"What would you like to have dear?" asked my mother. Gangadharm, who had by then been visiting us a little often, shyly replied "Gun Powder!".

I did not understand the head or tail of that reference. But my mother went back into the kitchen nodding and smiling to get the so-called 'gun powder'. I was super curious to know but was not interested to express my curiosity in front of Gangadharam - "can't come across as naive", I said to myself.

I hurriedly followed my mother into the kitchen and was amused to find out that it was Kandi Podi they were referring to. "Why on earth that name?", I wondered.

It has been so many years since then, but I still could not figure out the origins of the name.

Nevertheless the interesting name, Kandi Podi has always been a favourite dish of mine. Hot Rice and Kandi Podi with ghee is a combination that brings back memories of childhood.

The times when my grandmother used to grind Kandi Podi in the backyard, using the traditional wooden pestle and mortar, while my mother used to take care of roasting of the lentil and other spices.

Us kids had only one job then. Sit around and eagerly wait for the preparation to be ready.