Tuesday, September 01, 2009

A feast, a feast!! (and a glorious saree)

Last week, Mom and I went to Matunga to buy a saree.
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Not any old saree, but an ombudu-gajam, that Queen of Sarees, all of nine yards long, the ultimate, definitive, TamBram garment.
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We got there a little early, and the saree shop hadn't opened yet. So in keeping with our TamBram roots, we decided to have coffee at Manis Lunch Home. As we went in, both Mom and I stopped in our tracks - there was this giant 10 foot poster outside:

Mani's Lunch Home - Invitation to the Onam Feast on Sep 2
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Talk about authentic food! This is about as good as it gets!
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I wanted to go eat there today, but the morning was manic, so I was stuck at my desk. I have to be content instead, with posting a picture of *another* feast I went to yesterday.
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Palakkad Wedding Meal - and this is only the first course!!

My cousin Ravi got married at Bangalore, and this is the photo of the main muhurtham meal. Very similar to the Onam sadya, in fact, most of the items listed in the menu above were served. We all ate until we burst.
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As for the ombodu-gajam saree, here is mom, looking resplendent in it! I don't know how to drape this saree, so I have promised myself I am going to learn it. I want to look like this some day!
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Mom and Dad with Aishwarya.

The ombudu-gajam is from Lakshmi Silks, another venerable Matunga institution. My grandmother used to buy there, and so does my mom. My sister and I have been sensibly following in their footsteps. The South Cottons at Lakshmi Silks are fantastic.

By the way, if you overhear a conversation between two TamBram women in Matunga, it will likely go something like this:

"Nalla irrukey! Enga vaanginai podavai?". This saree looks good! Where did you buy it?

"Iyengaaru-kadai daan, vera engai!" (this said with a smile). At Iyengaar's shop, where else!

If you are part of the inner coterie, then you'll know that 'Iyengaar' refers to the owner of Lakshmi Silks, a man responsible for much female happiness in the Matunga area.
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Lakshmi Silks is a tiny shop near the kabutarkhana in Matunga Market. Business is done the old fashioned way. You leave footwear outside, step into a small airconditioned area. You sit on the floor, on mats. You explain what you are looking for. Soon, the sarees emerge, silk and cotton, exquisite Kancheevarams, beautiful Mangalagiris, checked Chettinaads...your head reels with pleasure. You take your time. You examine everything.
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Perhaps it is that arresting maroon that calls out to you, the one with the temple motif and the glorious golden pallu. Or perhaps it is that beautfiful mango yellow, the one with the green and gold border.
Eventually, you make a selection. You fork out money, watch as the precious saree is wrapped...and then you walk out, clutching your bundle of silken happiness, plotting when to wear it.

Ah, Matunga, Matunga! Long may your shops thrive!

10 comments:

  1. And then on the way back home while clutching the precious saree, one also stops and buys some appams and filter coffee powder (with chicory) from the small stores along Matunga Market, not to mention inhaling the fragrance of the mogra and other flowers that the vendors charge by an arm and a leg (literally).
    Love Matunga Market!!

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  2. Sigh! What a pleasure it was to buy sarees! Unfortunately it is the blouses that get tighter by the minute that discourage me from buying more sarees..............

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  3. Ah! Onam saapad - naakula tanni oorings. And Matunga is our favourite haunt - love to hang around there every weekend

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  4. isabel12:13 AM

    Would love to see pictures of your cousin's wedding.

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  5. Vandita1:58 PM

    What a beautiful snap - aunty looks fabulous in this saree and carries it so gracefully - all 9 yard of it. Uncle and Aishu are looking great too.
    I remember when you and aunty dragged me to a shop to buy a saree for me in Chennai for Roopa's wedding..and I think that beautiful (orangish and Green) kanchivaram was my most worn saree for special occasions..till I was wearing sarees regularly. Now the laziness, seeking of convenience, cold weather here and office dress codes have been my various excuse to unfortunately fade the sarees away from my wardrobe.

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  6. The ombadu gajam is not for all - it rides up to become a bulbous mini-skirt, unless you have the grace to take short steps. But Matunga... temples, flowers, food and the god photo kadai that has been around for generations.

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  7. The spread on the leaf looks good. . . . . .the only thing out of place is the plastic glass :-(

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  8. Wow....Matunga.....reminds me of my cosy little home opposite Kapole nivas, where my mamanar & mamiyar stay....I used to love my stay there..visiting the pillaiyar kovil in the station, then the Rajarajeshwari Temple (Bhajana samajam) where my mamiyar would almost everytime, introduce me to her friends & known people around "hamara bahu hai".....Then the giri store...where one can spend hours looking for musical CDs & religious books.....I just love matunga & hope to come back to the place sooooon!!!!!

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  9. Anonymous2:01 PM

    The main man in Lakshmi Silk Mills is an ex-SIES school student.

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  10. Anonymous8:53 AM

    sep 7 2014 Onam eat at rama nayaks udipi near Matunga station

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