Prasadam
We go to Temple for two things
1. Peace
2. Prasadam
Nothing can beat temples prasadam!!
Food served in temples in India is regarded as pure and
sacred. These offerings, known as ‘prasada’ in Sanskrit, are either made in the
temple itself or are offered by devotees.
“There is no love
sincerer than the love of food”
In India, temple food has always held a special place in the
hearts of those who have a religious bent of mind. Paying homage in the form of
food to the gods and goddesses is a practice that is commonly followed in a
country of numerous rituals.
It is believed that there are around 33 million gods and
goddesses in India, so one can just imagine the number of food ceremonies that
are performed in temples. Each shrine has its own special prasada and often has
vast dining areas to offer food to devotees.
Puliyotharai
Puliyodharai is a South Indian rice preparation, a mainstay
in most Indian festival luncheons and dinners. It is also offered as prasadams
in temples. Temple puliyodharai has a divine taste that can never be defined,
the puliyodharai in the small dry banana leaf cups the thought of it makes us
drool.
Chakkara pongal
Chakkara Pongal is a delicacy made from newly harvested rice. It is
cooked with jaggery, ghee and cashew nuts and is offered to sun god. Most of
the festivals in south India will have chakkara pongal.And the ghee dripping, camphor taste of the temple chakkara
pongal’s taste lasts the whole day.
Sundal
Next the sundal most special during Navaratri or Ganesha
Chaturthi. The little sundal in the leaf cannot be compared to anything.
Curd rice
Perumal kovil thayir sadam. Garnish with mangoes, ginger, fried
nuts and cilantro leaves. Ahhh even people who hate thayir sadam will fall in
love with it.
Sambar rice
Sai baba prasadam. Sambar rice at mylapore sai baba temple.
So delicious, that we can die after eating this. The best sambar rice we could
ever have.
Vadai
Hanuman temple milagu vadai. The vadai that we get in Anjeneyar
temple as prasadam has a unique taste. The blend of crispness and the spice
from pepper are divine.
Kesari
South Indian sweet which is often made for festivals or
special occasions. It is as well offered to Gods as naivedyam or prasadam
during navratri and other festivals and even during regular Friday puja.Mylapore sai baba temple has the best ghee dripping yummy kesari.
Ladoo
Tirupati ladoo is one of the famous prasadam of India. In addition
to the ladoo, each devotee can also buy two more ladoos. It’s good thing too
because you can’t stop with one. They are giving ladoos as prasadam DATES BACK 300 YEARS. A single ladoo contains
cashew, ghee, oil, sugar, raisins and almond.
Lemon rice
The nice warm peanut, curry leaves tempered lemon rice
prasadam gives you a unique divine taste.
Koozh
Aadi Koozh is famous in Tamil Nadu in Aadi Month which
is distributed as prasadam in mariamman temple throughout the Aadi month. Usually
they serve aadi koozh with pickle /onion/ puli kuzhambu / karuvattu / fish
kuzhambu. According to the Tamil calendar, Aadi is the fourth month of the
year. The first day of this month, is celebrated as Aadi Pandigai or Aadi
Pirappu, which is an important festival to most Tamils, especially newly-weds.
Ps: These are by our personal experience, please do share with us your experience in the comments below.
