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Thiruvathirai Kali and Thalagam
October 8, 2007 | 30 Comments
Tamilians (Iyers, especially) celebrate Thiruvathirai to commemorate the birthday of Lord Shiva. (All about Thiruvthirai)
It is also called Ardhra Darshanam.
The special fare prepared for the Tamil Thiruvathirai was something I really looked forward to as a child, especially since these dishes were prepared just once a year.
A sweet rice preparation called ‘kali‘ (pronounced ‘cully’ ) is served along with a savoury vegetable dish called ‘Thalagam‘ or ‘Thiruvathirai Kootu’.
We followed the recipe from Ammupatti’s Thoughts for Kali.
Thalagam mainly comprises of root veggies that are harvested during the season, and yellow squash. The distinctive flavour in this sauce comes from the use of sesame seeds.
We followed the recipe for Thalagam from Saffron Trail with one minor adjustment. We reduced the fenugreek seeds from 1/2 tsp tp 1/4 tsp. We used green plantain and yellow squash and added a tablespoon of jaggery as well.
Also check out Thalaga Kuzhambu from Married to a Desi.
Tamil-speaking Brahmins in Kerala don’t always include sesame seeds in the Thiruvathirai ‘Kari’ or ‘Puzhukku’ or ‘Kootu’ as they call ‘Thalagam’. See Ammupatti’s version of Thiruvathirai Kari. They also use coconut oil for flavouring the sauce.
(Malayalis celebrate this festival differently. (See details) They observe Thiruvathira to observe the death anniversary of Kama, or Cupid, the god of love. Both the menu and the protocol in this festival are quite different among Malayalam-speaking Keralites.
Women ‘fast’ on this day, which really mean feasting without rice, ‘cos to a Mallu having a sumptuous meal without rice is tantamount to fasting. :rolleyes: They make an arrowroot preparation in lieu of kali. Their version of Thalagam is called ‘Thiruvathira Puzhukku’ and has lentils and root veggies.)
VERDICT: While we observe neither the Tamil nor the Malayali version of Thiruvathirai, we don’t mind making these dishes regularly. Individually, both the dishes are delicious. We recommend enjoying them separately – the kali chilled, and the thalagam piping hot with plain rice. They don’t go very well together.
Thiruvathirai Kali and Thalagam are our entries for Regional Cuisine of India – Tamil Festival Foods hosted by the wonderful Viji of VCuisine.
- Jai
Filed Under: festival, Jaggery, Kali, kootu, Plantain, Pumpkin/Squash, Rice, tamil-nadu, Thalagam, Thiruvathirai, vegetarian recipes
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30 Comments
wow! i never knew about this thurivathirai festival for tamilians.. to me, thiruvathira is a dance form in kerala performed during onam
gosh! am ignorant!!
Jai,
I just love Thalagam, as you might already know from all the gushing on my post! Somehow, not much of a fan of eating Kali with Thalagam, Kali by itself with a bit of melted amma’s ghee is fine. But Thalagam and rice with some deep fried appalam vettal is truly nirvana…
Lovely post…did Thiruvadarai just pass by?? I wonder if my mom forgot to tell me about it
Okay I have no idea how you’d pronounce any of those but they sound very musical and yummy!
:horn:
Thank you for the entry Bee. As you said they normally prepare it once in a year, but it can be relised anytime. Viji
Kali is meant to be served with Thalagam :no: – ok, this is like major news!!! I have had both independently but never realized they were supposed to complement each other
For a moment I thought I missed Thiruvathira !! It comes in Dec-Jan right? I love Kali – Malu version but equally dislike the root veggies avial!!
Hmmm…nice telepathy. I was planning for the same combo for the same event this weekend. You had over took me. Wonderful pics. The kali looks like cake more than kali. I love the combination anyway.
have not celebrated this festival for obvious reasons… and only kali I know is mor kali
but these look yum 
I too like the Adai,kali and kootu made on the thiruvaadhirai day …Your picure looks awesome! :yes:
very nicely presented. true the kali and koottu don’t go together… wonder why this combo was formed:)
Aww … now I’m all nostalgic! That’s an awesome picture
like nags..i thot thiruvadira kali is a dance done my keralites during onam (which i had the honour of learning and performing)? didnt know there’s a dish by the name too… education for me here…
both the dishes look inviting! very nice entry!! i have sent an entry for the click event. please check.
That dish looks so fancy!
actualy not a fan of kali but a crazy nut about kootu..i have sadly made it only once since i have come to the US…ur post has inspired me to make again
wow….Nice one Bee……The sweet looks so good dear
I am not a very big fan of kootu though……Well,can make this prasadam next time I have a pooja at my place 
HUH!! WHAT?! ;D
Sweet and Savory dishes, perfect entry Bee. I am planning Vijayadasami! You now what that means! Hahaha!!
Whole lot of info. I loved that dish in which you served Kali (does that mean anything else in Tamil?), reminds me of the black stoneware we used strictly for Puja in India
:laugh: I liked the verdict.
The title somehow got me into thinking that you have a pretty pic of Thiruvathikkali
The way you post so regularly and meticulously is really admirable!!! Always wonder how you manage!!
Shn
I had no idea about these festivals until you shed some light on them..
Wonderful picture!
My mom and granny make this even now for thiruvatharai. I haven’t tried it so long. I don’t know why. But your pic is so tempting that I have bookmarked it to try for the festival. Thanks for sharing this Bee. I have a pic for the ‘click’ event in my blog. I’m having a little trouble in downsizing it. will send it to you soon.
Thalagam is so good. I really do love the traditional recipes. Nice entry!
Sorry I have not been able to post many comments on your site, life has been too hectic. I think CLICK is a fantastic contest. You guys are doing a fabulous job! As always!!
Kanchana
Lovely and informative post, friends. I like the verdict, enjoying sweet and savory by themselves
Let me confess at the outset that that compared to the amount of recipes I browse, I cook but a fraction of them. I read more for the information, stories, and traditions associated with a recipe rather than the recipe per se. I have enjoyed reading your wonderful blog though I have’nt gotten around to trying any of the dishes as yet.
As a Tamil-speaking Kerala Brahmin (whose family makes something along the lines of Ammupati’s kari recipe), and one who recently tried Saffron Trail’s thalagam, I can vouch for the difference between the two dishes. Apart from the use of sesame seeds, another major difference between the two is the lack of tamarind in our version.
There, I thought I should put in my two cents and I actually did!!!
Thanks for putting all that work that goes into a food blog. Keep up the good work…
Kali and the koottu (or even the kari) go so well together. My mom makes a sambhar type version of the koottu (i think it is called yezhu kari koottu or something) and my Chithi makes the Kerala style kari and they taste amazing with kali. Wow i shud make it today…
Hi,
Nice presentation… I make this often .. Thanks for sharing.
FYI – Sivan does not have beginning or end, so no birthday!!! As per the Puranaas, on this day we celebrate the blissful cosmic dance of Sivan that energizes this world.
Hi All,
Love this website. I am not sure if i have missed, but is there a link in this website that lists all the Tamil Iyer festivals and the dishes prepared during those festivals?I am not an Iyer but was brought up in a community that had people from all castes and religions. I loved their food especially. I am now working and am away from all of them. Can you please help answer me?
Thanks,
Nivetha
sorry we don’t.
[...] The way the festival is observed differs entirely, though. Tamil Iyers celebrate Thiruvathirai to commemorate the birth of Lord Shiva. It’s also called Ardhra Darshnam. Both genders participate in the rituals. (See this post) [...]