adventure challenge – Rickshaw Challenge

Chennai's Month of Music Begins

David — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 15:48:28 +0000

December is Chennai’s month of music, where musicians (and fans!) come from all across India (and beyond!) for the “Madras Music Season”.

Music is one of the unique treasures of India, with a style and culture unlike anywhere else of earth. For those who want a taste of Indian classic music, Chennai’s month of music provides a banquet of high quality performances. Known as the Madras Music Season, and taking place from December to January, the festival draws performers and music lovers from across the country, and the Indian diaspora worldwide. With over one-and-a-half thousand recitals over more than month, it is said to be the largest music festival anywhere on earth!
(Above photo by Charles Haynes.)

The History of the Festival

Opening concert, 2011 (Photo by Xavier Serra)

The festival first took place in 1927, celebrating not only music but religious devotion too. After initially being held in March, it soon moved to December, the Tamil month of Margazhi, which is particularly holy for Hindus. This scheduling also helped emphasize the importance of Indian traditions as opposed to the British seasonal celebrations of Christmas and New Year; at a time of burgeoning support for Independence, this was a powerful statement. The festival celebrated the proud history and majesty of Indian cultural traditions, in direct contrast to the supposedly superior British culture which had been imposed upon the locals by imperialism. Thus the festival began as not merely a celebration of music, but as a political act. As well as music, the festival has always included lectures, debates and storytelling performances, emphasizing the link between music, religion, and culture. In its long history the festival has grown to include dance, drama and other non-Carnatic art forms. While afternoon events are usually ticketed and often sold out, concerts in the mornings and evenings are free, so everyone can experience the music!

What is Carnatic Music?

Photo by Martin Spaink

Carnatic music is a traditional style of music found in the Southern states of India, based not only on instrumental prowess but on devotion to the Gods. It is highly focused on singing, and usually performed by small ensembles. The tradition developed over hundreds of years, largely dependent on learned compositions mixed with improvisation. The secrets of the tradition are closely guarded, and Chennai’s month of music is regarded as the best way to experience the true genius of the musical style. A standard performance will include a singer leading, with melodic accompaniment in the form of violin, a rhythmic accompaniment, and a tambura (pictured above), which acts as a drone. The ubiquity of drones is part of what makes Indian music unique; across world music this is a rare phenomenon, only notably found elsewhere in Scottish bagpipes and Georgian polyphonic singing styles. Performances at the festival are held in venues known as “sabhas”, which represent small organisations existing to celebrate and promote Carnatic Music; hundreds of these can be found all across Chennai.

Cyclones & Controversy

Cyclone Vardah

Chennai’s month of music this year has had a problematic start, thanks to the severe weather recently suffered in the city. Cyclone Vardah meant that most of the promised concerts of December 12th had to be cancelled, just as the concert season was getting into full swing. Hopefully the rest of the month will prove to be calmer. However, that’s not the only problem: critics claim that despite the festival’s proud traditions it has become elitist, and now represents the exclusive musical environment that it initially set out to rebel against. However, with many people from all over India attending, it’s popularity can’t be questioned; and the best way to judge is to visit yourself!

If Chennai’s month of music tempts you, it’ll still be on when the next rickshaw challenge, the Classic Run, kicks off on December 28th. Travelling almost 1000km South to Trivandrum, it’s sure to be an exciting journey through the incredible South Indian countryside. You’ll see places most tourists never do, while travelling in the most authentic way possible. With stops along the way showcasing the complex history and vivid beauty of the region, it promises to be 10 days of adventure, discovery, and an awful lot of fun…

Are you crazy enough to come along for the ride? Then join us on the next Rickshaw Challenge. Get a team together and let’s see you at the starting line! If you want to join us in spirit, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagramto keep up with our latest antics.

Essential South Indian Spices

David — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 09:39:12 +0000

Southern Indian food is all about spice.
It’s no secret that India has amazing food, and in every region you travel new culinary discoveries await. There are vast differences between the cooking styles of different areas of the subcontinent. North Indian cuisine has noticeably central Asian influences, with greater use of meat, thicker sauces (often featuring yoghurt) and is usually accompanied by bread. Southern India is the ideal location if you love vegetarian food, rice, lots of coconut and, of course, spice.

