ReplyDelete
  8. Venkatesh GovindarajanMarch 2, 2022 at 3:04 AM

    Myself being a 'Vegan' for more than 4 years now, being an adherant of 'the plant based food only' principle, food is indeed, 'food for the soul', for me, at all times. Veganism, for me, has also become, 'food for thought'.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Aditi SowmyanarayanMarch 3, 2022 at 12:44 AM

    Very true Thatha. Food plays an important role in shaping our personality. Veganism is all about nurturing empathy and respect for life forms. So adapting that diet would make you a more empathetic and tolerant human being

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Venkatesh GovindarajanMarch 4, 2022 at 12:35 AM

      You could not have said it better, Dear Aditi. Veganism is all about ethics and cruelty free living. Veganism is about 'live and let live'.

      Delete

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