aadi -pandigai-south indian recipes
Aadi Thengai Paal
Coconut milk kheer
Delicious coconut milk kheer prepared with coconut milk , jaggery and garnished with nuts ,prepared for the first day of Aadi month or Aaadi pirappu
Aadi Thenga Pal
The beginning of the Tamil month of Aadi known as Aadi Pandigai .
17 th July 2023 marks the beginning of the most important month in Tamil Hindu calendar Aadi , While Aadi is considered to be highly auspicious and significant for worshiping Devi/ Shakti/ Amman/ Ambal , Godesses referred to as such , but considered inauspicious to conduct important functions, rituals during the month , No new endeavors are undertaken, during this time period, special pujas and rituals are conducted by several devotees to get their wishes and desires fulfilled. the entire month is spent in worshiping the Ambal or goddess Shakti whose power is doubled during this time . this month marks the commencement of dawn or night time for the devas, the demigods (‘dakshinaayana punyakalam’)
During the Tamil month of Aadi, every Friday (Velli Kizahamai) is considered to be auspicious and ideal for worshiping Hindu Goddesses, especially the various incarnations of Shakti. In this significant day, majority of the Hindus follow the practice of performing pujas that are dedicated to Nagas (Snakes). few important festivals fall in this month . All Tuesdays and Fridays are considered important in worship of the Amman / Godess and several varieties of food are offered as neivediyam/ prasad.
The Aadi festival, which falls in the month of July, is the beginning of the numerous festivals that are to follow suit .
The word Aadi is derived from the Sanskrit word aash-adi. The months for the Indian Calendar are named after the 27 stars in the Zodiac system.
In each month there are two or three stars. Similarly the other months like Chitrai, Panguni, Vaikasi, Karthikai etc. are named after the stars.
Aadi falls during the second half of the year known as Dakshinayanam when the Sun transits from the northern hemisphere to the Southern during July. Dakshinayana Punyakalam begins in the month .Therefore the month is inauspicious for conducting functions like weddings . It is the south ward journeynof the sun .Dakshinayan Punyakalam the night of the Devas begins on the first day of Aadi.
The sun changes direction for next six months and it is the night time for the Devas.
For devas, its night time or twilight zone and they are engaged in worshipping the Maha Shakthi to remove darkness from their lives. Lord Shiva is with his consort and therefore her powers are doubled during this month.
The mother protects her devotees from all negative forces and therefore regarded as the most auspicious month of the year for Devi worship. The sun steers its way to enter the Kataka rasi (Cancer sign that is ruled by the Moon) and hence this month is also called Karkataka.
The transition from the Southern to the Northern hemisphere in the month of January is known as Uthirayanam. "Both the periods are auspicious for the worship of the Gods and Goddesses". As the transit of stars takes place during the day Uthirayana, all auspicious functions including marriages are conducted at that period, while during the month of Aadi the transition take place during the night.
A lot of festivals are celebrated in the month of Aadi. This is the beginning of all the festivals during the festival season. Aadi heralds the beginning of all major festivals one by one.
Aadi festival is special for various Godesses . It is celebrated in a special way in temples like Maangadu, Kamakshi Amman temple. All sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays of this month are auspicious.
Every Friday is celebrated as “Aadi Velli”. On the first Friday we make kozhukkattai for Lord Ganesha.The new moon day of this month is celebrated as “Aadi Amavasai” which is to remember our ancestors who have reached heavenly abode .That day donations will be made to Brahmins .
The pooram star of this month is celebrated as “aadi pooram” as the birthday of Aandal. It is celebrated in all temples in a grand manner.
The 18th day of this month is celebrated as “Aadi perukku” or “Pathinettam perukku”. Since rain flows in this month, the rivers are filled with water. Water is also given from dams to agriculturists.On this day, we prepare all varieties of rice and vadams etc. taking all to nearby river or beach with friends and give them manjal kunkum, vetrilai pakku, clothes etc This done to praise Goddeess Cauveri (Cauvery river). It is to thank all the rivers because they provide water.
Aadi Pirappu - Aadi Pandigai - The first day of Aadi is observed as Aadi Pirappu. It means beginning of the month. The day begins with the making of huge kolams (Rangoli designs) . This first day of the Adi month is particularly special for newly married couples as they are pampered with new clothes sweets and a grand festival lunch. The highlight of the festival is the preparation of Thengai Paal which is thick coconut milk extracted from coconuts after grinding for three times and three types of milk extracted to prepare the sweet Payasam or kheer.Recipe given below .
