Complete guide - BHOGI, PONGAL & KANU (Updated)

My first blog post for 2019 is an updated festival guide for Pongal festivities. I'm trying to adopt a new format for complete festival guide. Hope you like it!

(Recipe links are at end of this post)

Pongal festival is celebrated as part of 3 day harvest festival in Tamil Nadu. It marks the end of tamil month of Marghazi and the beginning of tamil month of Thai. The 3 day festival is for family unity. Families get together - pray, eat and enjoy the the festivities during pongal week starting with Bhogi  followed by Pongal concluding in Kanu (also known as Maatu Pongal - the Jallikattu day )

Farmers pray to Indra and Surya (sun god) for rain and bountiful yield.

Bhogi is celebrated on the last day of tamil month of Marghazi. Its the day where we get rid of the old and unwanted items (think spring cleaning) in the house. It also symbolizes that we shed the unwanted thoughts from our minds. 

Pongal (Thai Pongal) is also called Makara Sankaranthi, since it is celebrated on the first day of the tamil month Thai when the Sun enters the Makara Rasi. This period is referred to as Uttarayana Punyakalam (start of sun's 6 month journey northwards) and is considered auspicious. Lord Surya (The Sun God) is worshipped on the Pongal day.  So, our elders make a kootu with all vegetables and pray for family unity.

Kanu is the 3rd day of festivities during the pongal week. This falls on the Maattu pongal day. This day is an important festival for the unity of brothers and sisters. Sisters pray for the welfare of their brothers. Gifts are exchanged as a mark of their unity. Cattle are decorated and jallikattu race is conducted all over Tamil Nadu.

Neivedhyam at our home

When festivities begin?

Bhogi - Day before Pongal

Pongal - Jan 14 or Jan 15 (1st day of tamil month Thai)

Kanu/Maatu Pongal - Day after Pongal

Festival Guide 

Before Bhogi

Harvest turmeric 

Turmeric Plant from our backyard

Turmeric Root harvested from the plant

The houses are cleaned up , painted and kolams are drawn in the frontyard

Kolam from our home in coimbatore

Bhogi

Bholi / Poli is a must on the day of Bhogi along with General Pandigai Menu. In our house, Kadala Paruupu bonda is also made.

In Tamil Nadu, a simple ceremony - "Kaapu Kattu" is performed in all homes on Bhogi day. Neem leaves, mango leaves and Poolai Poo are tied together and kept along the walls around the house to eliminate evil forces.

Poolai Poo plant in my mom's home

Pongal

Things to be arranged before Pongal: 

KOLAM IN THE FRONTYARD

This Kolam was drawn by my friend, Radhika.

The "pongal panai" is to be decorated with "Tiruman, Srichoornam" and fresh turmeric harvested, a piece of sugarcane, flowers and plantain, tied to a rope.

Pongal Paanai (also known as Vengala Paanai)

Neivedhyam

Pongal Menu

We are not supposed to grind in traditional "ammi" and "kallural"(mortar and pestle), not asked for the reasons though.

Sarkarai (sweet) pongal(made in vengala panai), Vennpongal, Sankaranthi Kootu, Pongal kuzhambu along with general pandigai menu.

Kanu

Things to arranged before Kanu

• Kolam on the front yard
• A piece of fresh turmeric
• Prepare red rice and yellow rice with leftover rice, using turmeric and kumkum.
• Left over sweet pongal 
• Left over curd rice
• A kolam on the terrace
• Turmeric leaves
• Tamboolam
• Sugarcane bits
• Arathi with turmeric powder and chunam

Practices followed on Kanu Day

In the early morning, fresh turmeric is marked on the forehead of ladies and unmarried girls, by the gents and elders seeking their blessings for "sowmangalyam" and "to get a good husband" respectively.

