National
Feasting on Thiru Onam ‘sadya’ in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 4 (IANS) The most important day in the Onam festival calendar – Thiru Onam – was celebrated across Kerala on Monday with the 26-dish ‘sadya’ traditional feast being savoured by most Keralites.
Onam falls in the month of “Chingam” which is the first month according to the Malayalam calendar. In the Onam calendar even though the ‘sadya’ is consumed on the previous day of Thiru Onam and also the following day, the Thiru Onam sadya is the most popular one. It is cooked in all homes cutting across religions.
According to legend, the state had its golden period during the reign of King Mahabali as everyone was contended. Onam is celebrated to mark King Mahabali’s annual visit to see his subjects.
As a norm the 26-dish sadya is served on a plantain leaf. With demand peaking for plantain leaves, the price has crossed Rs 10 a leaf.
Old timers are very particular about the manner in which each of the sadya dishes is served on the leaf in a particular sequence. The dishes include various types of pickles, several vegetable dishes, banana chips, a sweet made of raw banana, a ripe plantain and not to mention sambar, dal, rasam and butter milk.
The only difference in the Onam sadya is that except in the northern districts of the state, in the other areas the sadya is pure vegetarian.
Restaurants, hotels and caterers on Monday had a field day with orders booked well in advance. The price of an Onam sadya in these places ranged from Rs 150 to Rs 700.
Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and his family served the traditional sadya at his home to several cancer patients hailing from the weaker sections of society .
Some people also decided to fast on the day in a mark of protest as their demands were not met.
The scene in the front of the State Secretariat – the seat of power like in the past witnessed a hunger strike for the day, called by three different groups – employees of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation owing allegiance to the Congress-led UDF, retail ration dealers, and LIC agents protesting against their demands not being met.
At Thrikkakara temple, near Kochi, one of the few temples in the country dedicated to Lord Vamana, the sadya started at 10.30 a.m., with more than 15,000 people expected to take part in the feast, which would get over by evening.
Tuesday is also a public holiday for the state government and numerous private organisations, while educational institutions in the state open only next Monday.
–IANS
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National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.