Karadai Nombu/Savithri Nombu !! My childhood memories !

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

Savithri Nombu is celebrated on the transition of the month Masi to Panguni.  The first day of Panguni is treated as an auspicious day which commemorates  at the devotion of Savithri got back her husband from the holds of Lord Yama.  During this day, married women and girl children wear a yellow thread around their neck after offering prayers to Goddess Kamakshi.  The offerings include banana, Sweet Adai, Salt Adai etc.

Sweet Adai: ( This is absolutely my idea of preparing Sweet Adai.  If it does not come out well........sorry I am not responsible) Sweet Adai ingredients are Jaggery, Rice powder, elaichi powder, brown beans (Karamani) and coconut (cut pieces or scraped).  The beginning process of making sweet Adai  preparation goes like this:  Make Jaggery powder according to the requirement (some prefer light sweet or some require good amount of sweet).  I prefer good quantity of sweet in the Adai.  Pour water ( 1 glass of water  required  for 1 1/2 glass rice powder) on the jaggery and let it boil, add rice powder for the preparation of rice dough.  Add some elaichi powder, boiled Karamani (brown beans)  and coconut to the dough.  Now the dough mixture is ready to make into small balls and press it on palm size.  Steam it and serve with butter.

 

Salt Adai: Rice powder, Salt to taste, Karamani, Mustar seeds, Hing, coconut cut pieces/scraped, curry leaves, oil, red chilli/green chilli and urud dal.  The preparation of dough : boil 1 cup of water  with required quantity of salt and add 1 1/2 of rice powder.  Now the dough is ready without sticking on hands.  Add the cooked Karamani and coconut to the dough.  In a Kadai add little oil to mustard seeds to spatter and add  hing, curry leaves, urud dal, red chilli and gree chilli.  Add these roasted ingredients to the prepared dough.  Mix well and make small balls of it and press it on palm size.  Steam it and serve with butter.

Draw Rangoli in front of the diety as a part of arrangement of seats for the ladies and one extra for the Goddess Kamakshi.  The offerings - Banana, Yellow Thread, flowers, butter, vethalapakku, sweet Adai and salt Adai are to be served on a Banana leaf and placed on the Rangoli.  After prayers and offerings to Goddess with the Yellow thread , ladies and children tie the yellow thread around their neck and share the prasadam.  This is way we used to celebrate when we were kids.  It is believed that  the auspicious ceremony of tieing the yellow thread provides virtuous husbands with girl children in their future  and for the long life of their husband.

Jai Sriman Narayana !!