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Culture Mom to Mom

The Evolution of the Samithya Veedu or Hindu Coming of Age Ceremony

Food Recipes

Rocky Road Bars

Mom to Mom Motherhood

Traumatic Births & Postnatal PTSD

updated on January 17, 2021January 12, 2021Food Motherhood Uncategorized

Introducing Baby to Solids – Guidelines I Follow to Ensure Optimal Gut Health

In more recent years, it has been the norm to introduce baby to solids around the four month mark, however this is not something I …

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updated on January 17, 2021January 9, 2021Baked Goods Recipes Uncategorized

Eggless Butter Cake Recipe

When my eldest two were super little I had the perfect recipe for a moist, bouncy, eggless cake. It had taken me a couple of …

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updated on January 17, 2021December 28, 2020Food

Brioche Bread French Toast

If you’re looking for a decadent French Toast recipe, this is it! In this recipe I use thick slices of sweet, rich Brioche bread dipped …

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updated on January 17, 2021November 12, 2020Food Recipes

Shrimp & Vegetable Jambalaya (Instant Pot Recipe)

Jambalaya is a spicy one pot rice dish native to West Africa. It uses a combination of onion, celery, green pepper, thyme, in addition to …

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updated on January 17, 2021October 10, 2020Food Recipes

Pumpkin Macaroni & Cheese

Last Autumn, I heard of pumpkin macaroni and cheese and sort of dismissed the thought of pumpkin in macaroni. A few weeks later I had …

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updated on September 14, 2020September 14, 2020Food Lunchbox

5 Helpful Tips for the Lunch-Packing Parent

When my children were enrolled in school, one of my greatest joys as a mother was packing lunches and snacks for the school day. I felt …

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updated on January 17, 2021August 10, 2020Food South Asian Cuisine

Rava Laddu

Rava laddu is one of the first sweets that I learned to make. With minimal ingredients and minimal cooking time involved, it has always been …

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updated on August 2, 2020August 2, 2020Motherhood

Women Empowerment: More Than Just a Trendy Instagram Challenge

Patriarchy has taught us to envy, judge, and even destroy other women instead of working together to reach new heights. We preach about uplifting women …

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updated on August 2, 2020July 29, 2020My Life

The Fourth Trimester: A Post-partum Update

It’s been two months since I gave birth to Shree and the reality of it all is only hitting me now. Everything I passed off …

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updated on January 17, 2021July 26, 2020Culture

Varalakshmi Viratham

Varalakshmi Viratham/Fast falls on the first Friday before the full moon in the Tamil Month of Aadi (mid-July to mid-August). This year, the Viratham falls …

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About Me

Hello! I'm Geerthana Uthayakumar and I reside in Toronto, Canada with my family of six. I am a homeschooling mom to four fun loving and very energetic children who constantly keep me on my toes. My passion for cooking from scratch, wellness, and culture combined with my love for writing led to the start of Modern Day Brown Mom in 2015. Through my blog I share my parenting adventures, experiences as a young mother, recipes, tips for healthy eating and more. When I'm not looking after the household, experimenting in the kitchen, blogging or writing, I work on my passion project – Devi Wellness Company.

