Onam, one of the most famous South Indian festivals, is finally here, and during this time, avial is a must. This traditional dish is a true staple of the grand vegetarian feast. But did you know Avial is believed to have a connection with the Mahabharata? Many people believe that this dish was prepared by Bhima himself. Read to find out.
Avial’s Connection To The Mahabharata
During the 13th year of their exile in the Mahabharata, the Pandavas were supposed to live in disguise. In the Matsya kingdom, ruled by King Virata, they each served a different role, and Bhima disguised himself as a Ballava and worked as a cook and wrestler. During this period, Bhima was known for defeating the mighty wrestler Jimuta in a match and even killing Kichaka, the commander of Virata’s army.
Apart from being a great fighter, Bhima was also known as a food enthusiast. It’s said that while working as a Ballava, a cook in the royal kingdom, Bhima created “avial,” the popular Kerala mixed vegetable dish. There are two popular myths about its origin.
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Two Legends Around The Dish
According to Times Now, the first legend states that on the first day in the kitchen, Bhima didn’t know how to prepare food. As a solution, he gathered all the available vegetables from the royal storeroom. He chopped them and put them in the pot together. For additional flavour, he added coconut and curd.
As per the second legend, one day King Virata had many guests, and the royal storeroom didn’t have enough vegetables. So, Bhima just combined all the vegetables and cooked them with coconut and curd and served them as a new dish.
However, some people also believe that as avial is a popular South Indian dish, it must not have come from Bhima, who at that time was living in the northern region. Another story behind this dish is that in the Kingdom of Travancore, a king once hosted a grand feast called Sadya. The guests kept arriving, but they were almost running out of food. As the king didn’t want to disappoint the guests, he went into the kitchen and cooked all the small quantities of vegetables together. He further added coconut and curd.
There is still no confirmed story on how Avial was first prepared or how it became popular in South India. But this Onam, don’t forget to enjoy it.
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Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/Abraham Gureshi