What does it mean to be
celebrating a birthday in a poor household?
What can they get for a birthday?
A quite simple tradition in South
India that swears to be the best and a fulfilling birthday
The parents give their child a
head massage the first thing in the morning of the birthday.
Followed by hearty wishes
A warm bath
Then, a simple meal is served in a
plantain leaf
A specialty of serving paruppu
The primary meaning of the word is
-dal
Secondary lies the whole world for
the birthday boy/girl.
It’s the special paruppu prepared
either by buying a minimum quantity or borrowing the same from the neighbour if
it is not in stock at home, right on that special day. (Because the toor dal is
expensive due to its demand &popularity)
Paruppu – cooking the toor dal,
mashing it to the core, adding a pinch of turmeric, and salt
Serving it first in the plantain
leaf marks a big celebration and a long history of it being served to mark a
celebration.
It is a whole-hearted celebration.
It assures that one will be blessed with long life, good health, happiness, and
prosperity. That’s why it is served on every special occasion or festival.
Mixing with rice and having a
first gulp, if ghee is affordable, it will be added to enhance its taste, or
else simply having it with hot rice marks a great day.
And then a visit to a nearby
temple to seek the blessing of the Lord concludes the birthday celebration of
poor households in South India.
Here stands the PROUD TOOR DAL
that dominates the whole of the pantry. And occupies an unshakeable /formidable
place in the list of items in the South Indian cuisine.
The grand dishes that TOOR DAL
gets credit for and is celebrated for are’
Paruppusadham – cooked rice mixed
with cooked toor dal with ghee.
Manja Pongal - a special dish
prepared when a girl attains puberty.
Wash rice and dal together
Cook it in a pressure cooker. Mash it well
add salt and ghee. Mix well.
Manja pongal is ready to be served.
Annaprasanam, also known as the
"First Rice Ceremony," is a Hindu ritual marking a baby's first
introduction to solid food, typically between six months and one
year. It's a joyous occasion celebrating the child's growth and
prosperity, with family and friends participating in the first feeding.
Annaprasanam means "food
feeding" or "eating of food" in Sanskrit, signifying the
transition from milk to solid food.
The ceremony is usually performed
around six months after the initial breastfeeding or formula feeding
period.
It's a cultural milestone, marking
a baby's growth and development, and is a time for family and friends to
celebrate.
The ceremony involves blessings,
chanting, and the baby's first feeding, often with rice or kheer.
While the core concept remains the
same, some rituals and practices may vary across regions, with names like
"choroonu" in Kerala or "mukhe bhaat" in Bengal.
Again, the TOOR DAL takes its
charge, and paruppusadham is the first food introduced to the baby.
Next comes the adage that is
popular with TOOR DAL
Paruppiladhakalyanama!
Paruppiladha kalyanama!
With exclamation and wonder, the
importance and the role of toor dal are discussed at various junctures of life.
Paruppiladha
kalyanama! Means a shocking statement -
can a celebration be possible without Toor dal
Or A celebration without toor dal!
Many elders use this adage to
assure their presence, like toor dal, indirectly showing their supremacy and
stating that the celebration will not be complete without their presence.
Everywhere, toor dal / thuvaram
paruppu, as named in Tamil, stands with high importance and prominence in the
cultural as well as culinary context.
Toor dal is considered auspicious
and a must in every celebration
In Tamil Nadu, toor dal is served
first, as a traditional practice and to symbolize abundance and prosperity for
the year ahead.
Serving food on plantain
leaves is a common practice in South India and is believed to enhance the
flavor and provide a natural, biodegradable serving plate. The natural
oils and flavors from the leaf can also infuse the food with a subtle
taste.
The act of serving toor dal first,
especially on a plantain leaf, can also represent the importance of traditional
values and honoring nature's bounty.
Toor dal is not just a delicious
and versatile ingredient, but also a nutrient-packed food that can be part of
healthy celebrations and regular meals.
The same Paruppusadham in Tamil is
Pappannam in Telugu. Here again, the Toor dal creates magic in words, too
In Telugu, "pappannam" can refer to a feast or banquet, or more informally, it can be
used to ask a young man, "When are you going to get married?” Or when
used in the informal context, "pappannam" can be a humorous way to
inquire about a young man's marital status.
The term "pappannam" is
also associated with celebrations and feasts, implying a larger gathering and
abundance of food.
In the context of food, "pappannam"
can also be a specific dish of dal (lentils) and rice, often served with
various accompaniments.
Pappannam is a popular vegetarian
dish, particularly in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It's known for its
simplicity and comforting nature, often served with various vegetable fries,
pickles, or other side dishes.
Like these, the toor dal has a
traditional and cultural dominance in the menu of celebrations and the lives of
the people in these regions.
Any celebration or a festival is
void without toor dal.
In conclusion, toor dal's
auspiciousness and cultural significance are rooted in its symbolism,
nutritional value, and its role in various religious and social
traditions. It's not just a food item. So, don’t miss it. It’s always
yummy!