Rainbow thosai draws crowds at George Town Heritage Celebrations
GEORGE TOWN: One of the most popular attractions at this year’s George Town Heritage Celebrations was the Penang Hindu Association’s (PHA) rainbow thosai, prepared with natural ingredients instead of artificial colouring.
The showcase formed part of the association’s Art of Relaxation exhibition, combining food, wellness and cultural traditions to encourage visitors to experience Indian heritage firsthand.
READ MORE: George Town Heritage Celebrations draw 30,000 on opening day
Prepared in a vibrant spectrum of colours, the South Indian staple quickly became one of the festival’s most photographed attractions, drawing curious visitors eager to discover the secret behind its striking appearance.
The colourful thosai reflected this year’s “Kongsi Cerita” (Sharing Stories) theme.
Housing and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Seri Sundarajoo Somu said the thosai demonstrated how a traditional dish could evolve while remaining true to its roots.
“Although thosai is our heritage, today they have taken it one level higher.
“These thosais are multi-coloured because they are made from different natural ingredients, giving each one its own colour and flavour.
“There is nothing artificial about them. We use butterfly pea flower, spinach and curry leaves, beetroot, carrot, turmeric and purple cabbage,” he told theSun.
Beyond the colourful dish, PHA also introduced visitors to yoga sessions, demonstrations of varma kalai (pressure point massage) by the Malaysian Varma Kalai Association, masala tea served in traditional clay cups, and an activity in which visitors painted and kept the cups after enjoying the beverage.
Dr K. Kaniappan of the Malaysian Varma Kalai Association demonstrated the varma kalai practice, and curious onlookers gathered as he explained how pressure applied to specific points is traditionally believed to relieve pain and restore wellness balance.
Sundarajoo said the demonstration offered visitors an opportunity to discover a less-known aspect of Indian heritage.
“According to tradition, this knowledge is linked to Bodhidharma, the Indian Buddhist monk who travelled to China and whose teachings became associated with the Shaolin Temple and its martial arts.”
PHA president Datuk P. Murugiah said the exhibition was designed not merely to showcase Indian traditions but also to encourage the public to appreciate and experience them.
“The traditional practices represent a valuable aspect of our cultural heritage.
“By preserving and sharing them, especially with the young generations, we could ensure the continuation of our cultural identity while helping visitors appreciate the ingenuity of past generations, which could inspire the future.”