Red rice and yellow rice are prepared using turmeric and kumkum. The turmeric leaves are arranged on a kolam on the terrace and "pidis" (small balls) made out of the leftover sarkarai pongal and curd rice of the previous day + red rice and yellow rice are arranged on the leaves chanting 

"KAAKKAA PIDI VECHAEN, KANU PIDI VECHAEN, KAAKKAIKKUM KURUVIKKUM KALYANAM, KAAKAA KOOTAM KALANJALUM, ENGA KOOTTAM KALAYAAMA IRUKKANUM''

(Meaning: everyone in the family should be united) 

and it is offered along with the tamboolam and sugarcane to the crows and Sun God. Finally, arati is performed with turmeric water and limestone (praying for the wellness of brothers) and this water is poured on the kolam in front of the house.

Neivedhyam for Kanu pandigai:

RASAM IS NOT MADE ON THIS DAY.

Variety rice(i.e.) Coconut Rice, Lemon Rice, Puliyodharai, Curd rice, Payasam and Aviyal are made alongwith poricha appalam or Vadaam.

Recipe Index for Bhogi/Pongal/Kanu

Pandigai Menu
Poli / Bholi
Kadalai Paruppu bonda
Sweet Pongal(Sarkarai Pongal)
Venn Pongal
Sankranti Kootu
Pongal kuzhambu
Aviyal
Coconut Rice
Lemon Rice
Pulikkachal
Puliyodharai
Payasam (Other payasam varieties - Payasams)
Curd Rice ( Bahala Baath)
Fried Appalam or Vadaam

A COMPLETE GUIDE FOR SRI KRISHNA JAYANTHI / GOKULASHTAMI CELEBRATIONS

                                              HAPPY SRI KRISHNA JAYANTHI
Sri Krishna Jayanthi is the celebration of Lord Krishna’s birthday which is also known as Janmashtami and Gokulashtami. The festival is celebrated on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) of the month of Avani (August–September) in the Tamil calendar. This festival is celebrated 8 days after avani avittam. 'Sri Vaishnavas' celebrate the festival on Rohini Nakshatram. SRI KRISHNA, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu on earth, symbolises the victory of good over evil. This festival is celebrated all over India with great enthusiasm and devotion, according to the various local traditions and rituals. People pray with full devotion and faith and go to Krishna temples and pray HIM. An event known as "Uriadi" in Tamil Nadu, and "Dahi Handi" in North India is celebrated in temples, where as earthen pot is filled with curd and tied high. Youngsters form a human tower and break the swinging pots.

 
How to celebrate at home?

Things to be done on the previous day:

On the previous day, clean the pooja items, lamps, idols if any. Apply chandan, kumkum to the idols, lamps, wick them and keep ready.

Soak fistful of rice for 2,3 hours and grind to a fine paste. Dilute it to a semi- thick solution. This batter is called 'izhai kolam maavu' which we make during festivals to put kolam.

Mango leaves for thoran. Make thoran and keep ready.

Things to purchase and arrange:
Flowers, Tulasi, fruits-all varieties (especially seasonal fruits like jamun(naavalpazham) guava, pear and wood apple(vilampazham), coconut, betel leaves, betel nuts, garlands. These will be available in plenty in the market on the previous day. You can shop for it. Also keep ready turmeric powder, kumkum, sandal powder, camphor, incense sticks, gingelly oil or ghee for lamp. These will always be available at home. If not, shop for it too. Put 'izhai kolam' in wooden planks. Things can be arranged according to the rituals done in one's home. However, even if one cannot afford to buy and celebrate in an elaborate manner, it is enough just to chant and pray with full devotion and faith.

Things to be done:
On the day of Sri Krishna Jayanthi, wash and put kolam in the frontyard. Take head bath early in the morning, wear clean clothes, clean the pooja room or the place where the idol is to be kept, put kolam on wooden planks, perumal sannidhi or raised platforms. Tie the mango leaves thoran on the main entrance. Decorate the idol. Decorate Krishna photos with chandan,kumkum and garlands. In some houses, the idol is given a bath with pure water and then decorated.
  

