Anyone who knows me will tell you I will not stop talking about the Golu paint-off we had last year. Although Golu, the Navratri tradition of toys was not really set up at our home in my childhood, over the past few years, this festival of dolls has charmed me back to the memories of visiting my relatives’ and friends' homes back in small-town South India to see their colourful display and gorge on some delicious festival treats. With us living outside the country and so, faced with a total lack of dolls last year, we ended up painting our "own dolls” out of cartons with friends.

It only seemed fitting to have a dinner edition of this colourful tradition this time. And we wanted the guests to join in on the fun! And therefore the Indian Dolls & Tiffins came to be, our fifth dinner. Inspired by the several delicious tiffins from the 9-day festival and bringing fall's good tidings with the season's local produce, we served a meal of 6 vegetarian tiffins:

{Mango Mint Panna}

I
Masala Sundal with butter beans and peanuts

II
Beetroot Masala Vada with Kosambari and peanut chutney

III
Lemon Rice Noodles with a spicy potato roast

IV
Pumpkin Kozhambu over rice

V
Pesarettus off the pan with coconut chutney and homemade tomato pickle

VI
Gulab Jamun, with Vanilla-Coconut cream

Lemon Rice Noodles with a Spicy Potato Roast

Beetroot Masala Vada with Kosambari and Peanut Chutney

As Golu arrangements often depict scenes from everyday life, we wanted to create a scene of everyone at the table by painting these little toys. Karthik came up with a sweet paper diorama-like centrepiece for the table, along which he placed several little wooden blocks of different shapes and sizes. As the guests sat down to a brush and a paint tube each, we encouraged them to paint their little pieces between courses and find a place for them in the centrepiece.

As before, we didn't have the time to take many pictures, but managed to take some of the table the next day as we relished some remaining cups of Gulab Jamun.

Much thanks to our friend Vinay who helped me out in the kitchen, chopping, mincing, cleaning and making sure everything went out on time- I could not have done without it! And a big, big thanks to everyone who came- it was wonderful cooking for you guys and I can't wait for the next!

P.S. The most adorable Ganesh illustration by Mr.K, see more from the series here