Sharkara Payasam (Onam Special Recipe)
May Lord Mahabali and Lord Vishnu bestow their choicest blessings on you on the festival of harvests - Onam and the colour & lights of Onam fill your home with happiness and joy.
HAVE A HAPPY ONAM TO ALL.
ONAM - is the regional festival of Kerala. It is celebrated with extreme enthusiasm and zeal throughout the state irrespective of caste, creed and community.It is a popular festival among Malayalees. It is celebrated in order to welcome the spirit of King Mahabali who is said to visit the place at the time of Onam.
During this 10 days, the rich culture of the Malayalees are portrayed in various
ways such as the intricately decorated Pookalam, lavish Onasadya, breathtaking Snake Boat Race and exotic Kaikottikali dance.
The festival is marked with wonderful celebrations including intricate rituals, grand feast, songs, dance, games and fairs. It is also known as the harvest festival of the state and is celebrated in the beginning of the first month of Malayalam Calendar (Kolla Varsham) called ‘Chingam’.
“Pookkalam” or a flower mat is arranged outside every house. The flower mat is a symbol of welcoming King Mahabali.
Onam is celebrated over ten days; it comes to an end with the grand celebrations on the tenth day called ‘Thiruvonam’. Onam celebrations start from the day of and culminate on Thiruvonam. At some places the celebrations even extend to twelve days called as ‘Chatayam’. However, Atham and Thiru Onam are the most important days for Onam celebrations.
10 Days of Onam Festival
- First Day - Attam
- Second Day - Chithira
- Third Day - Chodhi
- Fourth Day - Visakam
- Fifth Day - Anizham
- Sixth Day - Thriketa
- Seventh Day - Moolam
- Eighth Day - Pooradam
- Ninth Day - Uthradam
- Tenth Day - Thiruvonam
Source: http://festivals.iloveindia.com/onam/onam-date.html
Onam Sadhya – a vegetarian banquet is the centre of attraction for Onam. The Sadhya is served on Fresh Plantain Leaves. There can be anywhere between 13-25 dishes for Onam and this number can be higher. To name a few must dishes for Onam Sadhya are Rice,Sambar,Parippu Curry,Rasam,Aviyal,Pulissey, Payasam (Semiya Payasam, Sharkkara Payasam).
Now coming back to what I cooked out of all the major Onam sadhya recipes is …..
Sharkara Payasam
Ingredients:
- Rice (uncooked) – 1 cup
- Jaggery, grated – 2 cups
- Water - 4 times the rice
- Ghee – 4 tablespoons
- Cardamom powder – ½ teaspoon
- Dry fruits as per choice (cashews and raisins)
- Dry coconut thinly sliced for garnishing
Method:
Take a heavy bottom vessel, add water and bring it to boil now to it add the rice, stir well and cover, let it cook on low flame. Keep checking in between occasionally after few minutes till the rice is done (add more water if necessary) and the water is mostly absorbed. Remember not to over cook the rice, it should not get mashed when stirred. Add the jaggery to the rice,cook over low-medium flame till the mixture is thick and there is no water left.
Add 3 tablespoons of ghee and keep stirring for another 5 -7 mins. Add the cardamom powder and take off heat. In a separate small pan saute the dry fruits and sliced coconut till light brown in 1 tablespoon ghee and add the same to the payasam. Mix it lightly and serve warm for the best flavour.
Enjoy this sweet festive treat!!
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