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  • S.Anand on Purattasi Shani & the Lighting of the Ellu Villaku (Black Sesame Lamp)
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Geerthana Uthayakumar
. We grew up as children of First generation immig . We grew up as children of First generation immigrants Apologizing for our long names And accepting incorrect pronunciations We grew up embarrassed to speak our language As if knowing English meant more educated Than being fluent in our own ancient dialect We grew up embarrassed of our food Reluctantly giving up thosai for sandwiches In fear of being ridiculed at school Because our foods were far from bland They were aromatic, full of body and spice The same spices that were once stolen And traded as currency long ago in history We grew up hating the texture of our hair And the melanin in our skin Our thick eyebrows, lips, and curves Dismissing them as unruly and ugly As if Eurocentric features were The golden standard of beauty We tried to assimilate in any way that we could To fit in, in a country that wasn't ours And in that lost our ways While our parents hung on desperately As we frowned upon their heavy accents And broken English, failing to understand What it took to survive And what they'd truly lost when They were forced to leave all that they'd known Their families, careers, and land To seek asylum And start again from the bottom In a country that didn't recognize them And now a whole generation of us children Undoubtedly, feel the same longing as our parents To preserve our culture And pass it down to our children No longer blinded by colonialism We appreciate and see value In the richness, ancient knowledge, and wisdoms And that's been the catalyst we've needed To reclaim all that we've willingly given up While growing up misplaced In the midst of two very distinct cultures And now our children proudly introduce themselves With the correct pronunciation of their names The language of their ancestors Effortlessly rolling off their tongues They embrace their foods and traditional attire And look at their reflection in the mirror With pride, admiration, and appreciation And this visibility we've created together Has become the greatest gift That we will ever give our children, ourselves And our parents as we continue to build a home On our adoptive land, oceans away from Our ancestoral land. #moderndaybrownmom
A couple weeks ago, on Krishna Janmashtami hence b A couple weeks ago, on Krishna Janmashtami hence babygirl's peacock feather accesory 😅, we performed Shree's Pallu Kollukattai ceremony. A "Pallu Kollukattai Ceremony" or "Teething Ceremony" is a Tamil tradition in which the cutting of a baby's first set of teeth is celebrated, as with any milestone, in the presence of family. A maternal uncle gently drops kollukattai (steamed dumplings made of a rice flour outer layer and a sweet filling of jaggery, coconut, and lentils), atop the baby's head which is covered by a white netted cloth. During the second part of the ceremony, books, money, and pencils are placed in front of the baby and the baby is enouraged by family members to pick one item. Whichever item baby touches first is supposed to be indicative of the child's future. If the child picks up money he/she will be very wealthy and if the child picks up the book he/she will be very knowledgable and if the child picks up kollukattai he/she will be bountiful in harvest. My family typically doesn't do the second part of the ceremony so we skipped it for all the kids as well. The Pallu Kollukattai ceremony is usually held as soon as baby gets his/her first set of teeth which is usually prior to the baby's first birthday but due to convenience most Hindu Tamil families living in foreign lands prefer to do it along with baby's first birthday celebration. Shree's teeth cut months after her first birthday so naturally we had her ceremony just recently at 15 months old. Due to the rising numbers in Delta variant cases, we chose to do a small, simple ceremony with just the six of us. The older kids took my brother's place and happily dumped the kollukattais on their baby sister's head and since our family and friends couldn't be there, we captured these beautiful memories to share with them instead. 📸: @shotbyshiro Girls' outfit: @mangalyamcollections Boys' outfits: @rsmsilksinc My outfit: @spicedelegance . . . #pallukollukattai #kozhukattai #teethingceremony #tamilcustoms #hindutraditions #hinduceremony #hindu #hindubaby #hinduculture #blessings #momlife #motherhood #moderndaybrownmom #mothersofig #mothersofinstagram #motherhoodrising #mommyblogger
