Deepavali has always been one fun filled festival at home. I remember as a kid, we used to compete with friends on who gets up first in the morning and fire a cracker! There were times, when I used to get up by 3 am and decide to go for the bombs. But it was custom that Amma does the pooja with the crackers and only then we had to light them. So at times it was tough but I always managed. When we start it used to be tough to stop. We used to get up early morning, have oil bath with different oils and then go out to fire the crackers once the basic pooja gets done. I remember during one deepavali, when I was taking the hot water , I slipped and amma didn't allow me to go out for sometime, I was so upset that day. There were other years when my brother and I used to hurry up in getting ready to go out first. Those days used to be so much fun. Amma would've normally completed all her festival snacks the previous day. All would be left is that day's cooking and celebrations.
Deepavali breakfast was always non-veg with Dosa. I remember it used to be yummy and then I became veg, Amma used to make ground nut chutney for me. Groundnut chutney is something we make every day, still that day it used to be so special! After marriage, I came to know that hubby dear is not used to eat non-veg on this day. I came to know that its a custom followed in the Chitoor district. How even customs change within a state! We have always loved firecrackers and used to do only this and nothing else! Deepavali is a time to meet friends and exchange greetings and gifts. We wish and hope things always work out better for all. At parents place, any festival or occasion is a time for lot of guests. So the day just passes by with wishing people who drop in or attending calls. It used to be fun watching Dad with 2 phones at hand trying to answer all the calls.
As kids, I remember buying new cloths only for special days like festivals, birthdays or other family occasions. Then it used to be so special. Things changed since some 10 yrs and now we get new cloths for no reason or rhyme. Infact I wonder if my daughter knows the meaning or attaches anything special to this occasion. Still I think she enjoyed this festival. For me, meaning of deepavali changed and now I don't really give much importance to firecrackers. Infact we don't have them, would be fine. Whenever I hear 100 walas going off, I feel we are burning money! But I guess I shouldn't harp my thoughts on others. I want my daughter to enjoy, though I haven't really spent any time telling her what this festival signifies. First year of my daughter, we didn't celebrate as she was crying all the time because of the crackers and now she was crying because she wanted to fire them!
We mostly have my hubby dear's sisters visiting us for Diwali. This year we decided to visit them. As my parents are not in Madras, we didn't have much of a celebration on the day Tamil Nadu celebrated, we landed up in my sis-in laws place on 9th, the day Andhra was celebrating Deepavali and had a fun filled weekend at their place. There was nothing but eating and talking and in my case running behind my twins these 3 days. My sis-in law did a marvelous job of coming up with a wonderful diwali lunch. Of course all the three days, they were busy in the kitchen dishing out delicious dishes. I have taken around 400 pictures and have arranged these quite in a hurry. They were so curious and must've felt I have gone nuts when I said I wanted to take pictures of their dishes. But I think they understood and just agreed to what I was asking. Will post the other pictures and I am planning to write an account of our travel in detail. Hope I will get to do it this time.
This is the deepavali lunch we had. Chirtrammam, as I have already said is a must in my in -laws place for a festival lunch. Along with Snake gourd bajjis and Green chilli bajjis that my niece wanted, Nunne Vankai, Menthaku pappu (Fenugreek dal), Rasam, Gulam Jamun. Everything was so delicious needless to say. Gulam Jamun was so soft and sweet that I missed Amma's. Amma makes wonderful Gulam jamuns. I was happy I was able to eat this and remember Amma's. Will be back with pictures of other dishes that my sis-inlaws prepared.
These are the Deepavali Snacks that we had. Fortunately I didn't do any of this!..:) I just enjoyed eating them all.
Have a great week ahead.
Srilatha says
I am in love with ur Diwali Thali Srii..Hope u had a blast on Diwali..
- Siri
bindiya says
Yummy Sri , what a spread!, sometimes its more fun to eat than cook!
Asha says
OH MY!!! That is a REAL east girl. Mine compared to this is chump change! Looks great, looking forward to recipes of Nune Vankaya!!:)
sagari says
yummy yummy food sri i just want to grab that plate
Latha Narasimhan says
Loved the nunne vankai! brinjal is one of my favourite and I love the way it is cooked in anshra!:)
Sia says
what a feast sri...and the best thing was u just had to eat them... oh i envy u girl:)
Kamini says
What a lovely post, brought back memories of my own childhood Deepavali celebrations. It's always interesting to read about how it is celebrated differently in different homes. First time I'm hearing of a non-veg Diwali breakfast!!
The photos of your Deepavali meals look absolutely mouth-watering.
Kamini
Namratha says
Great memories Srivalli, awesome! Love the thali, looks so appetizing 🙂 Nunne Vankaya looks yummy...
Seema says
Looks like you really had a treat for diwali. That diwali thali there looks so authentic and mouth watering buddy. Enjoy!!!
Mallika says
This makes my Diwali feast look like cheap snacks!! Hope you had a fantastic Diwali.
Dhivya Karthik says
(drool)(drool)(drool)
SHANTI BHANU says
wow mouth watering food...hope u enjyoed well with food on diwali
Taste of Mysore says
Envy you girl! ummm..but happy too that you had a 'cooking free' and 'busy clicking'Deepavali. Looking forward to all pics n recipes. 🙂
Cynthia says
Now this is the stuff of life! Looks like you had a ball this Diwali 🙂 can't wait to read your other posts.
easycrafts says
Lovely spread and snacks...enjoy
Nags says
wow! a lovely spread. the athirasam looks especially yummy! i love them!
Padmaja says
Hey Valli!!
looks like u had an amazing diwali!!!
and hey what would i do to ahve that amazing thali for lunch!!!!
so delicious!!!!
KayKat says
Yay! Serious Diwali feast! 🙂
sra says
Valli, how lucky that you didn't have to do any of this - I wish someone would call me for such a feast! Love the look of the ariselu!
Kalva says
wow what delicious spread you have here?So delicious!
Srivalli says
Asha..hhaha..yeah..no way yours looked so great and wonderful...I wanted to literally pick up the plate!..:D...but thanks for your lovely comment..it always sours my spirit as usual!...I already have posted ...I thought I had linked it!..
Lathamma..thank you..yeah I like this way and the fry that Amma makes
Siri, thank you!...yes we did..and hope you did too
Sia, yeah that was the best part of the entire thing...:D...thank you thank you...its rare that I get an oppurtunity like this!!
bindiya...thank you ...agree 100% on that!
Kamini, am so glad I did...yeah I was also more interested in reading how others celebrated..well i missed it this time!..
Seema, yeah it was fun not cooking and only eating..my sils ensured I had my fill!
Shanti, yeas, had good fun..thank you
sagari, thank you..you are welcome to it
Namratha thank you!..
Mallika thanks for the lovely words, but am sure yours was equally good
Dhivya, thanks!
Cynthia, hhaha...agree with you!yeah check out the next post!
easycrafts thank you!
sra, thank you...next time you come home I will cook for you
Lakshmi, thanks!..this was fun bcos I am so used to cooking and no time for anything, this time I was busy capturing everything!
Nags, thank you ...yeah it tasted yum too!
yes Padmaja, it was really so fun and good. You sure can have it..!
Anonymous says
hi
can u post the recipe of kajjaya what we call, which is next to muruku anti clock wise, pls, it looks perfect and i like to try this.
Srivalli says
Kalva, Thank you!
Anon, Thanks for dropping by. The one you are referring to is what we call Athirasam, I have never attempted to prepare this..but if you can give me your email id, I will get the recipe from my mom and mail you...Thanks...Also it would be great to know your name!