Atham – 1st Day of Onam

Atham – 1^st Day of Onam

Atham is the first day of Onam and hence regarded as holy and auspicious by the traditional people.

Athachamayam:
was a triumphant march of the Maharaja of Kochi, with or without military intent from Tripunithura, the then capital of the Cochin state, to the Vamana Temple at Thrikkakara. To many, it is unmistakably a military venture. To others it is an occasion to show off uninhibited regal pomp. But to quite a few, it is merely a celebration to herald Onam, the festival of peace and equity, remembering the days when everything was in abundance

Onam Recipe

Sambar

Ingredients

Toor dal-1 cup(washed and soaked for 30 minutes)
Tamarind-size of a golf ball or Tamcon paste-1 tsp
Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
Mustard seeds pinch
Salt-as required
Oil-2 tsp
Mustard seeds-1/2 tsp
Dry grated coconut-3 tsp
Cilantro/coriander leaves- (optional)
Curry leaves(a few)
Jaggery or sugar- 1 tsp
Fenugreek seeds -1/2 tsp
Green chillies- 3
Red chillies-5
Cilantro seeds -3 tsp
Bengal gram -2 tsp
Cumin seeds -1/2 tsp
Onion -1
Vegetable-Tomatoes, Drumstick, Okra, Capsicum, Radish, Carrots, Onions

Method of preparation
Cook the toor daal in the pressure cooker with double quantity of water, turmeric and salt. Keep aside to cool. Now, heat oil in a separate pan for about a minute and roast together whole chillies, bengal gram, coconut, curryleaves, coriander, cumin and fenugreek seeds till coconut turns golden brown. Then, grind all of these into a smooth paste ,adding a little water from time to time. Put the tamarind with salt and water into a pan. Bring it to a boil. Add this to the toor dal and let it boil for sometime.

Add the vegetables and cook till done. Finally, mash the pressure cooked toor daal, Mix everything and let it simmer for 5 minutes. Season with mustard seeds .