In the early 19th century, it is said that the women of Southern Kerala had to adhere to a strange tax norm. They had to pay a tax if they wanted to cover their breasts! The appalling “breast tax” policy (mulakkaram) was especially earmarked for the lower caste women living in the erstwhile princely...
Kozhi Varutharachathu
Our spice themed blogs in this issue calls for a spice-rich recipe. We bring to you Kozhi Varutharachathu or chicken cooked in roasted ground coconut and spices from the kitchen of Mystic Spice. Preparation: 30 minutes Serves: 1 portion Ingredients: Chicken 250 grams Garlic 10 grams Ginger 5 grams Shallots 30 grams Turmeric 2...
Tender Coconut Crème Brûlée
Who doesn’t love the classic creamy Crème brûlée? But we at Mystic Spice bring to you our version…something with a tropical twist. Enjoy! Ingredients: Tender coconut pulp 30 grams Cream 50 ml Sugar 25 grams Vanilla essence 10ml Egg 1 nos. Method: Whisk egg yolk, sugar and vanilla essence in a large...
To The Tea
Picture this: you’re driving the down the serene Swedish countryside. A small signboard with the insignia of a copper kettle grabs your attention. Intrigued, you decide to stop. From a distance, all you can see is a hut, surrounded by tall chestnut trees. A cobbled pathway leads to an enclosure: chequered tablecloths spread on...
The Revolutionaries of Rock
Kuttanadan Punchayile Kochu Penne Kuyilale … I was on the banks of the Punnamada Lake in Alleppey, enthralled by a boat race in progress. Hundreds of men were rowing ferociously across the water in their giant boats. As they rowed, they sang, “Kuttanadan Punchayile Kochu Penne Kuyilale”, and as they sang, they rowed, “oh…thithithra...
Making a Mirror
Not long back, I attended a seminar on heritage at the Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit in Kalady near Kochi. Under the broad ambit of heritage”, a number of papers were presented on different topics. One, however, made me think of a mirror held within a brass frame, a mirror which was given to...
Evenings of Kalam Ezhuthu
For a fortnight in the early summer months of February and March, Mr P, a young man would be seen every afternoon in the mandalam of the Thalli Temple. He would change from his shirt and trousers to his mundu, only a thorthu casually covering his bare chest. Afternoon stragglers would gather around him...
Test Your Metal
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?...