Having an omelet or scrambled eggs with toast or bread is a quick breakfast to fix. Now add some potatoes and scramble the eggs for a difference. You will get a more hearty breakfast, that is delicious and filling. Ingredients4 – Eggs2 medium – Potatoes, boiled & cut to small pieces2 to 3 – Shallots/ small onions, chopped3 to 4 – Green chili, chopped1/8 to 1/4 tsp – Turmeric powder1/4 to 1/2 cup
Inji puli or puli inji as it is called, is part and parcel of onam sadya. A thick sauce that is sweet, spicy and tangy in taste. IngredientsCut very finely8 – Green chili2” to 3” piece – Ginger1 cup – Shallot or 2 – OnionsTo roast & powder1 tsp – Raw rice1 tsp – Jeera /cumin1/2 tsp – Pepper cornsMasala powders to be roasted3 tsp – Coriander powder1.5 tsp – Chili powder1/2 tsp – Turmeric
Onam is the state festival of Kerala. Onam falls in the first month of the malayalam month which is Chingam ( normally falls in the months of August or September).Itis also the harvest festival of Kerala. Onam is celebrated as the homecoming of the King Mahabali. Onam celebrations lasts for ten days and demonstrates the traditions and culture of Kerala and its people.
Flower carpets decorated intricately or pookkalam is one of the key attractions of Onasadya with variety of food items, Snake boat race ( vallam Kali) and Kerala’s own Kai Kotti Kali ( a form of dance) etc are some of the remarkable attractions of Onam - the harvest festival in Kerala.
Onam celebrations start on the day of Atham, 10 days before Thiruonam. In a traditional Onam all these 10 days are celebrated and each these days have its own importance in various rituals and traditions.
The traditional ritual of laying Pookalam (floral carpet) starts on Atham day. The size of pookalam on this day is called as Athapoo and will small which eventually grew day after day. Only yellow flowers will be used on this day and the design will be simple.
Also the statues called Thrikkarappan of Mahabali and Vamanan will be installed on the entrance of each house on this day.
Chithira is the second day of onam celebrations. A second layer of flowers will be added to the pookalam setup on atham day with 2 different colors other than yellow (mostly orange and creamy yellow). On this day, people starts cleaning the house-hold to prepare for the Thiruonam day.
Chodi- The third day of Onam Celebrations
More layers of flowers will be added to the pookalam with 4to 5 different colors. On this day the shopping activities for such things onakodi and jewellery etc.. Elders use to gift new clothes for younger members of the family.
Vishakam is considered as the most auspicious day of Onam. In the early years, this day is for making the harvest sale and was one of the busiest days in the market for public. In these days people start the Pookalam competition and onam games etc…
Anizham- The fifth day of Onam Celebrations
Anizham is one of the most important day in the Onam days as it kicks off the great [[Vallam Kali]] (Snake boat) at many parts of Kerala. A mock Vallam Kali is conducted on this day at Aranmula as a dress-rehersal for the famed Aranmula boat race which will be held after Onam.
The pookalam design will be very large by this time, with at least 5 to 6 new flowers types added to the original designs.By the sixth day, the public frenzy starts going on higher side. Most of the schools and public offices starts issuing holidays from this day onwards and people starts packing their bags to their native homes to celebrate the festival with their dear ones.
On the seventh day, the smaller versions of traditional Ona Sadya (Onam special buffet lunch) starts in many places. Most of the temples offers special sadhyas on from this day. Festivities include Puli Kali (Masked leopard dance) and traditional dance forms like Kaikotti Kali also performed in various functions. The official Government celebrations starts on this day with heavy illuminations in Thiruvananthapuram City, Kochi city and Kozhikode along with fireworks.
Pooradam- The eight day of Onam Celebrations
The day marks off with a major traditional ritual where the small statues of Mahabali and Vamana will be washed and cleaned and taken around the house as a procession. It will be later installed in the center of the pookalam smeared with rice-flour batter. The smearing is done by small children whom will be Pooradaunnikkal. From this day onwards, the statue will be called Onathappan.
The pookalam design from Pooradam day onwards get much bigger and complex in design. Shopping will be one of the major activities as the public will be making final purchases for the great Thiruonam day.
Uthradom is the ninth and the penultimate day of the festival of Onam. It is considered as Onam eve and celebrated in a very big way. The importance of this day is last minute extreme shopping frenzy called as Uthradapachal and is considered the most auspicious day for purchase of fresh vegetables and fruits along with other provisions from the Thiruonam day.
Uthradam is known as FIRST ONAM because it marks the day when King Mahabali descends Kerala and the traditional myths says that the king will spend the next four days touring his erstwhile kingdom and blessing the subjects. Due to this Urthadom is celebrated in a very pompous manner with larger pookalam and celebrations in household. The Urthada lunch is very famous tradition. Women normally cuts the first set of vegetables on this day that marks the celebrations of Thiruonam in each household and preparations for grand Onam buffet starts in evening of Uthradom day.
