Onam, a celebration for the senses

Dubai - The Malayalee carries this spirit with him wherever he goes, the world over.

The spirit of oneness is in the air as Malayalees in the UAE gather to celebrate Onam, their most awaited festival of the year. Considered the harbinger of spring or the season of harvest, it is unique among festivals as it is celebrated by a complete state - there are no religious differences here, no disparity in caste or creed . no have-nots. There is prosperity all around, as it is also a festival of prosperity.

The Malayalee carries this spirit with him wherever he goes, the world over. His enthusiasm is infectious and he welcomes his friends and colleagues who wish to celebrate his state's festival with him.

Mythology has it that Kerala's most benevolent king, Mahabali, got a promise from the deities to allow him to visit his subjects on earth once every year. The 10-day festival is when the king comes to the earth to see his people. And accordingly, his subjects give their favoutite ruler the warmest of welcomes.

They start by laying a colourful carpet of fresh flowers, the 'pookalam', in the courtyard for each of the 10 days. The enchanting dance by women 'kaikottikali' and the elaborate vegetarian lunch or the sadhya, are all part of the welcome.

The off white and gold (kasavu) mundu and veshti worn by the women, and the mundu of the same colour worn by the men only accentuate the elegance of the festival.

Every Malayalee carries the memories and traditions of Onam wherever he goes along with at least one set of this special outfit synonymous with Kerala.

Celebration on a leaf

The most awaited part of the Onam festival is the traditional sadhya - or the lavish vegetarian feast served on a fresh plantain leaf. The sumptuous meal centres around rice and over 21 vegetarian dishes.

Parippu curry

Moong dal/lentils cooked with grated coconut and spices with drizzled ghee

Sambar

Dal-based curry with vegetables, spices, tamarind and asafetida

Pulissery

Spiced, aromatic cooked buttermilk with turmeric, vegetables and sometimes, fruits

Rasam

Spiced, seasoned, tamarind, pepper and chilli-based broth

Olan

Curry with white gourds, yellow pumpkin, coconut milk and coconut oil

Kaalan

Plantain, tuber or yam-based spicy-sour curry with yoghurt and coconut

Pachadi

Mildly spiced, yoghurt-based dish made with vegetables or fruits for a cooling effort

Kichadi

Curd and cucumber dish served raw or cooked

Avial

Mixed vegetables in thick, seasoned coconut paste

Thoran

Sauteed vegetables with grated coconut

Paapad

Thin, fried crisps made of dough

Erissery or Koottukari

Vegetables, black chenna and coconut

Sarkara varati

Banana chips coated with jaggery, ginger and cardamom powder

Injipuli

Tradition pickle paste with hot, sour and sweet elements to aid digestion

Achaar

Spicy pickles of mango or lime

Paal Paayasam

Kheer made of rice and milk

Semiaya Paayasam

Kheer made of vermicelli and flavoured with cardamom, raisins, cashwenuts

Parippu payasam

Thick kheer made of fried dal and jaggery and flavoured with cardamom, raisins, cashwenuts, and fried pieces of coconut

Source: www.warriers.org

Sadhya ... dos and don'ts

> Narrow part of the plantain leaf has to be placed pointing to the eater's left side

> The dishes are served starting from the top-left corner of the leaf.

> Order of the items served: Small yellow banana, sharkara upperi, upperi, pappadam, mango pickle, injipuli, lime pickle, thoran, olan, avial, pachadi, kichadi, erissery/koottu curry and salt are placed in order on the upper half of the leaf.

> Rice: bottom centre of the leaf

> Main items: parippu, sambar, kaalan, rasam, paayasams. in that order.

> The items are served in that order to primarily aid easy digestion of the heavy meal.

Where to get sadhya in Dubai?

So you're craving for a delicious sadhya spread, but where can you get one? Here are the restaurants you can head to in Dubai on Onam day to have your fill:

1. Nalukettu, Dubai Grand Hotel, Al Qusais, Ph: 042615688 (no reservation).

23 items, including three paayasams

Timing: 12noon to 4pm

Cost: Dh55 for dining; Dh59 for takaway

2. Calicut Paragon, Al Nahda/Karama, Dubai, Ph: 042988858 (no reservation, first-come, first-serve)

25 items, including two types of paayasam

Timing: 11:30am to 3pm

Cost: Dh38 for dining; Dh40 for takeaway

3. Tharavad restaurant, 8 B Street - Fortune Plaza Hotel, Al Qusais, Ph: 042630764 (for reservations)

32 dishes, including three paayasams

Timing: Noon to 4pm

Cost: Dh38 for dine-in, Dh38 for parcel

Onasadhya will be served from September 14 to 16