A lotus-based traditional feast called Thamara Sadya was held at Ramassery near Palakkad on Sunday as part of an initiative to revive Padma Bhojanam, an old food practice based on different parts of the lotus.
The programme was organised jointly by the Ramassery Gandhi Ashram and Velloor Navajeevanam Trust on the day of Atham. Sumeesh Achuthan, MLA, inaugurated the feast. District panchayat president S.B. Raju was the chief guest. Gandhi Ashram trustee Pudussery Sreenivasan presided over the function.
K.M. Hilal, who promotes natural farming and healthy living, spoke about the history and significance of Padma Bhojanam. Karshaka Prabha State Award winner P. Bhuvaneshwari, senior journalist M.P. Sukumaran and Gandhi Ashram patron N. Shuddhodhanan spoke.
The feast featured dishes prepared from different parts of the lotus, including the leaves, flowers, stems and rhizomes. The menu included lotus-flower thoran, lotus-stem curry, lotus-leaf soup, lotus chutney, lotus-stem pickle, lotus-leaf upperi, lotus sambar, lotus koottu curry, lotus pulissery, lotus avial, lotus payasam and lotus sambharam.
Traditional accompaniments such as thumbappoo rice, pappadam, banana chips, sharkara varatti and pachadi were also served.
Mr. Sreenivasan said that Padma Bhojanam was traditionally prepared once or twice a year by people who recognised the food and medicinal value of the lotus. “The practice gradually faded along with several traditional food practices and local knowledge,” he said.
The initiative seeks to introduce the edible potential of the lotus beyond its use as an ornamental flower. It also aims to connect younger generations with traditional food practices, local knowledge and nature-based living.
The initiative was first started at Velloor in 2025 and has now been brought to Ramassery in Palakkad.
Participants also called for government support to promote lotus cultivation and develop value-added products from the plant. Mr. Sreenivasan said the revival of Padma Bhojanam was intended to preserve traditional knowledge while exploring new food possibilities based on the lotus.
Published - August 16, 2026 08:00 pm IST