Rice Vermicelli – A Traditional Festival Food Item

Festivals are enjoyed with tasty and yummy food. If it is a traditional type of food, it really adds value to your festivals. Rice vermicelli made from parboiled rice is one such item and also easy to digest. It is very popular among rice food lovers. It is as good as the cooked rice but at the same time very attractive and tasty item, suitable for the breakfast as well as for tea-time.

Traditionally observing, the festivals have many reasons to celebrate for each of the families. It is appropriate to follow the traditions in the original village house, to the extent possible. Otherwise, at least remember and recollect the olden day memories with children and kinsmen alike.

The traditional extrudate is an appropriate food item for that day of Deepavali, Ganesh Chaturti, Sankranti, Yugadi or likewise festivals. Semiya is also called by various languages as rice vermicelli, Shavige, Sevai, Nool Puttu, Iddiappam or threaded extrudate. It is very delicious in itself and also with the appropriate sweet or spicy side dish, depending on the seasons and tastes of people.

Today festivals find relevance for observing, mainly because, it relieves from hectic lifestyles of city dwellers amidst mechanical everyday life. It is, however, an occasion of exchange of feelings, chit-chatting and eating together to bring the family members under one roof to eat together. Gathering for eating something good and traditional also becomes a festivity. Get-togethers for anniversaries, birthdays or any special ceremonies become grand when there are different varieties of food items. Combination of traditional and modern food items has become trending among the event planners.

Among the festivals celebrated in India Deepavali is an extravagant festival of all. People of all walks of life, look forward in many parts of the world, for this festival to come. Deepavali is an Indian festival which is celebrated a very grandly around the country and worldwide by Hindus and other Indian community. It is famous for new clothes and crackers for children, at the same time it is a traditional occasion passed on from the generations as a cultural festival of Hindus. When people from different parts of the world come home for the festival, the household women have the work pressure to satisfy the needs of the people as well as prepare for festival rituals. In today’s world of fast movement, no one has enough time to follow traditional systems with olden day culture. Formerly, the resources were not much dependent on money and there was no hindrance to observe the festivals.

It is rejuvenating to have a traditional festival with the possible extent of functions to refresh the memories. The first day of Deepavali is known for Children's festival. It would be apt to have an oil bath on this day at very early morning. After bath light a traditional lamp inside the house, before having food. The third day of Deepavali is Gou Pooja or Govardhan Pooja. On this occasion make the children feed the cows and observe this occasion with crackers, lights and fanfare. Eating various food items, especially sweets during Deepavali (Diwali) is traditional enlightenment.

Preparing some special items in the kitchen on festival day brings in enthusiasm and festivity too.

Materials required

Unboiled, parboiled (brown) or raw (white) rice - 3 cups

Salt to taste.

To add further more value to the above rice vermicelli preparation or rice vermicelli from the market, add salt, masalas, tastemakers and flavours to the rice vermicelli according to the occasion. It will be more appreciated by the consumers mainly because, it is much more elegant to serve, easy to have and better in taste.

Method

Keep the tomatoes and onions chopped into small pieces and keep aside.

Prepare to garnish by putting oil, mustard, lentils and red chilly to a pan and keep in low flame until the mustard seeds all crack and burst and become calm. Now put the above choppings, and curry leaves to the garnish pan in the flame. Add the masala powder and turn with a spoon, keep turning slowly. Put the coconut gratings and turn again, Put the rice Sevai and turn in same low flame. Turn again to mix everything well and turn off the flame. Serve hot along with tea or coffee.

During the festivals, all will be active and delicious preparations add value to the family as a whole especially the homemakers. Having good food items and side dishes and sweets followed by high energy activities make the festival colourful and memorable. Rice vermicelli is a preparation, fit for any occasion, be it a simple breakfast or a grand party feast.