Some of the locals mentioned that there are fewer craftsmen that make this utensil than a decade ago. I stopped by at Anandha Vilas Pathirai Kadai (Tamil for utensil store) that is one of the popular stores for the Eeya Sombu. About four years ago I made a brief stop in Kumbakonam on my way to the 12th Century Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram that is part of the trio of the Great Living Chola temples. Unfortunately these stories and the utensil's reputation have not saved it from the verge of extinction. You will hear many stories around this unassuming utensil that is used almost exclusively for rasam. The Eeya Sombu is one of the many heirlooms in my kitchen that I take great pains to preserve. Rasam is the ultimate comfort food for many South Indians and I'm no exception. (Also Read: Osaman Recipe: This Gujarati-Style Rasam Can Be A Flavourful Addition To Your Summer Diet) Kumbakonam's brass coffee filter (the town is synonymous with Kumbakonam 'degree' coffee) is legendary and then there's the Eeya Sombu. Kumbakonam is famous for its range of vessels and lamps that have been perfected over generations by local craftsmen. I remember visiting this town as a child and almost throwing a fit as my mother dragged me from one utensil store to the other. That's not the only pots and pans story you will hear in Kumbakonam. The legends around the name of this town surround 'Kumbha' the mythical pot of the Hindu god Brahma. With close to 200 temples within its municipal limits, the area around this town is believed to have been inhabited from 3rd Century BC. Among the many monikers associated with Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, 'City of temples' is probably the most appropriate.
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