The Kwanzaa is unlike other celebrations, and its uniqueness demands an unconventional vegetarian meal plan. 

 

The Thought Behind the Fest

Unlike other festivals, which was established for religious reasons many years ago, the Kwanzaa was started in 1966 during the Black Freedom Movement and is more of a cultural holiday and celebration. Africans of all religious and geogarphic variations, celebate this day, which was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor of Africana Studies at California State University. The main aim of this celebration is to promote and reestablish African American culture.  This 7 day celebration ( December 26th to January 1st), has its own festival menu, which is based on African traditonal cooking, as the festival is celebrated during the African harvest month. It is a celebtration of all that is good. 

 

The Kwanzaa feast, or karamu, is usually held on the 31st of December. One can club this celebrtation with that of the New Years Eve, and it usually begins with a few elements, that act as cultural reminders. Songs, dance and some reading. The feast is laied out in the form of a buffet, and everyone is encouraged to help themselves to the vast array of food on the table. The finish of the ceremony is marked with parents gifting their children something. 

 

The Fest and the Feast

Though the typical Kwanzaa meal, comprises of meat one can make a vegan variation of the same. If it is planned an excecuted well, then trust me, no one is going to miss the meat there. These are not only tasty and healthy, they serve a much larger purpose of enviorment preservation. Yummy dishes can be cooked up with lentils, sweet [potato and the rest of the traditional Kwanzza fare. 

 

What to make

The squash, chickpea & red lentil stew is one such dish, which is based on the Nortth American stews. It can be served with both steamed rice and brown rice, and is very aromatic. The Caribbean rice and beans on the other hand, has many herbs with a strong flavouring of cllantro. The beans, add a more rounded texture to the whole dish. The North African spicy carrots is another dish, that has a seasoning of paprika, corriander and cumin. Gives the dish a rather exotic feel. One can also try making the Papaya-Avocado Salad, which can be seasoned with some crunchy walnuts. The creaminess of the fruits along with the crunchiness of the nut, will make it an intersting addition to the meal. 

 

For dessert, you can try cooking some bananas in brown sugar. Pour in a little rum for the burnt texture and finish, or you can try the some hot chocolate, which is whipped to perfection. Not only does the vegetrain meal offer you a variety of choices, it will even leave you light and happy about the meal.