In a noticeable spot on my shelf, stands a collection of brass and copper vessels. There is a kettle, a couple of koojas and an ancient kindi, brought all the way from Kerala, my home state. They stand among other artefacts but hold their own, with their shiny surfaces and peculiar shapes. The kindi is a multi-purpose vessel...
Ammama’s Stories
On what is popularly called the “gym wall” at Vasundhara Sarovar Premiere, a story of an elephant and a tailor unfolds through a series of hand-drawn sketches. The celebrated folktale goes like this: once upon a time in a small village lived an elephant and a tailor. Both were fast friends, and whenever the...
The Dance of God
In the Malabar region of Northern Kerala, a 1500-year-old ritual sees human beings metamorphose into gods every year. The ritual is called “Theyyam”, an artistic dance form, where the performers of the Vannan community are deified, who then acquire divine powers to heal and bless devotees. How did the practice of Theyyam come about?...
The Funny Bone
As a young school boy in Kottayam, my uncle’s Sunday morning ritual would be to excitedly flip to the last page of the Malayala Manorama Weekly. However, he was not the only one doing so. In fact, reading the magazine back to front became a norm for all of Kerala, a norm that came...
Kozhi Thenga Peera Porichathu
Khozi Thenga Peera Porichathu is simply chicken fried with shredded coconut. Generally popular in North Kerala, the dish is just the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. A special recipe from the kitchens of Vasundhara Sarovar Premiere, just for you. Preparation: 30 minutes Serves: 1 portion Ingredients: Coconut Oil 50 ml Ginger garlic paste...