The karkidaka kanji has the flavour of coconut milk, a complex mix of herbs, and a dash of fenugreek’s bitterness. It also has the slight crunch of shallots fried in ghee...the rice-based gruel had during the Malayalam month Karkidakam , is as complex as ordinary ‘kanji’ (rice gruel) is simple.
Karkidakam coincides with the monsoons, a season that was in the past considered tough due to the combination of heavy rains and shortage of fresh produce. According to Ayurveda, the body is most susceptible to illnesses at this time.
“Because of the rain and cooler temperatures, immunity is at its lowest. There is moisture in the air, water-borne diseases and cold, cough and fever are common. The body has to be prepared for the next year and karkidaka chikitsa is designed for it. The karkikidaka kanji is ideally part of the wellness regimen of this season,” says Dr TP Sarasa, retired superintendent and head of the department, Swasthavritta (community medicine), Government Ayurveda College, Tripunithura. The kanji is considered the simplest way to rejuvenation; to boost immunity and protect against infections. “There is no quick-fix, however, wellness has to be part of your dinacharya (daily routine),” says Sarasa.
In the past the kanji was made at home with njavara rice, dasapuspham and coconut milk. Today ready-to-cook packs can be found in supermarkets. These, however, use dried herbs and ingredients.“Herbs that comprise the dasapushpam are wild plants that sprout only after the rains start and are difficult to find while these kits are being packed,” says Dr. Suja Nair, a Ayurveda practitioner, pointing out that the kits are prepared in advance to hit the stores in time.
Each item has a specific role and helps balance and offset the effects of each other. “Usually the primary components are the same, but there are local variations depending on availability of herbs and spices,” says Dr. Sarasa. Njavara rice is cooked with dasapushpam extract and dry ingredients such as uluva (fenugreek seeds), ashali (garden cress) jeerakam (cumin) — depending on taste — topped with coconut milk or coconut paste and tempered with ghee and shallots.
Let’s take a look at the components:
Njavara rice: An important grain in Ayurveda, it has two varieties: golden yellow glumed and black glumed. Black glumed is used for its medicinal properties. Grown in north Kerala, it matures in two to three months. It is a diuretic and boosts immunity. It helps deal with diseases of the bones, digestive disorders and skin infections. Njavara rice is also used as kizhi (pack) for massages.
Dasapushpam: The 10 flowers are mukkutti (biophytum sensitivum), thiruthali (morning glory), kayyoni (false daisy), cheroola (mountain knotgrass) ,nilappana (golden eye-grass), karuka (India doab or bahama grass), muyalcheviyan (lilac tassle flower ) , vishnukranthi (tender dwarf morning glory), puvankurunnila (little ironweed), and uzhinja (balloon plant). Although the name suggests flowers, juice is extracted from the whole plant, added to the rice and cooked. When combined, these herbs have medicinal properties — antioxidants, diuretic, aid in bowel movement, boost immunity, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory.
Garden Cress, fenugreek seeds, cumin: The dry ingredients not only they add flavour but are they are also said to cool the body, aid digestion, stimulate appetite and treat skin disorders. Fenugreek seeds and garden cress are loaded with vitamins, and are storehouses of minerals.
Coconut: Either the milk extract or paste enhances the flavour and adds fat content to the gruel without extra oil.
Ghee and shallots: Ghee also provides the fat content. “Contrary to perception, it is very necessary for the brain, which is 60% fat. Fat aids in lubrication of our joints,” says Dr. Sarasa. The Shallots add flavour and have cooling and properties, which would manage the heat that some of the other ingredients would generate. Its anti-bacterial properties. help since most of the herbs are plucked from the ground.
Sidelights
Karikkidakam is also known as Ramayanamasam , when the Ramayana is read daily. It is considered the right time to visit the four temples - naalambalam - associated with Lord Rama and his three brothers.
Women wear dasapushpam (the ten flowers) in their hair.
The leaves of the one of the flowers (of dasapushpam ) are crushed and the dark green-black juice is applied as bindi, it is considered to be medicinal and believed to be auspicious.
Karkkidaka vaavu , or the no moon day in the last month of the Malayalam calendar, is a day for prayer and rituals to honour the memory of the dead.
