Kulukki sarbath and a football dream: Kerala kids stir up a summer roadside hit
A group of children in Pandalam, Kerala, have started a roadside food stall to fund new jerseys for their football team, Broco FC. The stall, named 'Magesh and the kids,' sells summer refreshments like kulukki sarbath and pickled mangoe.
A group of children in Pandalam, Kerala, have started a roadside food stall to fund new jerseys for their football team, Broco FC. The stall, named 'Magesh and the kids,' sells summer refreshments like kulukki sarbath and pickled mangoe.
A group of children in Pandalam, Kerala, have started a roadside food stall to fund new jerseys for their football team, Broco FC. The stall, named 'Magesh and the kids,' sells summer refreshments like kulukki sarbath and pickled mangoe.
In the heat of a Kerala summer, nothing draws a crowd like a cold glass of kulukki sarbath or a quick bite of tangy mango. Along the edge of the Karingali paddy fields in Pandalam, a group of children have turned these simple cravings into a small but spirited food venture, serving up refreshments with a clear goal in mind.Why spend hours glued to a phone screen when there is something more meaningful to be done? For Adityan and his friends, the goal was clear. Their football team needed jerseys, and they had to find a way to raise the money. With the harvest season underway in the Karingali paddy fields, opportunity was right at their doorstep. Without overthinking it, the group set up a small roadside stall and named it 'Magesh and the kids.'
Magesh, Adityan’s pet name, now fronts a menu that keeps passersby stopping in the summer heat. Lemonade, kulukki sarbath, pickled mango, sliced carrot and cucumber line their counter, each item prepared fresh and sold with easy enthusiasm. The stall stands near Cherikkal, drawing in farmers, locals and curious visitors alike.
A student of Kendriya Vidyalaya Chenneerkara, Adityan brought together his friends Sreehari, Adishree, Sreekuttan and Devaprayag to run the stall. What makes their effort stand out is not just the energy, but the way they have adapted to the times. Alongside cash, they accept digital payments through Google Pay, making their tiny setup as current as any city kiosk.
The venture has also become a small community effort. Locals, including brothers Nibin Ravindran and Nithin Ravindran, helped set up basic facilities, while elders from nearby homes keep a watchful eye, stepping in when needed.
Open from 7 in the morning and running for nearly 12 hours, the stall has quickly found its rhythm. For the young team behind it, every glass served brings them a step closer to their goal. Their football club, Broco FC, may be waiting on jerseys for now, but on the sidelines of the paddy fields, they have already found a winning formula.
Craving a glass already? Try this easy kulukki sarbath recipe at home.