Make all the offerings. (In some families, as many items are to be made as offerings, people make them the previous day itself after taking a head bath. However, these are consumed 'only after offering it to KRISHNA the next day'). Draw tiny footprints of Lord Krishna - Krishnar kaal (with the izhai kolam maavu prepared as said above) from the frontyard of the home to the pooja room, which commemorates HIS birth. Usually, elders fast during the festival and make all offerings and youngsters draw kolam and 'Krishnar Thiruvadi' with rice flour paste.

Wear nine yards saree. Arrange thaligai , bakshanams and fruits in Perumal sannidhi along with thamboolam. Oil and light the lamp.

Prayers:

Pray to God by chanting mantras, and devotional songs. Tell any slokas on Krishna like Sri Mukundamala, Sri Gopala Vimsati, Geeta Govindam, Krishnashtakam, Madhurashtakam and do archana with flowers and Tulasi. Tulasi is Krishna's favourite and tulasi garland is considered important. Bhagawad Gita, Sri Narayaneeyam, Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam, and slokas can also be recited. Do pooja. Performing poojas are procedures done as per family traditions and many books are available in stores as to how to perform the pooja. The slokas can be googled and books are available in stores as well.

For Neivedhyam:

Apart from Pandigai thaligai, various bakshanams are made for offerings, out of which, aval mixed with grated coconut and jaggery, Navaneetham, uppu seedai and vella seedai, payasam and sukku vellam are considered important as these are Krishna's favourites. Offer all the neivedhyams after doing pooja, finally take aarathi.

Do punarpooja the next day with a payasam.

For neivedhyam: I have given the links for all the bakshanams. Anything of your choice can be made. Click on the recipe name for recipe links. Various dishes are cooked for offerings. In an Iyengar household, the offerings are as follows:

PANDIGAI THALIGAI:

Sadham(rice), Nei(ghee), paruppu,
Mor kozhambu or Sambhar,
Paruppu usili,
Kariamudhu(poriyal),
Kootu,
Thayirpachadi,
Kosumari,
Vadaam or appalam(fried),
Vadai or thayir vadai,
Rasam,
Payasam,
Thayir (curd),
Oorugaai(pickle).

KRISHNA JAYANTHI BAKSHANAMS:

 

BASE FLOUR FOR RICE and URAD DHAL POWDER, 

UPPU SEEDAI 
MAIDA COCONUT MILK SEEDAI 
WHEAT FLOUR SEEDAI

VELLA SEEDAI,

VELLA SEEDAI VERSION 2
WHEAT FLOUR COCONUT MILK VELLA SEEDAI

TIRUPPULLANI PAAL PAYASAM

UNNIAPPAM
MILLET SWEET APPAM 
APPAM(TANJORE STYLE)
NEIYAPPAM 

ARAVANAI/NEI PAYASAM

SEEYAM, 

MANAKKOMBU(MULLU MURUKKU),
POTTUKADALAI MANAKKOMBU

PARUPPU VADAI(AAMA VADAI), 

MANOHARAM,
OOSI THENKUZHAL MANOHARAM

KAI MURUKKU, 

THATTAI,
BUTTON PEPPER THATTAI
NIPPATTU
MILLET THATTAI 

NAVANEETHAM, 

RIBBON PAKODA

RAVA LADDU

THENKUZHAL,
OOSI THENKUZHAL
MILLET THENKUZHAL 

SUKKU VELLAM

Aval mixed with grated coconut and jaggery and 

PAYASAM.

HAPPY SRI KRISHNA JAYANTHI

A COMPLETE GUIDE ON PUTHUKKU PAAL - SNAKE WORSHIP

Tamil calendar and Tamil Panchangam are followed by the people of tamil community world wide, especially for traditional festivals and religious events. ‘Thai month’ is the 10th month in the tamil calendar. The most auspicious days and festivals in the month are Pongal festival, Maattu Pongal, Kaanum Pongal, Thai Amavasai and Thaipoosam. It is a tradition in some families to light the Maavilakku on Fridays of Aadi and Thai months of the Tamil calendar. People light the maavilakku, either in the temples or in their homes.

