Independence Day Celebration!

I am not sure how many readers know there is some other territory (in India), which celebrates the own Independence Day. Yes, 16 th of August is a Pondicherry Independence Day.
Brief History about my native place:
When India gained the Independence from British rule in 1947. Still, few territories battled to get the Independence from French people.
Pondicherry, Mahe, Yanam, Karaikal and Chandernagar remained “French India” until 1954. It took 7 years for French to hand over these territories to India. But Chandernagore was ceded before to India and merged with West Bengal.
France ceded this territories (Pondicherry, Mahe , Yanam and karaikal) on 16 th August, 1963. It remains till now as Union territory, but not a separate State.

We celebrate Independence Day continuously 2 days in a row every year (August 15th and August 16 th).



Coming to the recipe:

I made this sundal with fresh cowpeas. It is pretty much like a salad! I assembled just to take a snap. I mixed all together later. I found some Fresh cowpeas in farmer's market and made this quick fix salad. I didn’t follow any particular recipe; I just worked with colour so here I give what I did.

I boiled some water with salt, switch off the stove and added some fresh cowpeas (let it soak in hot water 2 minutes) and drain it. You can skip this step, it tastes better fresh also!
Added some grated coconut and carrots and placed a red chilli for the chakra.

You can add little seasoning like for Sundal. Heat 1 /2 tsp of oil and add ½ tsp of mustard seeds, hing and 3 or 4 red chillis broken along with curry leaves.
Mix the cowpeas carrot and grated coconut and enjoy the snack!

The Tri color sundal is reaching Pooja event for Independence Day celebration.

Comments

kamala said…
Great info abt Pondi Cham..Love the tri color salad!!
Vidhya said…
nice information about Pondicherry. I visit there whenever i come to chennai to Aurobindo ashram and auroville temple. nice recipe too. Have added u in my blogroll
Suganya said…
Hi....
This sounds healthy to me. Looks so good. Nice presentation. YUM!
Indian Khana said…
That's a lovely and healthy dish...look so gud..and ya thts a gud info abt Pondicherry I Day :)
Illatharasi said…
Independence day celebration in my blog too ;)

Yours look colourful:)

Tagged you.... checkout!
karuna said…
the colours looks so good. really nice
I have always wanted to visit Pondicherry but looks like it won't happen this year. Ah, there's always next year.:)
Lakshmi said…
I did not know Pondicherry celebrated I-day on 16th ...thanks for the knowledge update and salad looks colorful :)
lubnakarim06 said…
Informative words by u. By the way recipe looks gr8. Nice pic. There is a suprise for u in my blog check out.
EC said…
Lovely sundal ..I have a small treat for you here...http://simpleindianfood.blogspot.com/2008/08/masala-puri-with-moong.html
Laavanya said…
Healthy salad there and that's some good info about pondicherry. I still haven't visited and want to....
A_and_N said…
Beautiful picture! The Indian tricolors are awesome!
The best about Pondicherry for me is the low petrol-price ;) Kidding! It is a beautiful place :)
Swati said…
Pondicherry is lovely.. Auroville is amazing isnt it...
The click looks lovely Cham..
Shreya said…
This is too good!:-) Great info. I have something waiting for you at my blog.
Medhaa said…
Excellent Cham looks so good. and Great Entry
Jayashree said…
Didn't know Pondi celebrates a different Independence Day!!!
Beautiful pic....nice entry.
Vaishali said…
The sundal looks lovely, Cham. Didn't know you were from Pondicherry- it's such a lovely place and quite unique.
Sum Raj said…
woo cham..its amazing...i have somthing 4 u..collect it and enjoy
Uma said…
Lovely creation Cham dear! I just can't take off my eyes from the picture. Perfect.
ST said…
Nice info about pondicherry cham:))Tri-colour salad looks awesome and perfect.
Hi cham
thats was an interesting information on Pondicherry ..i did not know about it and your recipe is very healthy and nutritious !
bee said…
very perty sundal. and thanks for the info on pondi's independence day.
mitr_bayarea said…
Cham-

Thanks for sharing history on Pondicherry- patriotic dish is very colorful.
Pooja said…
Thats really informative Cham. I didnt know that. bte, i just had a pondicherry Dosa at a south Indian restaurant here. they served it cut in to diamond shapes, easy to eat like a wrap :D.
So you guys got 2 holidays in a row , ha ? Now I am jealous of you .... he he he ...
Thanks for nice entry too, it looks fabulous.
Madhavi said…
Great post Cham, colorful and healthy. Lovely info abt pondicherry!!!!
Unknown said…
Healthy colourful salad.
Padma said…
Nice presentation Cham! Happy Independence Day in adv
anudivya said…
Hey Cham! First time visiting your blog. And guess was caught my eye? (Other than your recipes of course!) The bit you wrote about Pondicherry! I am from there too, and felt very happy to find a fellow blogger from my home town.
Good job! Nice recipes.

Divya
Sunshinemom said…
I knew about the French Colonies but did not know about the second Independence Day Celebration! Thanks for the input. I have visited Pondichery a few times, and find it quaint even now! You don't find ladies cycling to work these days in any other place, but you can see them in Pondicherry even now!! We visited the Aurobindo Ashram too a couple of years back, but gave the temple a miss as we were on way to Chidambaram! The sundal looks yummy even without tossing
Archy said…
Wow, Nice combination for Independence Day Cham !! Nice picture!!