Nadru Monje/ Lotus Stem Fritters~Indian State Jammu and Kashmir

 Nadru Monje/ Lotus Stem Fritters~Indian State Jammu and Kashmir

Friendship is a bond that develops between like-minded individuals.

I have friends, good friends on whom I can depend on in fact they are like family to me. I have lived a nomads life all the time so I have lost all the friends that I have made in childhood its only now thanks to face book that I have started talking to all old friends!

When I started making friends with people online I was thrilled but slowly the bond has grown and now the blogging marathon members are also my family. We hare from different places but all of us are attached to a common thread cooking. That is our passion!!

Cooking is fun especially when you are cooking with a friend. Yes I am referring to the time when Vaishali visited. She brought us Lotus stems also known as Nadru. She made these delicious fitters!!

Awesome that was the verdict at home!!

But wai,t I want to bore you up a bit I have researched so much… don’t worry I will give you a watered down version as you are not coming for a history & geography  lesson with a garnish of civics like my daughter has pointed out!

Rasatle Fov or Pohe In Coconut Milk (Savoury)~ Indian State Goa

Rascche Fov/Rasatle Fov~Goan Cuisine

I have the unique status as a Kanadiga married to a Maharstrian but the person considers himself to be a Goan!

 So in the blogging Marathon today we are at Goa.

 Some of you may have ideas about Goa ! Goa is beach, sun, Carnival and drinks but as a resident I see Goa quite differently I am trying to share that here. Maybe this article is to make myself understand the similarities in all our customs where the moral of the story is victory of good over bad!

A Mermaid a Landmark  in Panaji, Goa

There is plenty said on Goa, its cuisine but do you know how Diwali is celebrated in Goa? The similarities and differences with the customs in Maharashtra and in Karnataka. 

Diwali is celebrated on 5 different days some have the celebration from the Dhanteras but in Maharashtra it starts with Vasubars, a day before, on this day the cow and calf are worshiped.

The next day, is Dhanteras where we purchase gold etc. in Karnataka it is also called as “Neer Tumbo Habba” the festival of filling water.  It used to be quite a sight all the big utensils in which water was stored used to be washed and before refilling slaked lime and vermilion used to decorate them.  They looked so beautiful!!

I still remember when I was small my Mama, Madhu mama was posted in a small town called Harihar. Water was heated for bathing in a huge wood fired pot. This pot was enclosed in a structure that was built with bricks and cement. Only the opening of the pot was visible and water was poured in/out through this opening.  Wow the water used to be super hot….. Anyway I remember Mami emptying the pot to wash it. How she washed it I d not know must have scrubbed it with the coconut scrubber and ash.  The typical cleaners then, economical and ecofriendly!!

There is the sky lamp or the akash kandil is hung and the rows of lights are lit in the evening.

 Day 2 is Narakchaturdashi!! This is the night when the demon Narkasur was slayed by Krishna and he returned in the wee hours of dawn.  To help him to find his way Rukmini his divine consort lit lamps. On Krishna‘s safe return she was so happy that she performed “aarti”!

The tradition is followed even today in Karnataka. As kids we used to wake up early at around 5 am, lit a few lights and “aarti” was performed. This was followed by abhangya sanan or bath, new clothes donned and eating of the sweets that Amma had made. In between we managed to distribute the trays of sweets to neighbours.

In Goa however there are effigies made and then they are burnt in the wee hours of the mornings. Then in the morning there is an abhangay sanan, aarti and eats made form fov or beaten rice.  (More about fov later let’s finish Diwali and its many festivities first)  Evening is meant for Laxmipuja in case there is murath and visiting friends and relatives. Feasting and enjoying.

Day 3 its Padwa it commemorates the defeat of the King Bali at the hands of Lord Vishnu in the form of Vaman.  This is the day when Bali returns to earth for one day.

Then its day 4 where the brothers and sisters come together to celebrate. Bhau beej or Bhiaya Dooj.  On this day the brother visits the sister and the sister puts tilak on him, performs aarti, feed his different delicacies. The brother on his part promises to take care of her safety and well-being.

Actually in Karnataka we have another day which is called "Akkain Tadgi" the sister gifts the brothers. ( Even then it was not a oneway traffic)! But now this is rarely celebrated.

This may the end of Diwali for this is the last day of festivities.  The   Aakash Kandil and the lamps are put away. The   leftover sweets and savouries are finished. Then the wait starts for the next Diwali!

Not so in Goa we continue till " Tulsi Vivvah" its called "Vali Diwali" Vali meaning Big!

So what do you do on Diwali day? What are the rituals that are  followed in your part of the world? Do you have some traditions that are a must do?

 But wait I have said that in Goa we have fov. Fov is Pohe or beaten rice. We have different kinds of fov made.  This is our spread!

Diwali che Fov /Diwali Spread