In tamil, Thai and Aadi Fridays are called ‘Thai vellikizhamai and Aadi vellikizhamai’ respectively and is considered auspicious. 

What is to be cooked at home?

General pandigai thaligai is made along with ‘Manja pongal’, a simple pongal with turmeric powder and tur dhal and is also offered to Goddesses with a payasam, preferably arisi payasam. Thamboolam is given to ladies nearby.

What is puthukku paal thelithal?

'Puthukku paal thelithal' is a ritual/tradition followed in almost all tamil families. 

Puthukku paal and its significance: During the tamil months of Thai and Aadi, people also worship snakes. They visit temples where there are idols of serpents called as 'Naagar', (some people offer milk to ant-hills and snake pits, but we do this pooja to idols at temples) and pray for wealth and prosperity . It is believed that doing this pooja is a remedy for naga dosha. Friday is always auspicious for Hindus. On any one Friday of Thai and aadi month, people do pooja for ‘Naagar’ in nearby temples. The tradition of offering milk to snake idols or snake pits is called ‘puthukku paal thelithal’. As it is hard to find a snake pit, the offering is made to snake idols in temples. Usually, ‘Naagars’ can be seen under the peepal tree in all temples. Anyone can do Pooja to this naagar. 

This festival is generally observed by women , praying for the well being and long life of their husband and children. There is a belief that unmarried women who do the pooja will get good husband and childless couple will be blessed with a child. Though there is no hard and fast rules to worship snakes, elders of each family follow certain ways of pooja. There may be slight variations in the method of observing these rituals. I too observe this tradition at home on Thai and Aadi Fridays. This is a simple method of this ritual/tradition followed in our home. Those who do not have elders at home to guide can follow this.

PROCEDURE:

Take oil bath, wear madisar.

Items to be taken to the temple: Itemwise it may seem to be more, but all these things can be arranged neatly in one basket. I have numbered it for easy reference and memory.

1. Mostly water will be available in temples. If not take water in a bottle.
2. Sombu (for abishekam)
3. Panja pathram, uthrini OR tumbler and spoon (for doing naivedhyam)
4. Plates - 2
5. Hand towel
6. Kola maavu (Strictly rice flour)
7. Turmeric powder
8. Kumkum
9. Vethalai(betel leaves)
10. Paaku (Betelnut)
11. Manjal kizhangu
12. Flower
13. Plantain
14. Coconut -1
15. 1 rupee Coins - few
16. Agarbathi
17. Karpooram
18. Karpooram stand OR Ladle / small plate to light karpooram
19. Milk (put a teaspoon of rice and sliced plantains in milk)
20. Earthen lamp(agal), little oil and wick(thiri)
21. Matchbox
22. Scissors (to cut flowers)
23. Aarthi plate
24. Aarthi (mix little turmeric powder and chunam in water)
25. Kumkuma chimizh

HOW TO DO POOJA?

Sprinkle some water on the platform, wipe with hand and put a padi kolam.

Take a plate and arrange vethalai, paaku, manjal kizhangu, flower, plantain and coins and keep ready. This is for offering.

Take another plate and arrange the tamboolam for ladies.
Take little water in tumbler, put a spoon and keep ready for neivedhyam.

Light agal lamp and place near the idol.

Take water in sombu and perform abishekam to naagar.

Keep dots on head and tail of the naagar, first with turmeric powder and then with kumkum. Then keep flowers. Take out the rice and sliced plantains from milk and place it in the head of the naagar. (Some keep rice in the neivedhyam plate). Do abishekam with milk chanting as follows: 

“Naagaraaja, Sarparaaja, kaattile vaazhndhaalum veettile vaazhndhaalum, thalaiyaik kaattaamal vaalaik kaatti pO, kudumbathil ellaarayum rakshithu arulanum”.