Important dates in Aadi month
17th July Aaadi pirappu ( 1 st day of Aadi Month )
18 July 2023 Aadi Chevvai / Tuesday
21 July Aadi Velli / auspicious Fridays in the month of Aadi
22 July 2023 Aadi pooram
2 5th July Aadi chevvai /Tuesday
28 th July 2023 Aadi Ammavasai , Aadi velli /Friday
29 july 2023 Ekadashi vratham
01 August 2023 Aadi chevvai /Tuesday
03 August Aadi Perukku / Aadi 18 /Padinettam pirappu
04 August Aadi velli /friday
08 August Aadi chevvai /Tuesday
09 August Aadi krithigai
11 August 2023 Aadi velli Friday
16 August 2023 last Friday of Aadi month / Adi velli
25 th August Varalakshmi vratham
30 August Yajur Upakarma / Avaniavittam
RITUALS OF AADI VELLI
• 1st Aadi Friday is dedicated to the Goddess of wealth – Swarnambika
• 2nd Aadi Friday is dedicated to the Goddess of intelligence – Angala Amman
• 3rd Aadi Friday is dedicated to the Goddess of courage and health – Annai Kalikambal
• 4th Aadi Friday is dedicated to the Goddess of relationship – Kamakshi Amman
• 5th Aadi Friday is dedicated to the Goddess of overall prosperity – Lakshmi
What is special about Aadi velli / Fridays
During the month of Aadi it is believed that the Godess or Amman will manifest herself to bring about peace, good health ,prosperity among her staunch devotees.
At this time of the month the divine vibrations in all scared temples especially those established to celeberate the Godess is enhanced manifold times .
So devotees who throng to temples at this time can sense the divinity and get benefity by worshipping Amman in many ways .
The Godess is worshipped in many avataars and called by many names such as Mari amman, Ellai amman , Kanni amman and so on .
The newly wed couples pray devoutly to beget a child , the unmarried young girls worship the Amman fervently to get a good husband and to secure a peaceful happy married life .
Rituals of Aadi Velli
Aadi Velli is of great significance to women devotees as many special rituals are performed in the month.
Aadi Velli /Fridays are of significance to women to perform special poojas to Nagas / Snakes as it has immense relcious significance and worshipping to Nagas will help in easing lifes, difficulties, obsctacles, ensure removal of troubles, grants boons if prayed with fervour .
Varalakshmi pooja is another major pooja performed in Aadi month dedicated to Godess Lakshmi and perfromed on Fiday
Devotees throng all Amman temples and will offer special koozh or porridge to Godess and then distributed as prasadam to all those present .
Women perform special poojas to Amman and will offer the sacred thambulam of betel leaves, fruits, kum kum and turmeric , coconut and blouse bits or cloth , these are exchanned among other women devotees in temples or in their respective homes .
Devotees also offer as a custom an offering of Maa vilakku made of rice flour jaggery and ghee .
Women also carry pots of water and turmeric offering and will pour on the wooden staff which symbolises the Amman .
Women also cook sakkarai pongal in the temple premises a nd offer to the Aman as neivediyam and distributed to other devotees
The Amman statues or images are adorned with garlands of lemon ..
An interesting interpretation is made for the significance and rituals behind Aadi festival contributed by a member in Quora.
Maari Amman (and various other similar goddesses) are associated with the Month of Aadi. They are also associated with neem leaves (veppilai), turmeric (manjal) and porridge (koozh).
Neem and Turmeric are well known medicines capable of fighting a variety of infections and diseases. Koozh (porridge) is a very healthy food, which is also a great coolant (again, I have an hypothesis that 'cooling' your body .
Aadi is the month when the summer ends and autumn begins, a month that heralds the coming monsoon rains and so - this is also the time we are very prone to infectious diseases because of the changes in climate and weather conditions.
Hence, celebrating Maari amman through this month, one uses a lot of neem and turmeric in his house (typical households tie bunches of neem on their doorsteps and coat turmeric paste to the threshold of the house) and consumes lot of porridge (for every family will be offering porridge during this month, and you'll have lot of free supplies!)
All this ensures we are made safe from possible infections and are keeping our body normal during the transformation of weather.
Ingredients :
Recipe for Thengai paal payasam
2 cups freshly grated coconut , only the white parts to be scraped.
1 cup of jaggery
toasted cashew nuts and raisins to garnish.
pinch of edible camphor.
