Payasam cakes and Mahabali cookies for Onam

Payasam cakes and Mahabali cookies for Onam

Chips and savouries make up the nibbles for Onam. Until recently, dessert, especially in Thiruvananthapuram, was almost always payasam and boli in addition to pradhaman in different flavours such as ada (rice flakes), kadala (chickpeas), cheru payar (green gram), pazham (banana), gothambu (wheat) and so on. For the last two or three years, ingenious chefs […]

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Mahabali and the pappadam — a speculative flashback

Mahabali and the pappadam — a speculative flashback

This stream-of-consciousness yarn, spun on an impulse, was triggered by a recent news item and video doing the rounds on social media about a fight over pappadams at a feast in Alappuzha, Kerala, with the festive Onam season round the corner. Absence or shortage of pappadams, which have a rightful place in the top left […]

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Onam celebrations in Kerala | A throwback to the pre-pandemic times

Onam celebrations in Kerala | A throwback to the pre-pandemic times

Malls in Kochi witness surge in footfalls and shopping during this festive season. Malls in Kochi witness surge in footfalls and shopping during this festive season. Notwithstanding intermittent spells of heavy showers that somewhat dampened the mood of traders, this Onam more or less turned out to be a throwback to the pre-pandemic times when […]

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