Vinayagar Chathurthi, also referred to as Aavani C Vinayagar Chathurthi, also referred to as Aavani Chathurthi amongst the Tamil population, is the annual Hindu festival that commemorates the birth of Vinayagar; more popularly known as Ganesh, Ganapathi, and in Tamil, Pillaiyar. Vinayagar Chathurthi falls on the 4th lunar day after a new moon (known as chathurthi) during the Tamil month of Aavani which coincides with mid-August to mid-September on the Gregorian calendar. Pillaiyar, depicted with the head of an elephant and body of a human, is the Hindu Lord wisdom, health, prosperity, fertility, celibacy, and happiness. The elephant-headed God is also known as the Remover of Obstacles and destroyer of pride, vanity, and selfishness. Because He is the Lord of Beginnings, all religious ceremonies and rituals begin by honouring Pillaiyar to invoke his blessings. As the Remover of Obstacles he is the first deity temple-goers acknowledge during their visit. On Vinayagar Chathurthi, devotees clean their homes, shower, observe a fast, sing devotional hymns, prepare padayal/divine food offering consisting of Pillaiyar's favourites (mothakums, fruits, and sweets such as laddu and aval) and a vegetarian feast, and visit Ganesh temples. Mothakums are sweet steamed dumplings made with a rice flour outer shell and a mixture of jaggery, coconut, and paiyaru (moong daal) and aval is a dish consisting of rice flakes sweetened with jaggery and freshly shredded coconut. While Eelam Tamils celebrate Vinayagar Chathurthi as a one-day festival, it is usually celebrated as a multi-day festival in India where on the final day a clay statue of Pillaiyar is dissolved in a nearby body of water signifying his merging into universal realization. May this Chathurthi bring you and yours good fortune, prosperity, many great successes, and most of all freedom from material and spiritual obstacles. . . . #vinayagarchathurthi #mothakum #blessing #pillaiyar #ganesh #ganesha #ganapati #lordoffortune #lordofnewbeginnings #removerofobstacles #hindu #hinduism #hindudeity #tamil #srilankan #moderndaybrownmom #mommyblogger
A prayer is a powerful thing irrespective of which A prayer is a powerful thing irrespective of which religion you practice or even whether you believe in a God or not because even agnostics tend to believe in a higher power whether they call it the universe or nature. And it's that belief that has the power to plant the seeds that will manifest into the reality you seek. Your faith is powerful and a humble prayer, one that is built upon hope and gratitude, has incredible effects on the human mind much like the placebo effect in the medical world; which works purely on one's belief. I share this because as humans we tend to turn to a higher power in times of sorrow and distress but sometimes our belief is not as strong and we are doubtful, sometimes our prayers lack focus and are not sincere as we are encompassed by negative emotions such as self-pity, and as a result we fail to surrender completely hindering the power of that prayer. The purpose of any sincere prayer, regardless of religion, is to awaken the divinity within yourself because it's that divinity that gives you the ability to manifest the blessings that you desire. 📸: @shotbyshiro Vishnu's outfit: @mangalyamcollections My outfit: @spicedelegance #moderndaybrownmom #momblogger #poetry #spirituality #prayer #thepowerofprayer
Every summer my mom washes and sun dries spices in Every summer my mom washes and sun dries spices in her backyard and generously gives me a year's worth of those spices at the end of summer. Every Fall I take those spices and make large batches of masala tea powder, sambhar powder, thool, and rasam powder to get all of us through the winter. If you're interested in the recipes for sambhar and rasam powder, they are on my blog. If you make them in large batches, make sure to store them in glass containers, preferably ones with a good seal, to maintain aroma and freshness. BREAKFAST: Atta flour roti served with seeni sambol (sweet and spicy onion relish) and sardine curry with egg and masala tea on the side. The above is what the kids requested for their first day of school breakfast but since we were all purely vegetarian yesterday, I opted to make it today. Plate: @kiddobloom . . . #moderndaybrownmom #foodblogger #roti #tamilcuisine #tamilblogger #vegetarian #tamilculture #eeeeeats #foodstagram #foodie #instayum #instafood #feedfeed #momlife #embracingculture #tamil #southasianblogger #mommyblogger #moderndaybrownmom
Today we begin our third year as a homeschooling f Today we begin our third year as a homeschooling family. In the last two years I've taught Pre-K, JK, Grades 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 while managing and navigating a pandemic, pregnancy, infant, and a newly launched business. It hasn't been easy but it's been rewarding in so many ways. The mainstream, fast-paced, often stressful lifestyle in exchange for a holistic and nature focused one has benefited the kids so much. In addition to less stress, the lack of exposure to allergens within the school has made a huge impact on Akshaya. She has only used her puffer once in the last three years in comparison to having used it daily since starting kindergarten to when I pulled her out of the public school system. She has had the time she's needed to eat at her pace rather than being rushed, has gained weight and is no longer underweight or tired as a result. Udayan, who never really fit in and was bored in public school, is now thriving, more confident than ever, and exploring many interests he would have had not had the opportunity to explore otherwise. Achyuthan who started kindergarten at home last year has learned to read on his own much earlier than I thought he would and has thrived developmentally under my watchful eye. Perhaps the biggest reward for me has been watching the kids interact and build a stronger bond amongst themselves and their newest sibling who they've had the opportunity to watch grow since she was born. While I know homeschooling isn't ideal for everyone for a variety of reasons, it's been nothing short of a blessing for us. However I do realize that each year and each child is different and their needs have the potential to change year to year. So when and if they are ready to integrate back into the public school system, I'll be ready to support them. As for now the kids are content learning together at home and I'm happy to have them here. Whatever your school year looks like, may it be wonderful; Wishing all the students, especially the ones starting school for the first time, teachers, and homeschooling parents a safe, healthy, and successful academic year. #moderndaybrownmomhomeschool
