Kadalaekai Parishe - Groundnut Festival - Blog Event

BLOG EVENT

KADALAEKAI PARISHE @ CHITRA AMMA'S KITCHEN




Kadalaekai Parishe is an annual festival celebrated on the last Somvara (Monday) of the Karthika month, which usually falls inthe last week of November. It is a time when the farmers harvest groundnuts and a groundnut fair is held for two days with great festivity.

According to a 600 year old legend, a bull created great havoc to the livelyhood of the local farmers by devouring and distroying all the groundnuts grown in their fields. Unable to control the menace by any other means, the farmers finally surendered to the Lord whom they thought was in the guise of the bull, and pledged to offer the first crop to Him every year. Accordingly offering the yield to Basava - the sacred bull - and selling the produce under His surveillance became a tradition.


Kempegowda the founder of Bangalore installed a huge sculpture of a Bull which was found near by, atop the hillock. The traditional groundnut festival is held anually around the Basavana Gudi / Bull Temple and the colourful 'mela' is a feast to the beholder's eyes. Farmers from not only around Bangalore but also from the neighbouring states assemble here to sell their produce. The huge mounds and mounds of groundnuts of all colours and shapes look delightful. Balloon men, bangle vendors, hand bag shops, ceramic artifacts, colourful plastics, carts selling street food, stalls selling savouries and sugar dolls, the milling crowd, and finally the traffic police booming instructions through their speakers, everything adds to the din.



I managed to squeeze in into the fair with my friends on the second day of the fair, clicked a few pictures and bought Kadalaekai too!!

OCHI KADALEKAI RECIPE
'Ochi kadalaekai' or boiled groundnuts is a favourite 'time pass' dish of the Bangaloreans. There is never a dull business moment around an 'ochi kadalaeki' cart stalled at nooks and corners, at any point of the day. A huge aluminium vessel full of hot steaming delicious ' kadalaekai' is a star attraction for people from all walks of life. Boiled 'kadalekai' is a healthy delicious snack for a cold wintery day.

TO PREPARE
Thoroughly wash the groundnuts. Boil them along with the peel, along with a dash of salt for 15 minutes. Drain the excess water and enjoy.


Never peel and serve! It is more fun to peel, pop, and relish the cooked hot nuts one by one all by yourself.


KADALAEKAI PARISHE EVENT DETAILS
Inspired by the 'Kadlaekai Parishe' we decided to hold 'Kadlaekai parishe' at Chitra Amma's Kitchen.
What can be submitted?
Any recipe that involves groundnuts! Mains, sides, dessert, beverages, snacks, sweets, dips - all dishes are welcome! Include a photographs of the dish. You may send as many entries as you wish!
How to submit your entries?
You can submit your entries in any of the following ways:
1) Make a fresh and independent post on your blog. Please link back to this event in Chitra Amma's Kitchen. Drop us a mail with the link to your post at chitra.ammas.kitchen@gmail.com or chitra(dot)ammas(dot)kitchen(dot)@gmail(dot)com, with the following details.
Your Name:
Name of your post:
URL / Link:
You need not send any details or photos, as we will directly pick it up from your post.

2)Facebook Entries. Submit your posts and photographs on the Facebook Page of Chitra Amma's Kitchen

- This event is open till 5th January 2011. We will post a round up of all the entries within the 3rd week of Jan 2011.

- Feel free to contact us via mail or the Facebook Page or in the comments section with your questions if any.