Break the coconut and keep it in the vethalai paaku plate.

Light agarbathi and show it to the idol. Offer neivedhyam. Light camphor and do karpoora arathi. Pray for all in the family. Do pradakshinam two times. Take aarthi and pour down. Some temples may not allow to pour down the aarthi. So mix only very little water with turmeric powder and chunam and pour it in the kolam outside the temple. Take a set of tamboolam and keep it near the idol. Some poor people who come to the temple may take it.

Give tamboolam to ladies who come to temple. Then go to the temple and have a darshan of the deity also. Give tamboolam to neighbourhood ladies.

A COMPLETE GUIDE ON VINAYAGA /GANESHA CHATURTHI CELEBRATION

Lord Ganesha is the God of knowledge, wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. Ganesha is called Vinayagar and also as Pillaiyar in Tamil Nadu. Vinayagar is worshipped by everyone, before starting any new work in any field. Vinayaga chaturthi or Pillaiyar chaturthi is an important festival of Hindu religion. The festival falls on the fourth day after new moon in the Tamil month aavani. It is celebrated to welcome Lord Ganesha on his birthday and is celebrated by Hindus around the world. This festival is celebrated in in India with great enthusiasm and devotion. This festival is also known as the Ganesha Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chavithi. On this day Ganesh idols made of clay are worshipped in all homes. It is known as 'kaliman pillayar' in Tamil. People pray with full devotion and faith and throng to Ganesha temples and pray HIM to get knowledge and wealth and worship 'Ekadanta'. Pray Ganesha with faith and devotion and HE will remove all the obstacles in your life.

How to celebrate?

On the previous day, clean the pooja items, lamps, idols if any. Apply chandan, kumkum to the idols, lamps, wick them and keep ready.

Soak fistful of rice for 2,3 hours and grind to a fine paste. Dilute it to a semi- thick solution. This is called 'izhai kolam maavu' which we make during festivals to put kolam.

Mango leaves for thoran.

Things to purchase and arrange:

Garlands with cotton wick, a small vastram (pillaiyar towel), poonal for pillaiyar, chattar(decorative small umbrella), flowers, fruits preferably guava and vilampazham (wood apple), coconut, betel leaves, betel nuts, erukam poo OR erukam poo garlands, arungampul. These will be available in plenty in the market on the previous day. You can shop for it. Also keep ready turmeric powder, kumkum, sandal powder, camphor, incense sticks, gingelly oil or ghee for lamp. These will always be available at home. If not, shop for it too. Put 'izhai kolam' in wooden planks. Things can be arranged according to the rituals done in one's home. However, even if one cannot afford to buy and celebrate in an elaborate manner, it is enough just to chant and pray with full devotion and faith.

Some people do gowri pooja on the previous day. On the day of Vinayaga Chaturthi, wash and put kolam in the frontyard. Take head bath early in the morning, wear clean clothes, clean the pooja room or the place where the idol is to be kept, put a kolam and keep the 'kaliman pillaiyar' (களிமண் பிள்ளையார்) on wooden planks (put kolam on the plank too) or raised platforms. Put poonool and tie vastram to the earthen idol. Decorate with chandan and kumkum. Decorate with garlands, erukam poo (don't know the English name, google for it) and with "Bermuda grass" known as arugampul in Tamil.

In some houses, the idol is given a bath with pure water and then decorated. Some do abishekam also. Some do Ganapathi homam. Aval pori with jaggery and coconut pieces are also made for homam and prasadam.

Pray to Ganesha /Vinayaka by chanting mantras, and devotional songs. Tell vinayagar agaval, or any slokas on Ganesha and do archana with flowers and guava leaves.

