Celebrating Onam in Inverness at Love Dosa
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A local restaurant has been bringing a taste of Indian culture to the capital of the Highlands.
Love Dosa, based in Mealmarket Close, has been celebrating the annual festival of Onam, which is an occasion for eating large quantities of food and buying new clothes!
We were able to attend the special event where we were greeted by those at the family-owned restaurant in their traditional dress, who explained all about the origins of the festival.
Owner, Fazila Ajikumar said: “According to tradition, the devas plotted to overthrow Mahabali because they were envious of his popularity and authority.
"They sent Vamana, a dwarf Brahmin, on earth to crush Mahabali and drag him to the underworld. Vamana requested from king Mahabali three feet of land as his wish.
"Mahabali provided his own head as a spot to Vamana to put his third foot after measuring the entire cosmos and finding no place to do so, fulfilling the dream. Vamana, however, was moved by Mahabali's charity and granted the king's one and only request to see his realm and subjects, and that's why we celebrate Onam."
The restaurant has been serving up an 18 course (yes 18!) on a banana leaf, followed by a dessert. The meal on a banana leaf is known as a Sadyha (means banquet in Malayalam) which is a traditional feast for Onam. The banana leaf is served with the large side to the right, which is custom for a special ceremony.
The attentive staff brought out 18 dishes one by one, ranging in colour and texture. All the dishes are vegetarian, but were all made vegan on this occasion (a nod to the previous owner of the premises Alleycat cafe).
The dishes included banana chips, plantain fried in brown sugar, lime, ginger, mango, butternut squash and beans, mixed vegetables in a coconut paste, pineapple and pickles. It was also served with rice and small poppadoms.
We were encouraged to eat the meal with our hands, although we were also given a spoon as an option.
Once you have finished everything on the banana leaf, seconds later more food is being brought out to top it up.
“No-one can ever leave feeling like they could have had more,” said Fazila.
“We will keep bringing out more until you fold over your banana leaf to signal that you are done.”
After finishing the food, we were given a sweet rice pudding with sultanas throughout it, that was the perfect sweet dish after the multiple savoury courses.
Fazila added: “We served 150 Sadhya's over the two days and everyone tried using their hands when they saw other people doing it.
“It’s been so good to bring a piece of our culture to Inverness and for others to join in the celebration with us.
“We are looking forward to doing it again next year and having more people come along!”
