A perfect idli should be smooth and soft like a baby's bottom: Twitter celebrates World Idli Day
Many believe idli is not at all an Indian food.
Not many people knew that March 30 is observed as World Idli Day before it started trending on Twitter, with photos of the much-loved breakfast food item popping up on timelines.
Many revelled in the fact that idli, which has a strong regional tag attached to it, is being celebrated across the country and also outside.
Today is #WorldIdliDay in honour of my favourite daily breakfast food! Began my day in Thiruvananthapuram as usual with idlis. Always marvel at the ancient geniuses who invented this greatest of all foods.... pic.twitter.com/ciUTBd9CET
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) March 30, 2018
All the best things in the world have a day(well almost!)... even the #breakfast favourite has a day to it. It’s #WorldIdliDay Today. ????????If you had the choice to give your favourite food dish a day, what would it be? pic.twitter.com/PFqHXpvZsO
— hitentejwani (@tentej) March 30, 2018
Celebrating #WorldIdliDay!! If I could, I would have idli all day, every day! Safe to say that it’s one of my all-time favourite food items! Go to #CafeMadras or #AnandBhavan in Matunga, and #HanumanCafe or #HotelSaroj in Chembur for the best idlis ever! #LoveforIdli pic.twitter.com/tPm19D6Roi
— Anil Kapoor (@AnilKapoor) March 30, 2018
According to reports, in 2015, Idli Day was celebrated for the first time under the initiative of Eniyavan, who is also known as the “idli king”.
He is a school dropout and used to work at restaurants until his tryst with idli happened when he was working as an auto-rickshaw driver. He had a regular customer who used to deliver idli batter. It was then that he took interest in idli and in 2003, he made it to the Guinness World Records by making an idli weighing 128kg.
Now, the 48-year-old runs Mallipoo Idli, a Chennai-based company, which specialises in varieties of idlis, including Kung Fu Panda idlis, Mickey Mouse idlis.
A perfect idli
A Tambrahm friend once told me - a perfect idli should be smooth and soft like a baby's bottomLearnt how to make such idlis in Chennai. Posting a pic of the idlis I manage.#WorldIdliDay pic.twitter.com/cYtEp5HjYs
— Yashodhara (@Yashodhara1010) March 30, 2018
How should an idli be?Soft, fragrant and pure white, like Jasmine.#MalliPooPolaIdli #WorldIdliDay pic.twitter.com/qIYlBAlnFH
— Subhashini (@Neelavanam) March 30, 2018
Origin of idli
As people expressed much enthusiasm about idli on social media, the discussion veered towards the origin of the dish, with both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu claiming credit. According to reports, many claim that idli first appeared as “idlika” in Kannada writer Shivakodi Acharyan’s work Vaddharadhana in 920 AD. It again figured as “idrika” in the Sanskrit work Manasollasa in 1130 AD. The word also appeared in Tamil literary works.
Gujarati historians believe that Saurashtrian merchants introduced idli to south India during the 10th and 12th centuries — it was called Iddada.
There are other theories attributing idli's origin to Indonesia and the Arabs.
idli is actually a commie food. A plate of rice suddenly deciding to form a union. #worldidliday
— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) March 30, 2018
Crossover idli
Marvel: 'Infinity War is the most ambitious crossover event in history'Me: Ever had Mix Veg Kadhai szechuan choco-cheese Idli with Salsa ? #WorldIdliDay
— 100rabh™ (@the100rabh) March 30, 2018
No north vs south day
#WorldIdliDay @PMOIndia @narendramodi Ji, Idli is the most popular breakfast item in India. Kindly consider officially declaring Idly as the National Breakfast. Its already available affordably throughout India. Will help decimate North South divisive dirty politics!
— Sushil Kedia (@sushilkedia) March 30, 2018
People may fight over languages but certainly not over accepting idli as one of the best breakfast dish.#WorldIdliDay pic.twitter.com/fTxsxfRHPx
— Ajay (@BluntExpress) March 30, 2018
Every day is idli day
For many in southindia everyday might be a idle day #WorldIdliDay
— SR7 (@SR2277) March 30, 2018
Why homemade idli is the best
If anybody sees the cloth over which idlys are made in hotels ,they wouldn't be trending #WorldIdliDay here ????
— WINGS OF FIRE (@shenoy70) March 30, 2018
That is why home made is best???? #WorldIdliDay pic.twitter.com/stMeVXc91u
— tweety pai (@tweety_pai) March 30, 2018
Idli, CBSE, pakoda
On this #WorldIdliDay the government would ask the students giving re-exams to learn how to make Idlis while they wait for the new dates. Young entrepreneurs who can later master the art of selling Pakodas. #BJPLogic #PaperLeakChokidarWeak #Pakodanomics #PakodaIdliBhaiBhai
— Punarvasu (@Punar08) March 30, 2018
The greatest feeling
What gives the greatest feeling:
— Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) March 30, 2018
Now let me share with you the divine truth. The perfect idly is one that needs NO other accompaniment except a gentle brush of ghee. That is all. NO chutney, NO sambar, NO milagai podi.There you have it. If an idly needs accompaniments, it is NOT a perfect idly. #WorldIdliDay
— Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) March 30, 2018