The food is the word that puts a smile on everyone’s face, and it stimulates a feeling of hunger. The world has different kinds of food culture which is according to their life structure. In India, the food culture is very systematic; it regulates the people in depending more on agricultural foods. As India is in a tropical zone, people shape the food culture by climate, land. In the Northern part of India, you can get soft flatbreads, tortillas and, tandoor grilled kebabs, whereas in the Southern part, you can have varieties of rice and Dhals, sweet coconut fish curries. Festivals also play a role in food items; people celebrate festivals by distributing sweets to their neighbors, which enhance their bonding. Besides sweets, many dishes are made, especially during festival times. In this article, let’s go and explore 20 South Indian Festival foods.
1 Sakkarai Pongal
Sakkarai Pongal is a sweet dish made of pot over the fire, and cooked traditionally. A concoction of rice, milk, moong dal, jiggery, and ghee, is brought to a boil and allowed to spill over. This festive dish is traditionally made during the Pongal Festival in South India. Pongal is a thanks giving festival, harvest festival where farming is treated as a god in our tradition people worship sun god and mother earth. Other than Sakkarai Pongal, Ven Pongal or Kaara Pongal is made. Both Sakkarai Pongal and Ven Pongal, along with a sugarcane piece literally make everyone enjoy the essence of harvesting.
2 Ariselu
Ariselu is a dessert in the Andhra Pradesh; it is made during the Sankranti festival. It is similar to Adhirasam made in Tamil Nadu. It is made with rice flour, jaggery, and ghee. In variation to Adhirasam, Ariselu has white sesame seeds toppings.
3 Ladoos
Ladoos are small ball-shaped Indian sweets made of flour, nuts, sugar, jaggery, and ghee. It is a famous Indian dessert made during Diwali. Different kinds of ladoos likeBoondhi ladoo, Mothichoor ladoo,Rava Ladoo, Badam Ladoo, Maladu Ladoo, Ragi Ladoo, Bandar Ladoo, Dates Nut Ladoo, Dry Fruits Ladoo, Dates Mawa Ladoo, Peanut Ladoo, Walnuts Ladoo, Oats Ladoo, Sesame Ladoo, Raisins Ladoo, Pistachio Ladoo, Ural Dal Ladoo, Gulkand Ladoo, Moong Dal Ladoo are made and it is delicious.
4 Kozhukkattai
Kozhukkattai or kozhukatta is a popular South Indian dumpling made from rice flour, with a filling of grated coconut, jaggery, or chakkavaratti. According to Hindu Mythology, it is considered one of the favorite dishes of Lord Ganesha and is therefore used in prayers is a special sweet made during Ganesh Chaturthi.
5Mangai Pachadi
Mangai pachadi is made for Tamil New Year. A day should have all the 6 flavors of tastes like sweet (Inippu), salt (Uppu), spice (Urappu), bitter (Kasapu), sour (Pulippu) and astringent (thuvarpu). The significance of this is to make us understand that life is a combination of mixed emotions like good, bad, happiness, sorrow, victory, and defeat, and we have to face them equally.
6Payasam
Payasam is usually made by boiling milk, sugar or jaggery, and rice. It was originated in Kerala; however it plays a role in the Onam festival and other festivals all over Southern parts. Semiya payasam, paruppu payasam, aval payasam, paal payasam, javvarisi payasam are the popular payasam’s found which gives the meal a sweet finish.
7 Thalagam
Thalagam, also called as Pongal Kulambu made with a variety of vegetables simmered in the freshly ground spice mix. This gravy is accompanied with Ven Pongal or Thiruvathirai kali. As these festivals fall in winter, mostly winter vegetables were used to make this gravy.
8 Inji Puli
Injipuli is a dark brown sweet-sour and spicy Keralite curry made of ginger, tamarind, green chilies, and jaggery. It is an important pickle being served in any Kerala feast. (Onam).
9 Kari Kootu
Thiruvathirai Thalagam Kuzhambu or (7 Kari Kootu) is made using multiple seasonal vegetables. For Thiruvathirai Festival, it’s served with Thiruvathirai Kali as an offering to God
10 Thenkuzhal
Thenkuzhal Murukku is a popular savory snack usually made for festivals, especially for Diwali and Krishna Jayanthi. It’s a crispy and tasty snack made using rice flour and urad dal flour.
11 Unni Appam
Unni appam is mandatory on all special occasions, and so Onam without Unni appam is incomplete. A combination of rice, jaggery, banana, and roasted coconut pieces, Unni Appam, makes the perfect Onam dessert.
12 Pazham Pori
Pazham Pori is banana fritters is the snack that is truly mouth-watering and should surely make it to the list of Onam desserts.
13 Achappam
Acchappam is a fried mild sweet Kerala dish that is predominant in most of the Kerala festivals. The crispy, crunchy sound with mild sweetness makes the dessert top- notch.
14 Kesari Bath
The beautiful orange color of the dish is derived from the ingredient Kesar which is sprinkled during the cooking process. Rava Kesari is served as an offering to the Hindu Gods during a festival or puja. This is a famous dessert of Karnataka.
15 Chiroti
It is a popular dessert served in Karnataka, an Indian puff pastry in the shape of concentric circles. The uniqueness of this dessert is seen while serving it. Chiroti is first crushed then dipped in Badam milk, powdered sugar, or sweetened syrup.
16 Halbai
From the Udupi and Mangalore cuisine, an authentic and traditional dessert recipe made with rice and jaggery. Is generally made for occasions and celebration feasts.
17 Daddojanam
During Navratri, Daddojanam is prepared as festival food and offered to Goddess Durga. It is a very simple dish made of curd. It is as easy as anyone can make it within 10 minutes.
18 Kajjikayalu
A Traditional Telugu Sweet made mostly on Festival times. This sweet is crispy outside and filled with delicious coconut powder, semolina, sugar, and dry fruits inside.
19 Boorelu
Boorelu is a delicacy of Andhra. This Sweet is made during all the festivals and Telugu weddings.
20 Kobbari Kova
Kobbari Kova is a Traditional sweet made with Kova Laddu stuffed with Coconut and Jaggery filling. This tastes delicious and made mainly during all festivals.
