Meera woke up to a wonderful smell. It was a happy, yummy smell that tickled her nose.
She followed it all the way to the kitchen where her Amma and Ammachi were busy, busy, busy!
“What are we making?” she chirped.
“We are making a Sadya, my little mango!” said Ammachi.
“A big, happy feast!” Just then, Achan walked in with a stack of big, green leaves.
“And these,” said Achan, winking at Meera, “are our special plates!”
Everyone had a job. Amma stirred a big pot of yellow dal that bubbled happily. Achan made a snowy mountain of grated coconut.
“And you, Meera,” said Amma, “can give our leaf-plates a bath!”
Meera carefully washed the shiny leaves with water.
Soon, it was time to eat! The whole family sat down on the mat. Ammachi took a leaf and placed it in front of Meera.
“Remember,” she said softly, “the pointy tip of the leaf always points to the left.
It’s like a little arrow showing the way to the yummy food!”
Next, Amma brought a rainbow of food! She spooned a little pink pachadi, sweet like pineapple, onto Meera’s leaf.
Then came the avial, full of colourful vegetables.
Meera’s leaf was starting to look like a beautiful painting.
Finally, Ammachi arrived with the most important part: a fluffy, white mountain of rice!
She placed it right in the middle of Meera’s leaf.
“There,” Ammachi said, her eyes twinkling.
“Now our feast is ready.”
Meera watched Amma and Achan. They mixed a little rice with a little curry, all with their fingers!
Meera did it too. A bit of rice with sweet pachadi.
A bit of rice with crunchy avial. Every single bite was a delicious surprise!
Just when Meera thought her tummy was full, Amma brought out small cups. “Payasam!” she announced.
It was a sweet, creamy pudding. Meera slurped it up.
It was the best part of the whole feast!
With a full tummy and a happy heart, Meera watched Achan fold his leaf in half.
“That means the food was wonderful,” he said. Meera folded her leaf too.
The Sadya wasn’t just food; it was a big plate of family, fun, and love.