Various dishes are cooked for offerings. Modakam is known to be HIS favourite sweet and is the main dish made on this day. Arrange neivedyams, tamboolam and fruits in pooja room. Offer Modakam, ladoo and all other neivedhyams after doing pooja to Pillaiyar and finally take aarathi.

However, these are procedures done as per family traditions and many books are available in stores on how to perform the pooja. The slokas can be googled and books are available in stores as well.

Do punarpooja the next day with a payasam and do the visarjan in a well or river. In Tamilnadu, people take the kaliman pillayar (களிமண் பிள்ளையார்) from their homes and keep in the temple near the peepal tree vinayagar.

For neivedhyam: I have given links for all the bakshanams. Anything of your choice can be made. Click on the recipe name for recipe links. Various dishes are cooked for offerings. In North India, Karanji, ladoo, barfi and pedas are made. In Tamil Nadu, the offerings are as follows:

Bakshanams:
Home made rice flour
Modhakam (Poorna kozhukattai),
Ulundu kozhukattai,
Ammini kozhukattai,
Kallu kozhukattai,
Ellu urundai,
Appam,
Paruppu vadai,
Sundal
Pachai arisi idli
Aval pori with jaggery and coconut (for Homam and prasadam)
Dry fruits and nuts ladoo 
Besan badam cake 
Kesar peda
Pidi kozhukattai
Millet cow peas pidi kozhukattai


General thaligai menu:                     

Sadham(rice), Nei(ghee), paruppu,
Mor kozhambu or Sambhar,
Paruppu usili,
Kariamudhu(poriyal),
Kootu,
Thayirpachadi,
Kosumari,
Vadaam or appalam(fried),
Vadai or thayir vadai,
Rasam,
Payasam,
Thayir (curd),
Oorugaai(pickle).

Click here for Pooja vidhanam audio and download.

A COMPLETE GUIDE ON AADI / AASHAADA MONTH FESTIVAL CELEBRATIONS AND RECIPES

Tamil month Aadi is considered as an auspicious month. Aadi festival is celebrated in  the tamil month of Aadi (July - August). In Tamil there is a saying "Aadi azhaikkum" meaning the month is the start  for all festivals of the year.  All fridays in this month are  very auspicious and special for Goddesses. Doing Lakshmi Pooja, offering prasadam to Goddesses, doing poojas and offering milk to 'Naagar' (snakes), giving thamboolam to ladies, offering maavilakku, 'varalakshmi vratham and pooja' and Sri Andal's birthday "Thiruvadipooram" are some  of the celebrations in this month. 

The first day of Aadi month (Aadi pirappu) is celebrated as Aadi Pandigai. This festival is  important for the newly-weds. The son-in-law is invited on this day for food and gifted with Thengai paal  in a 'Silver tumbler' alongwith clothes and sweets. In addition to general pandigai thaligai, we prepare thengai paal for this pandigai instead of regular payasam. Click here for 'Thengai Paal' recipe.

The 18th day of Tamil month Aadi is also known as "Aadi perukku" or "Aadi 18" or "Padinettaam perukku". Perukku in Tamil means "in abundance". The rivers will have water in abundance now, after the monsoon rains in the previous month. This is an important pandigai of TamilNadu. On this day, people prepare mixed rice varieties also called as kalandha saadham or chitraannam. They go to the banks of the river with kith and kin and enjoy the trip with chitraannam. This is an important festival for the farmers.

Aadi 18 neivedyams : Click the link for recipes:

Coconut rice, Lemon rice or Puliyodharai, Sarkarai pongal and curd rice(Bahalabhath) with poricha appalam. Admire the tactics of our elders. Nothing will be spilt while travelling to the banks of the river and cooking is also simplified.

Click on the names for some other Iyengar style rice recipes. Pulikachal, Iyengar puliyodharai, Milagorai, Melkote Puliyogare, Tirukoshtiyur tirumaalai chamba, Ellorai, Lentils khichdi, Iyengar special kadambam, Kalkandu bhath (iyengar style), Ulun dhorai, Chitrannam, Akkaravadisal, Vennpongal.

