Karadiyan Nombu Adai

Karadayan nombu is one of the major festivals in Tamil Nadu and is observed when the Tamil month 'Maasi' ends and 'Panguni' begins. It is observed by married women to seek blessings for the long and healthy life of their spouse.  Even unmarried girls observe this Nombu to get good husbands.  Karadaiyan nombu is celebrated tomorrow (Sunday, timing between 8.15 p.m. to 9.15 p.m.IST) and the Neiveidhyam (offering to Godess)  is  Uppu and Vella adai (Salt and sweet).  

On the day of the Nombu, kolams are put in front of the Pooja space and on it plaintain leaf is placed. On the plaintain leaf, Adai, butter, Vettrilai and Pakku, Bananas, Flowers and the Nombu charadu are placed.  Pooja begins by praying to Goddess Lakshmi and Neivaidhyam is done. Then, by chanting the following mantras, the charadu is tied in the neck:

Urukkatha vennaiyum Oru Adaiyum Naan Nootrein

En Kanavar ennai vittu piriyamal irukka vendum.

Vella adai recipe
Ingredients

Rice flour- 1 cup

Jaggery- 3/4 cup

Cardamom - 1/4tsp
Water

• Fry rice flour in low heat till the flour becomes dry (padham is if u take flour in ur hand it shd be very dry and u should be able to draw a kolam).
• Add the jaggery in 1/4 cup water and keep it in low flame until it dissolves completely.
• Once jaggery dissolves, strain to remove stones etc.
• This jaggery water must be brought to a boil 
• Add cardamom powder, coconut pieces and slowly add rice flour till u feel the batter is thick enough to make adais (patties).
• Then make it into small adais(patties) as shown in the photo and steam in cooker like idli.

 

Uppu adai recipe:

Ingredients

Rice flour- 1 cup

Green chillies- 1nos

Ural dal- 1 tsp

Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp 
Asafoetida - two pinches

Curry leaves- 2-3

Water- 1 1/2 cup (adjust according to the quality of the rice flour- the batter should not be too thick or too watery)

Sale to taste

• Take oil in kadai add urad dal, mustard seed, asafoetida, curry leaves, green chillies and pour water and salt.
• Once water starts boiling put the fried rice flour till the mix is thick.
• Make into adais(patties) as shown in the photo and steam in cooker like idli

Perform neivaidhyam and tastes best with butter.