We would begin praying and sprinkling these rather ordinary implements with yellow turmericpowder, red roli powder, grains of rice, holy water, and flower petals.
According to my gastric guardian, I had nothing to fear from the vada (pronounced "wahda") a mixture of chunky mashed potatoes, curry leaves, cilantro, mustard seeds and other spices, dipped in a turmeric- and chili-powder-laced chickpea flour batter, then deep fried.