First of all, kudos to Indira not just for hosting a fabulous blog, but also for inspiring many of us to do so. It was her constant encouragement coupled with the enormous void we felt with Pedatha’s passing away that led us to thinking of a culinary tribute in Pedatha’s memory.
JFI or Jihva for Ingredients is a beautiful concept by Indira started on her blog. Online culinary events create strong frames of references among food bloggers. It has been a pleasure to see the enthusiasm and participation on these innumerable blogs. A virtual space where affection is so real. It is tough to believe that we have never met many of them (Indira, have we really not met ) whom we consider such good friends today.
It is fascinating to note the similarity of sound between the words Jihva & Jiva. The former means palate and the latter means life. Jiva in most philosophical schools refers to the embodied soul or self while also meaning ‘life.’ When the prana or life breath leaves the body, it is said, “The jiva has left (the body)”. Since there can be no life without food, Jihva and Jiva have a factual connection. It may be said that of the five sense organs, the jihvendriya (the sense organ of taste) is indispensably related to living because one can continue to live without seeing or hearing, but none can live without food.
We are glad to pay a tribute to Pedatha with JIHVA for May 2008. Pedatha’s birthday is on May 2nd, so the special ingredient we have chosen in her memory is that without which no food can be relished and cherished – Jihva for love. We have chosen this ‘love’ as an ingredient although it is completely non physical, but is still the very soul of cooking. This is the reason why it is believed that when food has been cooked with pure thoughts and loving feelings, its consumption purifies the one who consumes it. As Pedatha always said, “If you cook with love, you cannot go wrong.” It is a necessary and irreplaceable ingredient. You can replace beans with capsicum and black gram with red gram, but love can only be substituted by other expressions of itself such as affection, inspiration, devotion, ‘prema’, ‘mamtaa’, ‘paasam’ and the like.
Jihva and Jiva also have an aesthetic connection. The sustenance of stomach is food, but the food of life is love. To be nurtured is not just a physical need, it is emotional. The palate of the heart can never be satisfied without affection and warmth, the need for which is always aesthetic.
We welcome all of you to participate in Jihva for love. Pay a tribute to that moment in your life, to that person, to that recipe when you experienced the feeling of being ‘nurtured’. There would be many such moments, many such persons, many such recipes in your life. Open the doors of your mind and you will find many such moments, persons and recipes in your memory. Share them with us, in this space where Pedatha’s ‘muddha’ ( see the pic. below) will be remembered forever.
Here are the guidleines for participating in Jihva for Love.
- Write a tribute that you would like to pay to someone in your life, in the form of a vegetarian recipe/s, even a culinary health tip/s. That person could be:
- Someone who is dear to you;
- Someone whose cooking you have loved;
- Someone whose cooking inspires you either to cook, or at least to share the recipes with others.
- A small writeup about that person followed by a recipe/s; what that person means to you; any anecdotes, what that interaction meant to your life and growth.
- In your write-up, focus on what is special about the recipe! Even if it is a very simple recipe, what made it special for you (may be a childhood memory).
- POST THIS RECIPE ON YOUR BLOG IN THE MONTH OF APRIL, LINKING TO THIS EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR POST.
- Include photographs of that person, preferably with you as well as photographs of the recipe, if possible (yes, since it is a tribute recipe, the focus on the person is greater than the recipe).
- Send us the pictures after enclosing in approx. 100 x 100 pixel size with your e-mail.
- If you don’t have a blog, just send us an email and we will post it here.
- Kindly send us an e-mail notifying us of your entry at pedatha@pritya.com, with “JFI” as the subject, and your full name.
- Send in the entries by April 28, 2007. The round-up will be posted by May 2.
Looking forward to your involvement in this.
dear jigyasa and pratibha, this is a wonderful theme and a great way to honour pedatha’s memory.
Thank you Bee, we are hoping for some good tribute recipes from your site, with your excellent photograph magic. It just seemed THE thing to do, something Pedatha would have liked.
Oh what a wonderful thought – and tribute. I was so sad when I heard earlier this year of Pedatha’s passing. And what a way to honor her memory.
I am not a blogger, so I will not be participating (although reading entries with excitement). But I did want to pass on that I often make home-made chicken soup, using my grandma’s recipe. This year she passed away at the age of 99. And every time I make a big pot of stock – making the house smell so good and homey – it makes me feel I am communing with her and continuing her legacy. I think this soup tastes more special because it is always done with love.
.
Dear Diane, your are welcome to send us the tribute recipe. We hope you can tweak it the Vegetarian way, and we will post it here. We know just what you mean, these days we love cooking Pedatha’s recipes even more than before
That’s a wonderful, touchy thought ! Even they we loose someone we love, they are still close to our hearts and everytime we cook something they taught us, it feels so special and we think about the love they had for us.
That’s one reason I started my blog, my mom passed away few years back and I still miss her. Each and every recipe I make I feel it would have been great if my Mom tried it and judged it. She was my closest friend!