The final day of Onam that culminates the 10 days of Onam Carnival. The day is known as Thiru-Onam (Sacred Onam Day) also known as SECOND ONAM. Myth says, it was the day Mahabali was suppressed to underworld by Vamana. The day marks return of Mahabali to his fabled land (Kerala), as per the boon he received from Vamana to meet his subjects and bless them. Apart from this myth, this day is considered auspicious being birthdays of several temple deities like Vamana of Thrikkara temple, Sree Ppadmanabha Swamy of Thiruvananthapuram etc. Though a traditional Hindu festival, Onam today has emerged as a secular festival associated with harvest time of Kerala and today is the national festival of the state without distinction of any religion or caste celebrating the return of King Mahabali.
Activities begin early in the morning. People clean their house, smear the main entrance with rice-flour batter (a traditional welcome sign), take early bath, wear new clothes and distribute alms to needy. The eldest female member of each family presents clothes to all the members of the family. Special prayers and Masses are organized in temples, churches and mosques that highlight the secular nature of festival. Later a very special and the biggest of all days, Pookalam is prepared to welcome Mahabali.
The most important activity of Thiruonam is the grand Thiruona-Sadya, well known for being one of the most sumptuous feasts ever prepared by mankind. The level of sumptuous varies at each individual household, however every household tries to make as grand as possible as they can. The feast served on plantain leaves have more than 13 to 15 curries apart from other regular items. In hotels and temples, number of curries and dishes can go upto 30 for the feast. Whatever may happen no malayalee will miss the Grand ona-sadya. There is a saying in Malayalam that “Kanam Vittum Onam Unnanam” which means “We should have the Thiruvonam lunch even if we have to sell all our properties” which shows the importance of the grand lunch on the Thiruvonam day.
A fabulous display of fireworks turns the capital Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi into a veritable fairyland. Sumptuous feasts are prepared in every household. Even the poorest of the poor manage to find something for himself to celebrate the national festival in his own humble way.
The afternoon is marked with various traditional Onam games normally seen common in rural areas and those organized by resident associations, clubs etc in large cities.
Normally Onam celebrations ends by Thiruonam. However two following days after Thiruonam is also celebrated as Third and Fourth Onam. The third Onam is called as Avvittom which marks the preparations of King Mahabali for his ascension to heavens. The main ritual for the day is to take the Onattappan statute placed in middle of Pookalam for past 10 days and immense in nearby rivers or seas. The pookalam will cleaned and removed and marks the finale to the Onam celebrations. The day is also important, as it marks the great dance of lions, known as Puli Kali where men in costumes of lions, dances and make a procession around the town of Thrissur in large groups. The Puli-kali can marks the end of traditional Onam celebrations.
Fourth Onam is called as Chatyam which marks the birthday of one of the famous social reformer of Kerala, Sree Narayana Guru and celebrated as Narayana Jayanthi in his honour. The official government celebrations ends on this day with a mega dance festival in the capital city- Thiruvananthapuram.
Note: Some content from WikiPedia.org Image Curtsey from WikiMedia.org
My kitchen is filled with this enticing aroma of freshly pounded spices, that i sprinkle into the pan of fried prawns and coconut milk. It’s a winning combination of ingredients, that is flavorful and delicious. IngredientsTo marinate55 to 60 counts – Prawns,deshelled1 tsp – Turmeric powderSalt to tasteFor the gravy1/4 tsp – Cumin seeds1/2 cup – Shallots / small onion2 – Tomatoes, pureed2 – Green
Many times I used to see advertisement on the web or articles in print claiming that flat abs can be achieved in 15 days. Its an absolute myth. Flat abs a.k.a six packs can be achieved only by burning the fat in the body and not by just exercising for one area like doing crunches
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Some in my house will not eat anything bitter, where in i just go for it. Methi with it’s characteristic bitterness, when cooked with dal /lentil will reduce the bitterness and balance the taste. Adding coconut oil enhanced the flavors to this simple dish. Ingredients1 cup – Toor dal1 tsp – Red chili powder1 tsp – Turmeric powderSalt to tasteSeasoning1/2 tsp – Mustard seeds1/2 tsp – Jeera seeds1
Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women. BMI gives you an indication of whether you are overweight, underweight or at a healthy weight for your height.
BMI Categories:
* Normal weight = 18.5-24.9
* Overweight = 25-29.9
* Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater
How to calculate BMI?
Weight in KG / {(height in meters) *(height in meters)}
To do an online calculation use the following link
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Navratan meaning ‘nine gems’ is the name given to this mughlai korma dish, that is a mixed combination of vegetables, paneer, fruit & nuts. Add in your choice of vegetables to make this korma. This will make a good side dish with naan, roti or pulao.Ingredients 1 cup – Potato,cut to small cubes1 cup – Carrot, chopped1 cup – French beans, chopped1 cup – Green peas1 to 1.5 cup – Paneer cubes1/4 cup