Took a quick trip to mallu-land yesterday. No, no didn’t travel there but I certainly felt like I was there. Yesterday was Vidyarambam a Hindu ritual we follow that symbolizes a Child’s initiation into the world of letters. Although M is not too hot on these rituals and traditions I wanted to get this one done.
It involves getting the child to write the words Om Hari Shri Ganapathaye Namaha, the first alphabets a child writes before a lifetime of words. The child is made to write these words alphabet by alphabet on a plate of rice and then write these words again on his or her tongue using a piece of gold.
Since M cannot write Malayalam to save his life and I figured it was probably easier to go to the nearest Malayalee temple than to teach him. We’ve been to this temple only once or twice but I love going there because it makes me feel like I’m home in Kerala.
Everyone in the temple – the worshippers, the pundits everyone speaks in Malayalam and even people waiting in the cars parked nearby play Malayalam music.Check out some of the garlanded two-wheelers that were part of the vehicle puja. ooohh I miss home so much I’m gonna cry…
anyway lets pep things up a bit this holiday season and make what most of you probably already know –Rava Ladoo.
Rava(semolina) 2 cups
Sugar 2 cups
Coconut 1 cup
Ghee 1 cup
Milk, a bit if you want
Cardamom powdered ¼ tsp
Raisins
Fry the rava and powder it along with the sugar, coconut and the cardamoms. Add the ghee gradually and mix. Add the raisins , if using.Sprinkle some milk if you need to. Roll into lemon sized balls. Enjoy this festive goody.
This treat will also find its way to FIL- Ghee and to the Dussehra, Dhanteras & Deepavali Event
Art , Food and Travel Chronicles 
Sanghi
/ October 5, 2009Hi dear.. Lovely recipe..! Thanks!
shanthi
/ October 1, 2009lovely click
Ann
/ September 30, 2009Touching post – congrats to your son! I have to ask, is this a Mallu tradition, regardless of religion? My dad harped on and on about having my 2 year old do something similar, where you write on rice for the first time…I couldn’t justify the air fare though….;-)
esaiselvi
/ September 30, 2009Delicious Ladoo,Nice click
Cham
/ September 30, 2009I didn’t know we should write with gold in tongue! Lovely ladoos!
Sarah
/ September 29, 2009Wow!!! ladoo looks fabulous!!! Nice click..
Priya
/ September 29, 2009Wow delicious laddoo..beautiful clicks S..
bedazzled
/ September 29, 2009congrats on u r lil one’s initiation into the world of alphabets.. i am normally not a great fan of rava laddu , but the pic looks really good ..
Shwetha
/ September 29, 2009This is such a heart warming post. The ladoos look gobble worthy! 🙂 I’m still fixated and haven’t moved past the chocolate cake pudding though. My brain is stuck on it. Have to have to have to make it…… and soon.
Congratulations on your sterling entry for the Daring Bakers!
Shri
/ September 29, 2009We did Aksharabyasam yesterday for my daughter as well!:)Can’t believe they grow so fast!
s
/ September 30, 2009i know! i feels like only yesterday we had his naming ceremony..now he’s walking running talking…fighting!
Lubna Karim
/ September 29, 2009Wow…ladoo looks yum…nice to know about that tradition. It’s really warm feeling….
Kanchan
/ September 29, 2009Awesome Click !