Easter Celebrations Of Kerala’s Nasranis: The Ritual Of
Pesaha Appam
And Maundy Thursday

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Quick Summary

As people grow, move cities, and work takes centre stage, festivals like Easter become a way to pause, reconnect with family and friends, and revive the rituals that defined childhood. Many times, these festive celebrations are the last link to community and culture, and people take special care to keep the traditions alive. For the Nasranis of Kerala, this translates to specific rituals and delicacies during Easter. Read ahead to understand.

Deep Dive

Chocolate eggs have become synonymous with Easter celebrations globally, but the festival has a long, varied history; eggs are a modern-day trend, but certain rituals or key celebratory dates have continued for generations. For example, long before the “Easter bunny” comes knocking, many communities observe Lent – 40 days of fasting and reflection starting on Ash Wednesday, leading up to Holy Week, which honours Jesus’ final days. Easter is the joyous celebration of Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead. But before that comes Maundy Thursday. And for Nasranis of Kerala, the day has a very specific culinary identity.

Religious Foot Washing Ceremony with Clergy and Participants

What Is Maundy Thursday?

According to Christianity, Jesus Christ was crucified (theologically, for humanity’s sins), but resurrected three days later. The day of resurrection marks Easter. However, a day before the crucifixion was the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his apostles. Today, Maundy Thursday honours this day. It includes specific rituals (such as washing feet and sharing bread) that honour and highlight Jesus Christ’s humility and sacrificial love.

Key things to know about Maundy Thursday:

Meaning of "Maundy": Derived from the Latin word mandatum (commandment), referring to Jesus' commandment to his disciples: "Love one another as I have loved you" (John 13 v 34 –NRSV).
The Day: It is the day before Good Friday, marking the evening when Jesus was betrayed by Judas and arrested. It is also the fifth day of Holy Week. Holy Week is the final week of Lent.
Common rituals: Many churches hold services involving the washing of feet. It’s a recreation of Jesus Christ’s actions. During the Last Supper, he poured a basin of water and washed his disciples' feet. Churches carry out the action to honour Christ’s humility.

Who Are The Nasranis Of Kerala?

The Nasranis of Kerala, also known as the Saint Thomas Christians, are one of the oldest Christian communities in the world, founded by St. Thomas the Apostle in 52 AD in the Malabar region. St. Thomas was one of the original Twelve Apostles chosen by Jesus. Known for doubting Jesus' resurrection until seeing the wounds, he later proclaimed his faith and is recognised as a saint for his martyrdom in India.

Their culture indicates their history, and the influence of local traditions, blending into a distinct mix of Indian (especially Hindu), Jewish, and East/West Syriac Christian influences. Historically, they were a community of traders and warriors.

Pesaha Meal For Maundy Thursday

Like Easter, certain Maundy Thursday rituals are common to Christians across the globe. However, Pesaha is a celebration unique to Nasranis of Kerala, states the Nasrani Foundation. The day is a public holiday in Kerala and marks the beginning of the end of the fasting and abstinence period of Lent.

But what does the meal include, and what rituals are followed?

Pesaha appam: This is an unleavened, steamed bread made, also known as Kurisappam (cross bread), because it includes a cross. It’s important to cook the appam without fermentation, i.e., cook it immediately after preparing the mix/batter.
- There is a more rustic version of the appam, which is prepared in mud pots and baked or roasted (not steamed). It’s called kalathappam. Kalam means mud pot.
Pesahaa Paal: This is a sweet milk-based drink made with coconut milk, rice flour, jaggery, and basic spices. The appam is dipped into the paal and eaten.
Cooking rituals: The meal is typically prepared in dedicated cookware. At times, new cookware may be bought to create this meal. This is to ensure the bread does not come in contact with fermented substances. Reports suggest that before metal vessels became part of daily cooking, earthenware pottery was used to cook the Pesaha meal. The vessels were immediately destroyed after the meal prep.
Eating rituals: Pesaha is usually consumed at dinner. The family members first gather together at home, pray, and sing hymns before consuming the meal. In many families, the head of the family breaks the bread and serves it to every member with paal.

How To Make Pesaha Appam And Paal

Here are the recipes you can follow to make pesaha appam and paal:

Pesaha Appam: Ingredients

Rice (soaked): 2 cups
Grated Coconut: 1 cup
Small onion: 2-3
Jeerah (cumin) Powder: ¾ tsp
Garlic: 2 -3 cloves
Urad Dal: 1/3 cup
Salt: as required
Palm leaves: for the cross

Pesaha Appam: Method

Grind the soaked rice and urad dal into a smooth, thick batter, adding minimal water.
Coarsely grind the coconut, onion, garlic, and cumin seeds together, then mix this into the batter with salt.
Pour the batter into a greased steel plate or container. Place a cross made of palm leaves in the centre.
Steam for 20-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Pesaha Paal: Ingredients

Jaggery: 250 g
Thick coconut milk (first extract): 1 cup
Thin coconut milk (second extract): 2-3 cups
Roasted rice flour: 2 tbsp
Cardamom powder: ½ tsp
Dry ginger powder: ¼ tsp
Water: for melting jaggery

Pesaha Paal: Method

Melt jaggery in ½ cup of water. Strain the mix and bring it back to a boil in a pan.
Add the thin coconut milk and simmer for 3-4 minutes.
Dissolve roasted rice powder in a little water or thin milk, and add it to the mixture, stirring consistently to prevent lumps.
Once the mixture thickens, reduce the heat and add the thick coconut milk.
Add cardamom and ginger powder, stir well, and turn off the heat immediately before it boils

Similarity With Jewish Traditions

The Pesaha Meal (also known as Pesaha Vyazham, literally translating to Passover Thursday) shares several similarities with the Jewish Passover meal, though it’s a much lighter fare in comparison:

The meals have to be made in new or thoroughly cleaned cookware only.
Only unleavened bread is consumed as part of the meal.
Families gather together and sing hymns or special songs before consuming the meal.
The bread is served by the head of the family, who breaks the bread into pieces and serves it.
Both meals include a drink (paal vs wine) and something bitter (Nasranis consume bitter juice on Good Friday, while Jews consume maror (bitter herbs).

Celebrations That Last Centuries

These meals and traditions have continued for years, becoming a living museum of ancient history. With every shared meal, the new generation gets a deeper glimpse into the stories, myths, histories, and traditions that shaped the world they came into. And of course, it keeps good food alive!