Chitrannam

Prasadams for Thiruvadipooram (Sri Andal's birthday) are Venn pongal and Sakkarai pongal OR Akkara adisil .

Akkaravadisal

Vennpongal

Some  families have the tradition of  lighting the Maavilakku🔗 on Aadi Fridays.

Maavilakku

Some families do snake worship(puthukku paal) on aadi fridays. Click here for a complete guide on puthukku paal 🔗. 

Some other prasadams (offerings) on aadi vellikkizhamai and Varalakshmi vratham are Ammini Kozhukattai, Manjal Pongal, Arisi Payasam, Pacharisi idli, appam, and vadai. Lakshmi poojas are done on Aadi Fridays chanting Lakshmi Ashtotharam and slokas and doing archana with flowers or kumkum to Goddess Lakshmi.

Lakshmi pooja

As I am an iyengar, we don't observe varalakshmi vratham. This festival is observed largely by women, invoking the blessings of Lakshmi on them, their husbands and their children. It is believed that worshipping Goddess Varalakshmi on this day is equivalent to worshipping Ashtalaksmi – the eight goddesses of Wealth, Earth, Learning, Love, Fame, Peace, Pleasure, and Strength.

This procedure details were given to me by Smt. Rajeswari and photos taken by Smt. Revathi, my daughter. Many thanks to both of you.  

-- On the day before the varalakshmi viratham 

Pooja area and house is cleaned well and a beautiful ‘kolam’ or rangoli is drawn on the intended place of puja.

1) To put in kalasam:
(7 items )
1. Raw rice (1 aazhaku + 1 pidi)
2. One spoon toor dhal
3. One lemon
4. Piece of gold (coin, ring, chain anything)
5. Piece of silver
6. Betel leaves and arecanut (Vethalai and paaku)
7. Pair of large black ear rings (called as kadhola karugamani)

In some families they just fill the kalasam with water. The items used to fill the kalasam vary from region to region and families.

1) Apply turmeric powder in a thread, put 9 knots in it and keep ready. (Elders at home tie this thread on right hand )

2) Take one coconut, apply turmeric powder completely on it and place it on this kalasam.

3) Take the mugam (silver face of the Goddess) and tie it in such a way that it covers the coconut.

4) Decorate mugam with pottu(bindhi), ma(kajal)i, eye-liner, savuri-kunjalam (hairstyle accessories), etc.. as per your wish

5) For sari.. use a normal 6 yards sari, fold it into two. Take one small kudam(water pot). Tie a scale behind it to act as a support ( like the shoulder part) . Now tie the sari( as you normally drape) over the kudam.

6) In the place where you plan to keep the kalasam, place vaazhai maram ( small plantain trees) on both sides, and decorate with mavilai (mango leaves) to form a thoranam (decorative thoran).

-- On the day of varalakshmi vratham

Wake up early in the morning on Friday and take a head bath. Draw kolam in the frontyard.

Do pooja for nilaipadi (doorstep) and tulasi plant in the morning (with manjal, kumkum, akshadhai and flower)

1) Place a mana palagai(wooden plank) at the house entrance (just before vasal padi (maindoor step), inside home). Put kolam and place the decorated kalasam on the mana palagai. On this kalasam, do abishekam with 2-3 spoons of milk and then with water

2) Then like inviting Lakshmi home, (with bhaagyadha lakshmi baaramma or lakshmi raave maa intiku songs) carry the kalasam and place it inside the mandapam..

3) Place the kalasam on top of the kudam in which the sari is tied and then adjust everything as necessary.

4) Prepare one small maalai(garland) and decorate the kalasam with garland and flowers. Also put panju maalai(cotton garland). Place a small yellow cloth on the kalasam. 5) Put 9 small kolams (Padma kolams as shown in the picture) and place it in front of the mandapam.

