Kerala Dance Form

Margamkali: is a very ancient and the most popular artistic performance prevalent among the Syrian Christians of Kerala. The word 'margam' means 'path' and it was meant for the propagation of Christian religious ideas. Margamkali is performed mainly by men on festive occasions, especially during the time of marriage. The dance is performed by 12 members moving in a circle around a lighted oil lamp. The oil lamp denotes Christ and the dancers symbolizes his disciples.

The songs of the Margamkali are composed in modern Malayalam. The dancers sing themselves while performing the dance. Unlike other dance forms of Kerala, Margamkali lacks musical accompaniment. The traditional text of the song is an elaboration of the activities and martyrdom of St. Thomas in Kerala. Later many other songs were also added to the original test.

Margamkali is often presented as a stage item today. It is also included as a competition item at the school and college level.

Ayurveda Medicinal Plant

Name: Aatunarivela(Wild mustard, Cleome, Sticky cleome)

Botanical name : Cleome viscosa Linn. 

PLANT DESCRIPTION 
An annual Botanical herbaceous plant with sticky pods. Leaves compound, 3-5 foliate, palmate, flowers yellow in lax racemes from the leaf axils. Fruits capsules, hairy and covered with sticky material. Seeds kidney shaped and turns dark on ripe.  

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES 
Plant pacifies vitiated kapha, intestinal worms, colic, stomach upset, cardio myopathy, diarrhea, fever and dyspepsia.
Useful part : Whole plant. 

Kerala Style Beef Fry Recipe

Ingredients for Nadan Beef Fry Recipe

Beef - 1 kg 
Button onions(Kunjulli) - 1/2 cup 
Bay leaves - 2 nos
Garlic – 1 full pod / 10 no’s cloves 
Ginger - A thumb size piece 
Fresh coconut slices – 1/2 cup
Red chilli powder - 1 1/2 tbsp 
Coriander powder - 2 tbsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Garam masala(Kerala style) - 1 tbsp
(Heat and powder 4 cloves, 3 cardamoms, 1 long cinnamon stick, 2 tbsp fennel seeds, 8 black peppercorns, 4 fenugreek seeds, 2 red chilly)
Curry leaves - 4 sprigs
Salt - As reqd
Coconut oil - 2 tbsp

Preparation Method of Nadan Beef Fry Recipe

1)Cut beef into small pieces and wash it well.  2)Chop onions into 2 pieces.  3)Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan. 4)Add ginger, garlic and 3/4th of the chopped onion.  5)Stir it well until it’s a completely sauté, slightly golden in colour.  6)Make a paste of Garam masala, chilly powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder and salt.  7)Add this paste to the onion ginger, garlic mixture and sauté on slow fire till and the oil separates from the masala. 8)At this point, add the beef and saute again on slow flame till the water comes out of the beef.  9)Once the water is fully out of the beef, add the curry leaves and coconut pieces. 10)Cover and cook, adding ½ cup more hot water to cook again on medium flame. Tips/Suggestions:- :- Once the beef starts to cook and you find on an open vessel it takes time, you can use pressure cooker and wait for 3 to 4 whistles and it should be cooked properly. :- You can add 2 tbsp of vinegar too to the beef to cook it properly.