Sometimes I’m really glad to live in Chennai because of the rich culture and the numerous festivals I get to celebrate here. Chennai is known for its magnificent festivals, outlined with rangolis, bright silk dresses, flowers, temples celebrations and of course lots of festival food!
To talk about festival food, it is very difficult to name one specific dish to be my favorite as every festival has its own specialty because of its food variety and of course the auspicious occasion. Thus, these are the 7 favorite festival food items that I never miss every year.
1) Ramzan Biryani
My favorite food is Chicken Biryani. It is a traditional dish which is very famous in India specifically in southern part of India. Biryani is one of the most famous staples on the Iftaar menu during the holy month of Ramzan. It's colorful appearance, rich garnishing, great aroma and the mouth-watering taste makes it more tempting. Tasty masala and juicy meat are the showstoppers, and they decide the taste of biryani also not to miss out the combination with raitha and brinjal curry as its side dishes. These are the reasons why I never miss out Ramzan biryani either from my neighbor’s house or from any hotel.
2) Idli & curry kuzhambu during Diwali
Idli and chicken/mutton curry has been breakfast menu on Deepavali in several Tamil households for generations. I remember few years back when I was all excited for Diwali to buy diyas, crackers, gifts for family and friends, new clothes etc. There was an excitement in the air that I can’t describe. Everything was going as per the plan, till I asked what special food for Diwali to my mom. Without thinking, she said “Chicken Curry and Dosa for breakfast” and I went “WHATTTTT???”.
I mean, I love chicken curry and dosa, but for breakfast and on Diwali day? I was shocked. Then I realized it is a tradition to have it for breakfast and sometimes for lunch too considering all the sweets piled up at home for Diwali.
3) Kozhukattai on Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturti is the birthday of Lord Ganesha which is celebrated in a grand manner in India. Other than buying Ganesha idols made of clay and the colorful umbrellas, I love the food made on that day. Kozhukattai is a favorite dish of Lord Ganesha and for me too. It is made with rice flour, coconut and jaggery stuffing. My mom makes varieties of kozhukattais every year but one of my all-time favorites is paal kozhukattai. The best part that I love about paal kozhukattai is the taste of sweet and milk in small balls like momos.
4) Seedai on Krishna Jayanti
Seedai or Uppu Seedai (salted seedai) is an authentic south Indian snack prepared especially on Sri Krishna Jayanti also known as Janmashtami which is a Hindu festival that marks the celebration of the birth of Lord Sri Krishna. Seedai is a deep fried super crispy and flavourful roundel which has both salted and sweet version. It looks like pebble while its very crunchy and crispy. The part that I love about seedai is that it’s a yummy snack that isn’t very hard like murukku nor is it very soft like sundal. It has the right texture with the right mix of sweet and salt that we can crunch anytime of the day.
5) Rava Ladoo
Rava Ladoo is a delicious Indian Sweet made with rava. These melt-in-the- mouth ladoos are popularly made during festivals like Ganesha Chaturthi and Krishnashtami. Sometimes I trouble my mom to make rava ladoos on Diwali or Tamil new year as well. Rava Ladoo is a must try sweet item from the cuisine of South India. The rava or suji is dry roasted and mixed with coconut, powdered sugar, ghee, and nuts and formed into a ladoo.
6) Cake on Christmas
What is Christmas without cake? I love the variety of cakes that I get for Christmas at home starting from plum cakes to cheese cakes. My friends are very generous to share their Christmas cakes with me every year. One of my favorite cake is the Classic Chocolate Yule Log. It is a rich, swiss roll kind of cake and is filled with vanilla-flavored whipped cream, fashioned into a log that's topped with icing sugar and chocolate shavings.
7) Mom’s Gulab Jamun
No matter what festival it is, I would never ever get tired of mom’s Gulab Jamuns. Honestly, Jamuns made at home are the best. Gulab Jamun is traditionally served on Diwali, but it is a delicious sweet to an Indian meal any time of the year. The best part that I love about Gulab Jamuns are the deep-fried balls made of dried milk [khoya] and the way it is dipped in a rose-cardamom flavored sugar syrup.
Festivals bring families together to enjoy and celebrate the occasion. Festivals are periods of celebration where we spend time with our family and enjoy heavy meals at home. No festival is complete without sweets and dishes made by our mothers at home. Good food is always homemade food.
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