6) First do padma pooja (with manjal, kumkum, akshadhai and flower), on all 9 kolams ( Say lakshmi slokams )

7) Tell lakshmi ashtothram and put flowers during pooja ( lots of flowers ,different varieties, like lotus, thaazham poo, malli, mullai, jaadhi, rose, kozhi kondai , vilvam, saamandhi)

8) Karpooram, dasangam, all usual pooja things.. One nei vilaku also

9) For neivedhyam: rice, parupu, kuzhambu, rasam, kaai, kootu, 3 types of kozhukattai (parupu (parupu usuli type), ellu and vellam+thengai), parupu vadai, pachai-arisi idli.

Now, the ladies hold coconut and flower in hand and elders tie the yellow thread in the right hand.

10) Then finally take aarathi

Above has to be performed in the morning. In the evening can call guests home and give thamboolam.

-- The day after varalakshmi vratham

Next day morning: Again tell ashtothram and do punar-poojai. Make some sweet or payasam along with normal cooking.

Evening : Thamboolam to friends and relatives. Then in the night, move the kalasam a little from its place or make it lie down like we do for golu.

Next day morning, do some paal payasam, offer it to the Goddess, and keep inside some dabba and close it. The following day, you can remove it. Use the rice in kalasam for making some paayasam or sweet during avani avittam or gokulashtami which follows in a few days.

However, these are procedures done as per family traditions and many books are available in stores as to how to perform the pooja. The Lakshmi Ashtotharam and slokas  can be googled and books are available as well.

Ammini Kozhukattai

Manjal pongal

Arisi payasam

A COMPLETE GUIDE FOR KARTHIGAI (THIRUKKARTHIGAI) FESTIVAL

HAPPY KARTHIGAI TO ALL 

For all karthigai recipes click the recipe names.

In Tamil Nadu, Karthigai deepam or Karthigai pandigai is celebrated for three days. It is celebrated on the full moon day of the Karthigai month, which coincides with Krithikai star. It is a festival of lamps. Crackers and fireworks are burnt at home. Bonfires are lit in front of the temples.

How to celebrate?:

Naivedyams:
In addition to general pandigai menu, the offerings to the Deepam are Nel pori urundai, Aval pori urundai, Kadalai urundai, Vadai and Appam. Some other special recipes can also be made.

• Basic sugar syrup consistency
• Nel pori urundai
  
• Aval pori urundai 
  
• Kadalai urundai 
  
• Vadai 
• Appam
• Multinuts chikki
• Dry fruits and nuts ladoo
• Pottukadalai urundai
• Manoharam
• Cashew balls  
• Maa laadu
• Rava laddu
• Thengai burfi /Coconut burfi
• Rava laddu
• Kadalai urundai/Peanut balls
• Aama vadai
• Medhu vadai
• 18 payasam varietiess 

Lamps used:
Earthen lamps, Copper and brass lamps, pure silver lamps.

NOTE:
Buy earthen lamps atleast 2 days before, immerse in water overnight. Drain and allow it to dry completely.

Things to be arranged before:
Wash the lamps and when dry, keep chandanam and kumkum for the lamps. Wick the lamps. Put a kolam in the frontyard.

Wear nine yards saree. Arrange the naivedyams and thamboolam. Oil and light the lamps. Offer the naivedyams to Deepalakshmi along with karpoora arathi. Place the oil lamps on the kolam, thulasi maadam, and decorate the house with lamps. Arrange the oil lamps near doors, windows, balconies, compound walls and also on the parapet walls of the open terrace. Celebrate for three days like this. The third day is called "Kuppai karthigai" and oil lamps are lit also in the backyard, sideyard, toilets and bathrooms.

NEL PORI URUNDAI

AVAL PORI URUNDAI

MULTINUTS CHIKKI

KADALAI URUNDAI

APPAM(TANJORE STYLE)

BADAM KHEER

 

MEDHU VADAI