Ever since I was pregnant with Vishnu, it was a dr Ever since I was pregnant with Vishnu, it was a dream of mine to dress him up as a little Krishna. Afterall Krishna is the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. I tried to execute this for the first three years of Vishnu's life, and somehow everytime I would get things together and schedule a shoot, I would have to cancel due to Vishnu having a seizure or being unwell. By last year Vishnu had out-grown seizures but I had an infant at home and the pandemic to navigate so it just wasn't a possibility for us. This year the timing was just perfect as everything fell into place easily proving that what's meant to happen will happen in due time. Even the all-day rain and thunderstorm that was in the forecast, cleared up giving us sun and warmth for the entire day. These beautiful photos wouldn't have been possible without the help and support of a few wonderful people I'm lucky enough to call friends. The talented Shiromi @shotbyshiro graciously accommodated my request just in time for Janmashtami and captured Vishnu's playful demeanor perfectly. Anushanthy @mangalyamcollections created Vishnu's outfit and generously lent me her jewelry and dropped off peacock feathers in back and forth trips and Deepana @deep_captures lent me her armbands from her days as a dancer to complete the look. And last but not least, Amily of @amilyrogan skillfully composed the first photo when I sent her a picture of a baby cow and another of Vishnu with a very detailed description of my vision. I'd say these pictures were well worth the wait, even though they took a little over five years and three separate bribes on my part, to finally capture. Happy Krishna Janmashtami to all who celebrated the birth of Krishna earlier this week! #krishnajanmashtami #kuttykrishna #hinduism #hindutraditions  #moderndaybrownmom
Anyone else make random meals using the bits left Anyone else make random meals using the bits left in the fridge before you go out and shop again, in an effort to reduce food waste? The above is one such meal. I had some pre-boiled chickpeas which I added to the rice to make a sort of pulao, a small piece of zuchinni which I added to our parippu (lentil curry), and some paneer and potatoes which I turned into a gravy. LUNCH: Chickpea pulao served with parripu with zuchinni, potato kuzhumbu, paneer masala, twice-cooked egg, and a simple tomato-cucumber-onion salad. . . . #lunch #tamilfood #moderndaybrownmom #vegetarian #lamprais #srilankancuisine #bananaleafparcel #foodblogger #tamil #tamilfood #tamilculture #foodblogger #tamilcuisine #tamilblogger #vegetarian #tamilculture #eeeeeats #foodstagram #foodie #instayum #instafood #feedfeed #momlife #embracingculture #tamil #southasianblogger #mommyblogger
Judging by many of your stories, I know a lot of y Judging by many of your stories, I know a lot of you are hanging onto the last days of summer, BUT who's excited as I am that it's September?! My favourite season is Autumn because it's neither too hot nor too cold and there's almost always a breeze blowing leaves around. I just love the idea of leaves falling and the warmth that comes with the season not in terms of weather but colours, foods, warm drinks, and clothing. I love sweaters, scarves, back-to-school season and all the experiences that come with fall like apple-picking, pumpkin patch visits, wreath making, and baking. But more than all that I love all the celebrations that come with the season; Thanksgiving, Navarathri, Saraswathi pooja, Vijayathasami, Gowri viratham, Halloween, Deepavali, Skanda Sasthi, and this year Vinayagar Chathurthi, all which lead right into the holiday season. In my humble opinion, there just isn't a better, more magical season 😁 For those interested, this apple-cinnamon loaf is made with whole-wheat flour, coconut oil, and a mix of coconut and brown sugars. It is super moist and delicious and even better slightly warmed and the RECIPE on the blog! . . . #dessert #applecinnamonloaf #homemade #foodshare #whatifeedmykids #instayum #instagood #foodstagram #eeeeeats #momlife #mommylife #motherhoodthroughinstagram #mommyblogger #foodblogger #tamilblogger #southasianblogger #lifewithkids #momlife #raisingkids #balancedlifestyle #mothersofig #moderndaybrownmom