1/4 tsp cardamom powder
1 cup thick boiled cooled milk.
2 tsp rice flour
Method:
Take 2 heaped cups of freshly grated coconut and soak in little warm water for few minutes. Then grind in the mix to obtain thick coconut milk.
Strain the thick white milk through a muslin cloth or a fine sieve and then again grind squeezed out Coconut gratings with little more hot water in the mixie.
Once again you will get a slightly thinner milk. Strain or sieve and add to the first milk.
Repeat the grinding once again to obtain a very thin coconut milk and add this to the previously obtained milk. In all you will be able to get good coconut milk by grinding three times. Discard the coconut waste gratings.
On the stove keep a heavy bottomed vessel and pour the thick coconut milk and allow to simmer on a very low flame. Meanwhile prepare the jaggery syrup by dissolving the jaggery with little water and straining the liquid of impurities and add this syrup to the simmering coconut milk.
Add the thick cold milk also to give a more richer flavour to the sweetened milk.
Add the cardamom powder, edible camphor, toasted nuts and raisins and the rice flour which will thicken the milk.
When the sweetened coconut milk comes to a boil very gently, remove from gas . At no point should this boil over as it will split the milk.
Paruppu Vadai click the link for recipe.
Medu vadai click the link for recipe .
Aadi Velli ( Fridays in Aadi )
Aadi velli
According to our Astrology the month of Aadi is defined by This Tamil month Aadi is auspicious to worship the Goddess, the ruler of Moon, for spiritual progress. therefore important functions like weddings are not permformed in this month and only religiious acitivities conducted.
As the heat of the sun reduces significantly , onset of monsoon begins in many parts , rivers become full and begin to flow .
Story behind Aadi Velli
During the month of Aadi Godess Shakti manifested as Godess Pachhai Amman to bring peace and harmony to the world, also called Kanni amman by her inherent energy. , she appeared in many religious centres . Her presence brought great divine energy and vibrations to these religious places
Aadi velli ( Fridays that fall in the month ) .
The first Friday is dedicated to Godess Swarnambika ( Godess Parvati )
The 2 nd Friday is dedicated to Godess of Intelligence Angala Amman / also to Godess Kali who bestows extraordinary intelligence and knowledge .
The 3 rd Friday is dedicated to Godess of courage and good heath Godess Kalikambal , a form of Godess Parvati
The 4 th Friday is dedicated to Kamakshi Amman again a form of Godess Parvati or Shakti , prayers to the godess will remove obstacles in marriages , ensure good harmonious relationship.
The 5 th Friday is dedicated to Godess of prosperity Lakshmi , consort of Lord Vishnu and on this day Varalakshmi Vrtahm and pooja is performed . This is a special day of great significance to all women , and families who have the custom will perform the vratham and pooja to obtain the blessings of the Godess for peace and prosperity .It is believed that sincere prayers and pooja by women on this day will ensure continued peace and prosperity for all the family members.
Basically the significance of observing and performing Adi velli poojai is to invoke the blessings of Godess Parvati whose energies are manifold at this time and one can easily benefit by chanting shlokams in her praise ,in sincere prayers or poojas.
She grants boons and good health , peace ,prosperity, fulfills wishes of marriages to be performed for young ones in family, success in all ventures..
Given below some important days during this month for celebration.
Important dates in Aadi month
17th July Aaadi pirappu ( 1 st day of Aadi Month )
18 July 2023 Aadi Chevvai / Tuesday
21 July Aadi Velli / auspicious Fridays in the month of Aadi
22 July 2023 Aadi pooram
2 5th July Aadi chevvai /Tuesday
28 th July 2023 Aadi velli /Friday
29 july 2023 Ekadashi vratham
01 August 2023 Aadi chevvai /Tuesday
03 August Aadi Perukku / Aadi 18 /Padinettam pirappu
04 August Aadi velli /friday
08 August Aadi chevvai /Tuesday
09 August Aadi krithigai
11 August 2023 Aadi velli Friday
16 August 2023 Aadi Ammavasai and last Friday of Aadi month / Adi velli
25 th August Varalakshmi vratham
30 August Yajur Upakarma / Avaniavittam
Aadi Ammavasai for details on Aadi ammavasi and recipes, click here
source Medium
During the Tamil month of Aadi, just as every Friday (Velli Kizahamai) is considered to be auspicious and ideal for worshiping Hindu Goddesses, especially the various incarnations of Shakti, . Similarly Aadi Ammavasai is equally important to perform oblations to our forefathers by the male successors .
