5 Years of Blogging, Celebration with Indian Thali Mela & a Giveaway!

Yes it's been 5 years since starting this wonderful space, that has become an integral part of my life! A heart felt thanks to all my readers and friends for all the support I have had for these five years of  blogging. What started as something as a way to something that's been a dream, has become an integral part of my life. Not just me, my entire family has come to love this space.

This blog has given me so much, so many wonderful friends and readers. I have learnt so much through the process and I hope it has helped some in the way.

To celebrate the occasion, I decided to have two interesting events. 

Indian Thali Mela:

No celebration is complete without a Mela. My first blog anniversary was Dosa Mela, and what followed has been such exciting Melas all around.  This time I decided to do the big thing, the Indian Thali. The Indian Cuisine is so well represented by the Thali.

I am so excited to say that I would be creating an eBook with the entries that come for the Mela. I will be selecting the entries on different criteria, like the picture quality, the entries that are included. The entries that make to the eBook will be based on selection criteria. Will either be putting up a polling or have judges do the selection. The judges decision will be final.

PS: By default all entries will be considered for the eBook. If you don't want your entries to be part of this wonderful eBook, please send me an email on the same.

The guidelines for the Indian Thali Mela are as below:

Photo Credit


From now till May 20th, post an Indian Thali on your blog.

• Link back to this announcement is mandatory
• Usage of the logo is appreciated as it helps spread the word.
• Both Veg and Non Veg entries are accepted.
• Multiple entries are accepted. 
• Mandatory picture of the entire thali is a must. 
• Atleast one dish in the featured thali has to be a new dish, you can link to your other dishes on your blog.
• If you are including many new dishes, if you wish you need not post all the recipes in the same post, but post later and link back with the same Thali picture.
• If you want to submit entries from archive, the entries should at least be posted during 2012. If you are posting an archive the post should be updated with a link back to this event along with the Logo.

The Thalis can be of two types:

Festival Thalis that has more dishes and that which is normally cooked during a festival or special occasion. Minimum dishes can be about 7 or more. (though need not stick to 7)

Everyday Thalis: Thalis having 3 - 4 dishes,

Thalis can be breakfast, brunch or meals. It can be of North Indian or South Indian or mix also.

Example

Traditional South Indian Breakfast - 1 - Idli, Sambar, Chutney, spice powder
Traditional South Indian Breakfast - 2 - Ven ponga, Sambar, Chutney, Vada and Kesari, -
Rajathani Thali - Rotis, Dal, one subzi, salad, yogurt w/o Sweet (N Indian)
South Indian Thali - Poriyal, Sambar, Rice, Rasam Curd, papad, w/o sweet (S Indian)
Non Veg South Indian Thali - Chicken Pakoda, Chicken Kura, Mutton Pulusu, Rice, Dal and Curds
Kerala Thali - 

The thalis can be of any state, or mixed also. No restriction on this.

You got to post a mandatory picture of the thali in the traditional method or in modern setup.

Should publish at least one dish per post. Other new posts can also be linked to the linky tool.

Any questions, please send them to cooking4allseasons@gmail.com.

The cookbook Giveaway!

Apart from the Mela, I will be giving away a book The Cake Doctor! I have been so much into baking lately, I thought this book will be a great help.

All you have to do is comment on this post. You are welcome to share your thoughts, what you enjoyed from this blog. I will be choosing the winner on April 15th, 10 PM (IST). So start commenting.

Please do share and promote however you wish..:)

The Giveaway is closed, check out the Winner

Check out the Indian Thali Mela Round up