Just some crispy ulunthu vadai today to accompany Just some crispy ulunthu vadai today to accompany our leftover vegetarian meal from yesterday's Janmashtami celebration. The vadai is a popular, savory, fried snack made with a lentil batter. The lentils, in this case ulunthu or black gram, are soaked in water, ground to a batter, and then seasoned with onions, green chilli, ginger, curty leaves, cumin or fennel seeds, black pepper, and salt. The batter is then shaped by hand and deep-fried resulting in a fritter with crispy outsides and a fluffy inside. It is served alone or with chutney, sambhar (spicy and sour vegetable stew) or alongside a traditional vegetarian meal. I never appreciated vadai (or sambhar or kulayal sooru) until I got older/became an adult 😅 What's one food you didn't appreciate as child but absolutely love and appreciate now? . . . #ulunthuvaadai #vada #moderndaybrownmom #foodblogger #tamilcuisine #tamilblogger #vegetarian #tamilculture #eeeeeats #foodstagram #foodie #instayum #instafood #feedfeed #momlife #embracingculture #tamil #southasianblogger #mommyblogger
Krishna Janmashtami, also known by several other Krishna Janmashtami, also known by several other names such as Krishna Jayanthi and Gokulashtami depending on region, is the annual Hindu festival which commemorates the birth/worldly appearance of Krishna, the 8th avatar of Lord Vishnu; the Preserver of the Universe. It is believed that Krishna was born at midnight on the eighth day of the Tamil month of Aavani which coincides with the months August/September of the Gregorian calendar. Lord Krishna, also known as the divine herdsman and the God of love, compassion, and beauty, was born in an era of chaos to earthly parents Devaki and Vasudeva. Upon his birth, he was given to adoptive mother Yasodha and adoptive father Nanda in an attempt to save him from his tyrannous uncle who wanted to kill him. As a child, Krishna is known for his mischievousness and his love for butter which leads to him stealing butter from freshly churned butter pots and leaving his footprints as proof in the process. As a young lad he is known as the divine herdsman and his ability to mesmerize not only his cows but people with the playing of his flute. As an adult he is a central character in the Mahabharata as he counsels Arjuna on the battlefield which leads to the writing of the of the holy book, the Bhagavad Gita. Krishna's purpose on Earth was to defeat evil and restore justice to the world and thus his birth is celebrated anually with great enthusiasm. Krishna Janmashtami is often a two day festival, beginning with a fast on the day prior and followed by the more popular celebration and pooja for Lord Krishna on the second day. Devotees offer foods made of milk, curd, butter, as well as aval (sweetened rice flakes), fruits and traditional sweets as padayal (divine offering). Devotees also draw small footprints from the entrance of house to the pooja room to depict Krishna's presence in the household. It is also customary for families to dress up the youngest member of the family to resemble Krishna. Happy Krishna Janmashtami to all those celebrating! 📸: @shotbyshiro Outfit: @mangalyamcollections #hinduculture #hinduism #krishnajanmashtami #babykrishnachallenge #kuttykrishna #hindutraditions #moderndaybrownmom #momblogger
Last week we traveled to Ohsweken, Ontario, a litt Last week we traveled to Ohsweken, Ontario, a little under two hours away, and stayed at @chiefswood_park for a week. It was a much needed getaway for our family given Covid and being isolated from family and friends since my pregnancy with Shree. When choosing a getaway for the family, I opted for three things: a clean, relatively secluded area to minimize contact with others, somewhat close so that we could travel easily with Shree, and to make our dollars count by supporting Indigenous tourism. Chiefswood Park, owned by the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, is 20 acres of land surrounded by the banks of the Grand River and what's left of the Carolinian Forest. It is also home to the Chiefswood Park Historical Site, formerly the home built by Mohawk Chief George H. M. Johnson between 1853 and 1856 for his English bride Emily Howells, which continues to serve as a symbol of shared cultures. The park is quiet, spacious, well taken care of, and an absolute treat away from city life. The newly built cabins, inspired by the 1860's era, are perfect for families as it includes many amenities such as a full kitchen and a fire-pit and picnic table out back. During our stay, we chose to cook all our meals over an open fire. It was a unique experience and a wonderful opportunity to bond as a family. Although I packed all the ingredients needed for our meals, we also stopped by @riversidefamilyfarm for organically grown vegetables when we spotted it on the way back from Turkey Point Provincial Park and Beach situated on Lake Erie. Turkey Point beach has a sandy beach and relatively shallow waters making it an ideal choice for families. During our stay at the park, we hiked the Six Nations Nature Trail, visited the Chiefswood Park Historical Site, and the older three kids and their father rented a canoe and travelled the Grand River. The park offers campsites by the river, canoe, kayak, horseshoe rentals, yoga, archery, guided tours and more. Just make sure to check out the schedule if you plan on heading out there and pack a first aid kit in case you get stung by bees or bitten by a spider and have an allergic reaction like yours truly. #moderndaybrownmom
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