Aadi Amavasya is the new Moon Day that falls in the Tamil month of Aadi (July – August).
Aadi Amavasai is one of the three most powerful days to offer the
Tarpanam to honor ones ancestors and receive their blessings.
It is believed that in Aadi Amavasai, spirits are eager and more than willing to accept our offerings to them and the souls are satisfied are when their successors perform tarpanam rituals for them.
Aadi Perukku
This festival is dedicated to river Cauvery and falls on the 18 th day hence called Padinettam perruku in Tamil.The 18th day of this month is celebrated as “Aadi perukku” or “Pathinettam perukku”. Since rain flows in this month, the rivers are filled with water. Water is also given from dams to agriculturists.This festival is dedicated to river Cauvery and falls on the 18 th day hence called Padinettam perruku in Tamil.
The 18th day of this month is celebrated as “Aadi perukku” or “Pathinettam perukku”. Since rain flows in this month, the rivers are filled with water. Water is also given from dams to agriculturistsOn this day, we prepare all varieties of rice and vadams etc. taking all to nearby river or beach with friends and give them manjal kunkum, vetrilai pakku, clothes etc This done to praise Goddess Cauveri (Cauvery river).It is to thank all the rivers because they provide water.Some of the popular foods prepared on this day to take to the river bank and have it with family and friends are Lemon rice, Coconut rice, Tamrind rice, Curd rice and usually papads and some varieties of wafers are fried and eaten along with these rice varieties.Those of us in the big cities also celebrate this way at home by preparing the rice varieties and having them after a pooja to the Gods thanking and praying for a peaceful prosperous year ahead after the welcoming rains .Aadi is the month for sowing, rooting, planting of seeds and vegetation since it is peak monsoon time when rain is showered in abundance.
Mulaipari (Sprouting or Germination of Nine Grains or Navadhanyam in a basket or clay mud pots) is a very important ritual which takes place at almost every village Goddess celebration. In its most original form, it is an exclusively women’s ritual and is of great importance for the whole village. The participants of the processions carry earthen pots with grown grains (nine different types of grains) inside on their heads and walk towards a river where the content is dissolved. The procession is accompanied by Amman. The ritual is very elaborate.
Aadi Perukku near river bank of Cauvery
Variety rice
Cococnut rice
image astroved.com
Aadi Krithigai
This is dedictaed to Lord Muruga . The Tamil month of Aadi is also dedicated to Lord Muruga and Tuesdays are celebertated as his day of special significance .Tamil calendar has Krithigai star and special poojas are conducted on every Tuesdys of the month . The Skanda purana has many legends associated with Aadi Krithigai .
Krittika Nakshatra (star) is the 3rd among the 27 stars. The day ruled by this star during the Tamil month of Aadi is revered as Aadi Krithigai. This day is considered very auspicious and one of the best times for propitiating Lord Muruga, as Krittika is the favorable star for Lord Muruga.
Significance of Aadi Krithigai
Adi Krithigaiu is considered very auspicious and special poojas are conucted in the abode of Lord Muruga , called arupadai veedu ( six abodes of Murugan )
Legend behind Aadi Krithigai
Godess Parvati blessed the six maidens called Karthigai pengal who raised six babies born out of Sivas third eye .
Benefits of observing Krithigai and worshipping Lord Murugan on Tuesdyas is said to have the the following benefits for devotees
obtain wisdom , removal of obstacels, debts, obtain good health , victory , good relationships,destroys negative energy, reduces the ill effects of Shani / Mars in birth chgart , removes or reduces the negative elements in life , reduces debts , poverty and granst prosperity and good health .
Aadi Karthigai Recipes
moongdalpayasam
parupu vadai
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Avani Avittam
Read more about this post here
Avani Avittam / Upakarma is the annual Brahmin festival of changing their sacred thread , it is also a confession, or atonement, a day of expiation and restoration. On this day Brahmins change their sacred threads and confess that they have fallen from their status as Brahmins and make a resolve to (hopefully) strive to fulfill their vows, duties and obligations as required by their social position as guides for the rest of society.
Avani Avittam is actually performed the Day before Vinayagar Chathurthi (he is Brahma) but most of the Brahmins do it in the month of Aadi . Read more about Avani Avittam and Hayagreeva Jayanthi here
Recipes
usually foods such as Boli, thenga boli,paal boli, nei appam, and a festival lunch is served on the day .Rava kesari and other extra sweets may also be prepared.
General Recipes for Aadi month
