* Vathal, vadam, and appalam preparation is an annual ritual in every south Indian household. It's that time of the year when the dough for the fryums is prepared and spread on white cotton cloth, dried under direct sunlight on the terrace until they become crispy. A stone or two are placed on the corners of the cloth. Women have an added duty to chase the crows away from disturbing the arrangement.

* Vathal is that which is made out of dried vegetables and added to sambar or vathal kuzhambu. Vadam, on the other hand, is made from a paste out of rice or sago, Although the rise of supermarket products has taken over our consumption, traditional vathal and vadams continue to stay relevant and find the likes of this generation