It’s that time of the year again when Mylapore is flooded with roadside doll shops, Vijaya Stores is thronged with customers out to buy “Seap-Kannadi-Kumkumam-Manjal,” (Comb, Mirror, Kumkuma and Turmeric)   and items for gifts, and the shopping spree is ever so rampant. It’s also that time of the year where the sale of pulses and lentils reach an all-time high! YES, you guessed it right (Or just figured where I was going at after reading the title.)

Picture Credits: Google.

Golu Season is here and so is the nine days of protein filled healthy food! Navagrahas are the nine planet deities who are said to impact the lives of human beings. It is a common practice to appease these divine beings by offering grains and lentils. So, during Navrathri, sundal is offered each day in remembrance of these brazen deities to appease them and hope that all good things will reign! It’s not only the Navagrahas who are happy during Golu, it’s every mami, mama and child who leaves a house with at least one packet of this healthy and tasty (Yes, finally both manifest in the same food) snack. Here are 9 varieties of Sundal you can make this season!

1. Black Channa (Konda Kadalai) Sundal: This is one of the most common varieties of Sundal that you would come across. Made with black channa and topped with grated coconut, this has 0% fat and makes a wonderful diet snack too!
2. Horse Gram (Kollu) Sundal: It is a good source of protein, iron and calcium and is high in anti-oxidants. Horse gram is known to benefit diabetes and aids in weight loss as it low in fat and high in protein. If taken in moderate quantities, this is extremely good for health.
3. Karamani (Black eyed peas) Sundal: There are two types of the Karamani sundal itself- Sweet and Spicy. Kids are particularly fond of the sweet sundal, and adults, spicy!
4. Thenga-Manga-Pattani (Coconut-Raw Mango-Peas) Sundal: This is a very popular snack sold in Marina beach and is absolutely refreshing and tasty! Sour, spicy, and sometimes sweet, this is the complete package!
5. Pacha Payaru (Green Gram) Sundal: This is one Sundal that a lot of people do not like because it is made of Green gram (Sprouts!) Doesn’t make it any less healthy though.
6. Kadalai Paruppu (Channa Dal) Sundal: Made with a dash of lemon, this is a simple sundal, yet is packed with flavours!
7. Rajma Sundal: This is a relatively new addition to the list of normal Sundals that people make. Rajma has a distinctive taste and the sundal is ever so healthy and one also gets a slight Mexican feel! 😀
8. Ver Kadalai (Peanut) Sundal: Most common, most tasty! The peanuts in this sundal are crunchy as well as soft!
9. Nava Dhanya Sundal: This is made with 9 different lentils/pulses and is completely protein packed. This is usually prepared on the 9^th and last day of Navarathri.

From setting up the golu steps, to brushing up on your Carnatic music, (Or saying, “Enakku paada varaadhu, aunty. Akka paaduva!” From giving gifts and getting gifts in return, the 8 day, 9 nights festival is truly special.

This nicest thing about Navarathri, however is the element of surprise. You wonder what Sundal your mother is going to make that day, what Sundal the pakatha veetu mami is going to give you and how much you are going to collect that evening! The smell of the asafoetida and curry leaves wafting through the house as you come back from school is absolutely divine. It is not every day that you find foods that are healthy as well as tasty (No, Maggi’s “Taste bhi, health bhi” doesn’t count.*MSG*) BUT SUNDAL DEFINITELY IS THAT FOOD.

-Anagha Natraj

You can order sundal and much more on moremilaga.com 🙂