Idli, described as mother of all foods, made its grand entry into the global arena on Monday with Chennai playing host to the first ever World Idli Day. “This is the best tribute we can give to the most safe and nutritious food in the world. Idli is world’s third most popular staple food and it is time we honour this food,” announced Haribhaskar, former chief secretary of Tamil Nadu, who cut a giant 44 kg Idli to mark the day.
While the Idli Day was celebrated at Chennai by Eniyavan, the most sought after Idli maker in Tamil Nadu, a small eatery in Pittsburgh in the USA, too observed World Idli Day with master chef Balasubramanian serving hot and fluffy idlis to his regular customers.
“We do not have big celebrations. But those visiting the restaurant know well that it is Idli Day,” Bala told The Pioneer over telephone from Pittsburgh. Both Eniyavan and Bala told that March 30 would be observed as Idli Day hereafter.
MG Rajamani Iyer, Tamil Nadu Catering Employees Union president, pointed out that with President Obama making his love for Idli open and former president Bill Clinton too waxing eloquence on Idli, it is time Idli was given its place in the global dining table and hence the Idli Day. Eniyavan and Iyer distributed thousands of steaming and fluffy idlis to poor people in north Chennai.
Eniyavan chose Haribhaskar to formally declare the say as Idli day not because of his bureaucratic past. “I have not eaten anything for breakfast other than idli all these years,” said Haribhaskar. He said the nutritious and medicinal properties of Idli has been accepted even in the United States.
“Dr Denton Cooley, renowned cardiac surgeon based in Texas insists his patients eat only idli. The steamed cakes are the most body and soul friendly food as it is assimilated by the body without any harm,” said Haribhaskar.
Zainabee, Eniyavan’s septuagenarian mother, was moved to tears when hundreds of catering agents who all depend on her son for the most delicious Idlis crowned him with the title Idli King. Over the last decade, Eniyavan, who came to Chennai empty handed, has graduated to the big league by his trade mark Malliippoo (jasmine) Idli, an essential ingredient in all feasts.
