Come April, many parts of India are engulfed in festivities of welcoming the New Year as per the month of Chaitra in the Hindu calendar.
Gudi Padwa, Baisakhi, Bihu, Vishu, Ugadi, Pohela Boisakh and similar festivals are celebrated in the different regions of India. These celebrations generally centre around harvest and are steeped in tradition, symbolism, and culinary delights.
Tamil new year is celebrated as "Puthaandu" and includes cleaning the house, decorating it with 'Kolam" ( Rangoli ), wearing new clothes, praying, visiting the temple and of course preparing a variety of delicacies.
Among the array of dishes prepared during this auspicious occasion, Maangaa Pachadi stands out as a symbolic representation of life.
This unique dish is a complete balance of all flavours of our palate each imparting its unique taste and significance.
The main ingredient is raw mango which is known for it's tangy flavour and symbolizes the sour moments in our life. Nevertheless these sour moments are sweetened by jaggery. A life without salt would be insipid so a dash of salt to the Maanga Pachadi infuses a sense of propriety and balance. A special aspect to this is the infusion of neem flowers which add a touch of bitterness, signifying the inevitable challenges and adversities each of us encounter in our lives. The spice of the red hot dry chillies and the spluttering mustard seeds reminds us of the heat we face in life and it's unpredictableness. Finally there is a dash of flavour with hing, asafoedita.
All these flavours will no doubt make our mouths water but it is important to note that beyond this yummy inviting taste , Maangaa Pachadi carries a deeper message of accepting life as a whole with its ups, downs, joys and sorrows, success and failures. The preparation maybe a ritual but it symbolises life in it's entirety.
Among the array of dishes prepared during this auspicious occasion, Maangaa Pachadi stands out as a symbolic representation of life.
This unique dish is a complete balance of all flavours of our palate each imparting its unique taste and significance.
The main ingredient is raw mango which is known for it's tangy flavour and symbolizes the sour moments in our life. Nevertheless these sour moments are sweetened by jaggery. A life without salt would be insipid so a dash of salt to the Maanga Pachadi infuses a sense of propriety and balance. A special aspect to this is the infusion of neem flowers which add a touch of bitterness, signifying the inevitable challenges and adversities each of us encounter in our lives. The spice of the red hot dry chillies and the spluttering mustard seeds reminds us of the heat we face in life and it's unpredictableness. Finally there is a dash of flavour with hing, asafoedita.
All these flavours will no doubt make our mouths water but it is important to note that beyond this yummy inviting taste , Maangaa Pachadi carries a deeper message of accepting life as a whole with its ups, downs, joys and sorrows, success and failures. The preparation maybe a ritual but it symbolises life in it's entirety.
Just as Maanga Pachadi combines all flavours to create a coordinated whole, life too is a combination of experiences which we must learn to savour and face with grace.
The mixing of all flavours and frying of neem flowers in ghee signifies the transformation of bitterness into acceptance and resilience, echoing thoughts of adversity becoming a catalyst for growth and transformation.
As I made Maangaa Pachadi, this morning, it was this that I realised and felt that Maanga Pachadi is a symbol of unity, resilience, and the cyclical nature of life. It reminded me that we must savour every moment, whether salty, bitter, sweet or sour and find beauty in life's imperfections.
So as we indulge ourselves in the food, fun, frolic and Maanga Pachadi this Tamil new year, let us pause and reflect on life and become more resilient, compassionate and tolerant.
Wishing every region of our country it's own New Year...
The mixing of all flavours and frying of neem flowers in ghee signifies the transformation of bitterness into acceptance and resilience, echoing thoughts of adversity becoming a catalyst for growth and transformation.
As I made Maangaa Pachadi, this morning, it was this that I realised and felt that Maanga Pachadi is a symbol of unity, resilience, and the cyclical nature of life. It reminded me that we must savour every moment, whether salty, bitter, sweet or sour and find beauty in life's imperfections.
So as we indulge ourselves in the food, fun, frolic and Maanga Pachadi this Tamil new year, let us pause and reflect on life and become more resilient, compassionate and tolerant.
Wishing every region of our country it's own New Year...
As for me...Iniya Tamil Puthaandu Nal Vazhtukkal...
Iniya Puthandu nal vazhthukkal.
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