KARADAIYAN NOMBU ADAI–SALTY / SPICY

 

My husband prefers salty/spicy adai than sweet.  And, he also takes takes this adai as an evening snacks and sometimes for breakfast.  I simply toss these steamed adai in dosa milagai podi and serve.

KARADAIYAN NOMBU ADAI – SWEET

 

 

Karadaiyan Nombu or Savitri Nombu is a vratham / vrat observed by TAM-BRAMs on the last day of Maasi masam and first day of Panguni masam of Tamil calendar which is 14th March of every year.  Married women worship Goddess Gauri or Parvathi or Shakti for marital bliss and better health of husband and children. Unmarried girls perform the vratham to get ideal person as their husband.  Karadaiyan Nombu is similar to that of sowbagya Gouri vratham or Gauri Tritiya vratham of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Gangaur vrat of Rajasthan, Jyesta gouri Vrat of Maharashtra, Jitiya Puja of Bihar, Karva Chauth of all other North Indian states.  On this day, married women (in their traditional 9 yard saree called madisar) change their thirumangalya charadu (thread) and tie sacred yellow thread around their neck during the auspicious time of the day and unmarried girls tie only the sacred yellow thread. While changing the thirumangalyam charadu the following sloka is chanted:
Throram Krishhnami subhake saharitham
Dharami aham bharthu
Ayushya Sidhartham supreethabhava sarvadha

In my family, we normally fast till the thread is changed and eat only the neivedhyam prepared for the pooja which is called karadaiyan nombu adai.

SAKKARAI PONGAL

Sakkarai Pongal is made on Pongal festival… traditionally in Vangalai panai (made with alloys of bronze and copper Pot) / or mann panai (earthen pot) on veraggu aduppu (wood fire).  The pot is decorated with manjal kottu (turmeric plant), sugarcane piece, flower and banana.

POLI

 

Poli always remind me of my grandma, how patiently she would make these for the entire family as an evening snacks.  She was so great… all grandmas are great.  Well, Poli is made for Bhogi fesvital (falling a day before pongal fest) in Tamil Nadu.  It tastes good and can be had as an evening snacks.  It is typically made with maida dough…  but I personally prefer Whole Wheat Flour for the same.