I’ll definitely participate in this event and share something which my Mom used to cook for us with love.
Thank you.
Dear Rathna, Just like you, I lost my mom too. I had a cookery collection of hers written by hand for years, until I lost it while shifting home once. Reading your comment, I am filled with nostalgia too of the delicious Gujarati food she prepared. I still keep hoping that some day I will find that recipe collection.
Jigyasa
Hi Jigyasa and Pratibha,
Definetly try to participate in this event.
As above mentioned mudda from elderly people always filled with premanuraglu and asrivadalatho nindinatuvantidi.
Hope to see many more recipes on your event.
Vineela
Dear Vineela, Telugu is indeed one of the sweetest of languages! Your words fill us with such joy because we could understand them, though we dont know the language. Prem, Anurag, Aashirwaad (is that right?), these are words we use in Hindi too! The Sanskrit connection – simply beautiful.
Dear Jigyasa and Pratibha, Your theme fits the entry I had in mind to post shortly. Glad I could participate right away.
That’s just too good. Its going to be a real pleasure to see tribute recipes from many of you. A tribute, in a certain sense, is something so individual, and yet has a shared emotion since each one of us has someone who made a difference to our lives
.
What a lovely and fitting tribute to dear Pedatha. The best dishes are seasoned with love, indeed.
You ladies are the best!
Linda, thank you, you seem like an old friend, with your keen interest in our book from the beginning.
Amazing theme – I have read so much about Pedatha through the blogosphere. Would definitely participate.
Welcome here. Look forward to your participation. This virtual reality is truly astounding.
Hi, your tribute made my eyes fill with tears. I think this will be the first food blog event that I participate in. Thanks so much for creating such a wonderful concept.
Dear Harini, This is our first blogging month too, and therefore our first online event. It is a concept as old as time, just needs to be revived and revisited to keep us connected.
such a great thought and event…will surely participate to honour pedatha’s memory!
Dear Srivalli, Your email id is inspiring, since Love is defined as differently in every season
, look forward to a new season from you in your tribute recipe.
Dear Jigyasa and Pratibha,
. I am really glad to see you both start blogging which is a great tribute to Pedatha.
Beautifully written. What a beautiful thought about Jihva and Jiva, without which there is no meaning to life or no life at all
My blog is dedicated to two special people in my life and your theme just fits most of the recipes I have already posted. I cant wait to participate in this month’s JFI.
Dear Sia, Your site was the place we first saw all the online events, as you can see in the link at the top of this post. It would be lovely to see some new tribute recipes from you for Jihva for Love. Truly looking forward.
Dear Jigyasa and Pratibha,
This is going to be a humble tribute and honor from bloggers to Pedatha. I will surely participate.
Sarada
Thank you Sarada, we look forward to your tribute in Pedatha’s memory. The bonding we see in the blogging community is simply awesome.
Dearest Jigyasa and Pratiba,
First of all, Welcome to this amazing world of Food Blogging and its our pleasure to have you both around. the theme that u chose for JFI is just amazing as this gives us a chance to pay a tribute for ppl who mean a lot in our lives!.. Just one quick question – Is inclusion of the photograph of the *person* mandatory?
Siri
Dear Siri, Thank you for the warm welcome. To answer your question, a picture always gives the reader a deeper connection, but in a tribute recipe, the only thing mandatory is ‘love’.
I forgot to mention – that I am a huge fan of ur book “Cooking with Pedatha” and Thanks for bringing such a prodigious book!
Thank you Siri, it was an absolute pleasure working on the recipes for the book with Pedatha, it was her patience and delight with our endless questions that made it all happen.
Welcome to the food blogging world – I find this a place which warms your heart and soul – and your choice for the Jihva ingredient is a timeless one. It will honour the memory of Pedatha who seemed to be the kind of person with boundless love – your words reflect it.
Hope to come up with something fitting!
Miri
Dear Miri, We are so touched by your words…Pedatha always said that if people liked our book, it was simply because it was from the heart. Guess it is the best place to operate from, and of course with the mind’s agreement as well
. Look forward to your entries.
Pratibha & Jigyasa
Excellet theme and welcome to this wonderful world! You will in due course discover all the love here shared virtually but heartily across miles!
Dear Nirmala, Lots of hearty virtual love to you
. We are enjoying ourselves as bloggers, and are now surprised at why we took so long to get here! Look forward to seeing your tribute recipe soon.
Dear Jigyasa and Pratibha, Your mail abt Pedatha was in the spam folder for a while… I was checking Mahanandi and read about Pedatha’s Demise. My heartfelt Condolences to you and the entire family, wellwishers and admirers. I’m so sorry I could not respond earlier. This is a wonderful theme to express our love, affection and gratitude to our loved ones. Thank you for hosting such a wonderful event and Welcome to the blogging world! Hope to see many more interesting recipes, columns from you.
Thank you Dee for your heartfelt words. Pedatha was an amazing person and we just cant stop missing her and our chats with her on the phone.
