Here is my simple no-onion no-garlic Amavasya special lunch with plantain curry. Check out what veggies to use on Amavasya and why and the lunch menu details here.
The entire last week, I posted some popular Indian flatbreads, and this week I am back with some South Indian lunch menu, but it’s all festive or the auspicious day lunch menu this week. I am not going to share the popular ones like the pongal menu or the Ugadi menu. Let me not reveal them all now, so stay tuned.
Amavasya-
I am starting the festive lunch menu with the Amavasya lunch. Amavasya is the new moon day or no moon day. It’s the day where the men in the family do the pitru tharpanam (a ritual where we pray and do the offerings to our ancestors)
There is a debate where Amavasya is an auspicious day or not. But in our family, we always consider Amavasya as auspicious, and we always start a new venture or initiative on Amavasya day.
The Amavasya days in ashada month, Navratri, Mahalaya Paksha Amavasya, is very auspicious, and we make kheer and vadai also on these days.
Veggies to Use on Amavasya Day-
My mom and MIL always make plantain or broad beans/avarakkai or bitter gourd on the new moon day. They try to use local country vegetables and avoid English vegetables.
Let me be honest here. I do make no-onion, no-garlic food on Amavasya, but I use veggies that I have in hand. If I have a raw banana I use, if not, I don’t bother. As my in-laws are here with us now, we are making sure to use either veggie like broad beans, plantain, or bitter gourd in the menu and other veggies.
Now you may all wonder why we need to use these veggies.
So on the new moon day, we all know that the earth, sun, and moon are in the same line. The moon’s gravitational forces are high on that day, and it affects the water bodies. That’s why the tides are high on the new moon and full moon days. This moon’s gravity impacts the human body, which comprises a lot of water.
So we try to include veggies with high potassium and minerals, which helps to stabilize the body. These veggies act as detox too. I need to read more on this. I will update the post with reference links as I learn more about these.
My Amavasya Lunch Menu-
Today’s lunch menu has many starchy veggies and water veggies and a no toor dal lunch.
For the avial, I have used some carrots and squash, but you can skip and use broad beans, raw banana, snake gourd, etc. I made some potatoes just for the kiddo. I baked a small amount just for the kiddo, and I included that in the thali.
So without any further ado, here are the recipe links.
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Renu says
Interesting lunch menu thali, delicious and yum. Each and every dish looks so nice. Its okay as long as you are following. I too make my adjustments for festive cooking, as it is no easy at times.
Srividhya G says
Thanks much :-)
NARMADHA says
Posanikkai sambar and vazhakai is must for amavasya in our home. Entire platter looks so scrumptious and baked potato curry looks so interesting.
Srividhya G says
Thanks Narmadha.
Rajani says
We don’t follow any of the rituals but that meal is definitely comfort food. Plantains and pepper rasam is a great combination!
Srividhya G says
Yes, it is. Thanks Rajani.
Suma Gandlur says
We don’t follow any diet on Amavasya either but I have seen elders doing the tharapanam thing as well in our family on that day. However I would enjoy that meal any day.
Srividhya G says
:-) Thanks
Srivalli Jetti says
Awesome thali Srividhya, all the dishes look so inviting and easy to manage too right…you have done an excellent job..looking forward to the series!
Srividhya G says
Thanks much Valli.
Harini Rupanagudi says
Wow! We don’t follow the amavasya ritual maybe the previous generation did (me thinks) But the menu sounds wonderful either way
Srividhya G says
Thanks, Harini. Right now my in-laws are with us so we follow it strictly. :-)