Spring is in the air! In many Indian cultures April 14 and 15 marks the start of the New Year. This is the time when farmers in India prepare their fields ready for the planting season.

This new planting season is celebrated all over India with feasts and gatherings. To celebrate the festival which is called Vishu in the Southern state of Kerala, our friend Babita hosted a beautiful lunch with her girlfriends last week 💕.

Babita’s had made a delicious array of local Kerala veggie dishes which she served the traditional way – on banana leaves 🍃

Eating on Banana Leaves a Centuries Old Tradition in Southern India

In Southern India eating on banana leaves is a centuries old tradition. Before factories produced modern plates banana leaves were a staple in every household on Southern India. Think of them as disposable paper plates but made by nature. They are used for one time use only and then discarded where they get disintegrated into the soil.

Truly these banana leaves are the most hygienic and environmentally safe way to eat. I grew up in Chennai eating on banana leaves every day. This lovely occasion at Babita’s to eat on banana leaves brought back fond memories of my childhood ❤️. Today, in modern India banana leaves are used mostly on special occasions.

Scrumptious vegetarian dishes to celebrate the start of the planting season

Babita had made an outstanding array of veggie dishes each one different from the next. Made with pumpkin, green beans, carrots, eggplant, cabbage, mango, potatoes, lentils and coconut, the list of amazing ingredients is long. Healthy, wholesome and all seasoned to perfection, and served on beautiful banana leaves! This was a beautiful lunch to remember ❤️.

Pics with the ladies on a gorgeous spring day 🌺

Happy Spring 🌺 !