.
The blogging world is truly amazing, of course, we started the blog and immediately left for The London Book Fair, so thats slowed us a bit, hope we catch up soon
That’s a beautiful writing about Jihva and Jiva . Perhaps we all should keep on spreading words about the now so known terms of Sanskrit. I just love that language.
.
.
This is a nice theme you choose for JFI this month , I am sure to be a part of .Now lets me see what can I come up with
Thanks you for this beautiful post Jigyasa and Pratibha
Dear Pooja, What is even more beautiful is common sounds between languages
. Glad you like the writeup. Also, look forward to your tribute recipe/S.
List this event to Tastes of India . So that others can learn about this nice theme about Jihva .
go here – http://connect.sailusfood.com/suggest-a-feed/
Hi, Thanks for the lovely suggestion….will do so at the earliest.
My husband belongs to Hyderabad and I was looking for a nice cookbook to learn Andhra food
I bought Cooking at Home with Pedatha just about a month ago and made 2 dishes from it for him. I’m so glad I chanced upon your blog too.
I also know someone from the Giri family… Sujatha was my senior at University.
I will definitely see what I can make for this event.
Dear Raaga, Would love to know what recipes you tried from the book! Did your husband like them? Andhra cuisine is so varied, as are most cuisines, depending on the region within each state? This book features recipes from East Godavari region since Pedatha was from there.
Are you referring to Sujatha from Chennai?
http://chefatwork.blogspot.com/2008/04/nankhatai.html
Here’s my entry
Dear Raaga, That’s such a beautiful post…with memories and recipe all intertwined together. ‘Floodgate of memories’ – what a lovely phrase! Also, see how our memories are such links – in this case V Aunty and your Amma
. Enjoyed reading it.
Jigyasa & Pratibha
I don’t know who Pedatha is but she is obviously a very loving and special person! Like you said food however made tastes good when it is made with love and care! Good theme!
Dear Harini, Whenever we praised Pedatha, she said that all grandmothers are special because they cook with love…looks like that was a powerful understanding she had about the relationship of Life and Love.
Dear J &P and Pedatha,
In loving memory of mine and your Grandmother:
It would be my honor to share the goodness of recipes that have been passed to me to share with others.
Great concept and theme, as the lessons of Grandmothers are priceless!
Lots of love coming at you, uh-oh, watch out hugs and kisses are being intercepted by the Colorado winds and blowing your way! Catch them!! Randi
Dear Randi, How can we forget your praise for Pedatha’s face and the book when we met at Beijing? We look forward to some great recipes from your book and some others as well.
With love & affection, J & P
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Thanks so much for stopping by my blog – and yes , you are right , I chose my blog name “Miri” because it means Pepper in Marathi (didn’t know it meant the same in Telugu!)
Hi Pratibha and jigyasa – Just sent in my entry & in case it goes into spam here’s the link;
http://tumyumtreats.blogspot.com/2008/04/almond-macaroons-for-my-mom-jfi-april.html
Do let me know whether it is alright as I see I have somewhat deviated from the rules!
If not, I will remove it!
Hi…
The write-ups about Pedatha reminded me of our Mattemma…cant talk enough about her dishes…and she left us 11 years back…unfortunately I do not have any of her snaps at hand. Can i still enter a recipe? please let me know
i have sent u my entry..i hope u received it.plz let me know…thanks
http://connect.sailusfood.com/2008/04/27/dadis-memories-and-tamarind-jaggery-chutney/
this is my entry for jhiva for love
thanks
priyanka
Hi,
Sent you my entry on 25th. In case you havent received it, here is link.
http://ta5tebuds.blogspot.com/2008/04/to-manni-with-love.html
Thanks for hosting this lovely event!
Hi..I have sent in my entry…here is the link
http://cooking4allseasons.blogspot.com/2008/04/ariselu-or-athirasallu-with-love.html
Hi,
here is my entry for jihva for love.
This is my first entry from my blogspot,hope i could see it in the round up.
Beautiful Ingredient. Here is my entry, i will send the same to your email as well.
http://hotwok.wordpress.com/2008/04/28/milagu-kari-pepper-mutton/
Hi Jigyasa and pratibha,
I have sent u my entry, in case u don’t get my email so here’s link for my entry.
http://vegetarianmedley.blogspot.com/2008/04/american-paplutribute-to-my-papa.html
thanxx.
Hi,
Here is my entry to Jhiva for Love : http://healthydietforyou.wordpress.com/2008/04/29/cherished-recipes-from-swarnammas-kitchen/
I really enjoyed participating in this.
Thanks for hosting
Hi, hope your recd. my new entry. I have replaced the earlier one as it had eggs. I posted it just before midnight, in the nick of time
. Here it is:
http://tumyumtreats.blogspot.com/2008/04/this-post-is-extra-special-because-dish.html
I loved doing this
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i miss the way we were eating our food..like ritual in itself..with proper respect..
but now days we just eating like animals..
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