A 31-year-old Lakshmi Muralidhara is busy with her personal mission for the upcoming Onam festival. She is busy in her small manufacturing unit in Kerala. She is overseeing the creation of traditional delicacies like sharkara varatti (banana candy), narang achar (wild lemon pickle), and the iconic banana chips. These are the essentials for the grand sadya meal.
The unique mission of Lakshmi is more than just a business. It is a living tribute to her late mother, Vinaya P G, who had a passion for cooking and started the business.
The connection of Lakshmi to the food startup runs deep. As a child of just ten, she used to eagerly await the end of the school day to discover what new treats her mother had created.
Vinaya loved cooking and crafting everything from rava laddu to unniyappam (delicious Konkani and Malayali snacks) that became a staple in their home. The moments of tasting and sharing her mother’s culinary creations were more than just daily rituals.
The business was more than just a source of income for Vinaya. It was her passion and she found joy in cooking. She loved feeding her cooked food to others. No one left her home without enjoying a meal. The dedication to sharing food with others was the core of her business.
Vinaya’s life was cut short by COVID-19 in 2021. Her thoughts remained with the business she had nurtured for so many years even in her final days. Her last conversation with a doctor was not about her own condition, but about a new recipe she was excited to try.