Photo by Joe Mon Bkk

While the various regions of Southern India have different culinary styles — Udupi cuisine, the tastes of Kerala, the curries of Andhra Pradesh — there is one thing that unites them: mastery of spice. If you want to understand Southern Indian food, you need to know the spices used. Often exported, the spices grown in South India are best tasted in the country itself. Here is a selection of the most essential South Indian spices!

Cardamon

Both green and black cardamom seeds are essential South Indian spices and are popular all over the region. Green cardamom is the most popular, and most versatile, used in everything from spice mixes (like garam masala) to desserts. Black cardamom has a powerful, smoky taste, and the pod can be incredibly spicy. As well as its delicious flavour, cardamom is revered for its health benefits: it’s said to possess numerous favourable qualities, including being anti-carcinogenic, anti-depressant, a detoxicant, and a cure for gum disease! By weight, it is the world’s third most expensive spice.

Tamarind

Tamarind is actually a fruit, whose insides are sour though they can become sweeter, depending on ripeness. Often used as a paste, it’s an important feature of South Indian cuisine, particularly in Andhra Pradesh, where it’s mixed with chilli powder, and Tamilnadu, where it is the most commonly used souring agent. Used in everything from stews to sauces, desserts to drinks, it’s also prominent in the West as an ingredient in Worcestershire sauce.

Red Chilli

Perhaps the most famous of all essential South Indian spices is red chilli. Brought to India by the Portuguese, their former colony of Goa is still known for its chilli-based curries like Vindaloo. However, chilli is now an important part of cooking all over South India, and three-quarters of chillis exported from India actually come from Andhra Pradesh, not coincidentally known as home to the spiciest food on the subcontinent. Chillis are usually dried and ground up into a powder, though can be used whole, for example in tadka. If you can handle the spice, they also regarded as good for your health.

Turmeric

Photo by Simon A. Eugster

The bright orange-yellow spice turmeric is often used to give curries an attractive golden colour but watch out: it stains. Can be used fresh, dried, or in a paste. Known as an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory, it’s particularly useful for sufferers of arthritis.

Black Pepper

Though popular worldwide, black pepper is native to South India, originating in the Western Ghats and the Malabar Coast. The heavy, regular, rainfall of the region provides the perfect conditions for growing the spice, which the area still exports to much of the world. Usually ground straight onto dishes, black pepper is also very good for your health: it speeding up the metabolism, strengthening bones, and protects the liver!

Clove

Though originally found on Indonesia’s Maluku islands, cloves are now one of the essential South Indian spices. The dried flower buds provide a characteristicly warm flavour, and the whole bud is often cooked in oil or ghee to spice a dish, though too much can overpower other flavours. Cloves have long be known to be healthy, and play a role in tradition Indian Ayurvedic medicine.

Nutmeg

Nutmeg is the seed of the Myristica fragrans tree, which also originated in the Maluku Islands of Indonesia; another spice, mace, is derived from the seed’s dark red shell. Ground then dried, nutmeg adds warth to a dish and is often used in biryanis, although, unlike in Western cuisine, South Indians rarely add it to desserts. While nutmeg contains many healthy nutrients, and in medium doses is an effective anti-depressant, avoid consuming large quantities: it’s actually a dangerously powerful hallucinogenic!

Cassia (or cinnamon)

Cassia, derived from the bark of a Chinese evergreen tree, is one of the essential South Indian spices, and is often sold abroad by the name cinnamon. True (Ceylon) cinnamon, derived from Sri Lanka, is rarer. Cassia, sometimes known as Chinese cinnamon, has a slightly sweeter taste than its namesake and is another spice that Indians use to flavour savoury dishes, while being a popular dessert topping in the West.

Taste the essential South Indian spices!

If you want to experience true South Indian food, as well the region’s glorious scenery and thriving culture, why not join us for a Rickshaw Challenge adventure rally? The next race is the Classic Run, a week long trip from Chennai to Trivandrum, beginning on December 28th 2016. You’ll have the chance to experience the wonderful cuisines — and essential South Indian spices — of Tamilnadu and Kerala, while having the adventure of a lifetime!