Significance of Nonbu (நோன்பு):
Karadaiyan Nonbu is a traditional tamil festival which is celebrated by married woman for the well being of her partner. This nonbu is also called as Savitri Viratam. It is similar to the Gowri Vratam of Andhra Pradesh&Karantaka, Jyeshta Gauri Vrat of Maharashtra,Jitiya Pujay of Bihar,Karva Chauth of the other North Indian states’ festivals.
According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that Savitri saved her husband Satyavan from Yama (the God of death).When Savitri performed pooja, her offerings were durva grass(அருகம்புல்) & peepal leaves(அரச இலை). She prepared neivedhyam with Wild Rice (கார அரிசி) & Toor Dal. Hence the name. You can read it in detail here.
All such stories teach us one thing, Just to be positive no matter whatever happens in life and not to give up till the end. Savitri believed that she can protect her husband even when he was in death bed. That belief on one’s self is important to succeed in life.
How to perform this pooja :
The festival falls on the English month of March. The exact timing to break the fast is when the tamil month ‘Maasi'(மாசி) ends and when the next tamil month ‘Panguni'(பங்குனி ) begins. Each and every year this particular time changes. Depending on our geographical location it is better to check with the local temple priest or panchakam(பஞ்சாங்கம்) for the exact timings.
On the day of fast we should not eat or drink until pooja
Prepare nevedhyams (offerings to god)
Do a simple pooja to Goddess Maha Lakshmi
Apply little kumkum on the sacred yellow thread (நோன்பு சரடு), tie a flower, a samll piece of fresh turmeric on the thread
The elderly women in the family has to tie the threads to other women in family
This thread can be tied on all the girl members in the family irrespective of their age
Once the pooja & thread ceremony is over do chant the lines given below and then end the fast by eating the Adai
“Urugadha vennaiyum or adaiyum naan tharuven
En kanavar eppodhum ennai piriyamal irukka vendum”…
which means “I offer butter and prashad made out of Wild Rice,kindly bless me that I live happily with my husband forever”
Prep work for Nevedhyams/Prashad :
There are two nevedhyams(offering to God). One is Sweet Adai, the other is Savory Adai. If the festival falls on a week day it will be difficult to prepare everything on morning. Hence you could do some prep work the previous day and keep the things handy. This will definitely save time
Make at least 3 cups of fresh homemade rice flour. Check this link for detailed recipe
If you are using coconut pieces chop them finely and store it in refrigerator. I use grated coconut. Hence I grated the coconut and kept it ready.
Make jaggery into pieces the previous day itself and store it in an airtight container
You need pressure cooked black eyed peas for adding them into adai. Soak a cup of peas for 30 minutes. Pressure cook for up to 4 whistles and keep it separately
Don’t over cook the dry eas
Ingredients for Sweet Adai (வெல்ல அடை) :
- Rice Flour – 1 cup
- Powdered Jaggery – 1 cup
- Ghee – 2 tbsp
- Cardamom Powder – 1 tbsp
- Grated coconut or chopped coconut pieces – 1/4 cup
- Karamani/Black eyed peas – 1/2 cup (You need some for savory adai too)
Preparation :
On a slow flame, dry roast rice flour in a pan for 4 minutes
Make sure the color doesn’t change
On a separate pan, add 1/2 tsp ghee and roast the grated coconut/coconut pieces.This gives a nice flavor to adai.Keep it aside
Dissolve jaggery in half cup of water and boil
After 3-4 minutes filter the impurities and keep the jaggery syrup aside
Heat this jaggery syrup in a non-stick frying pan and add the rice flour slowly
Add cardamom powder,coconut and keep on stirring the mixture
Ensure no lumps are formed. Once when the mixture starts thickening add the pressure cooked black eyed peas
Add remaining ghee and mix everything together. It will take approximately 10 minutes to achieve the right consistency
Remove the sweet mixture from pan and transfer it to a plate
Let it cool down
Form little flat discs using your hands with a hole inbetween and place them on idli plates
Let them get steamed on Idli cooker for 5-7 minutes
Sweet Adai is ready now
Ingredients for Savory Adai(கார அடை)
- Rice Flour – 1 cup
- Karamani/Black Eyed Peas – 1/4 cup
- Oil – 2 tbsp
- Salt – 1/2 tbsp
- Hing – 1/2 tsp
- Green Chillies – 3
- Finely chopped giner – 1/2 tbsp
- Mustard Seeds,Jeera Seeds,Urad Dal seeds – 1/2 tbsp each
- Curry leaves – few
- Grated coconut – 1/4 cup
Preparation :
Heat oil in a non-stick frying pan
Add mustard,jeera,urad dal and curry leaves. Let them splutter
Later add chopped ginger, grated coconut,salt and hing. Saute for 2 minutes
Add 1 cup of water. The ratio of rice flour : water is 1:1
Now add rice flour the pan and start stirring. Make sure no lumps are formed
Within five minutes the mixture will start coming together. Transfer it to a plate
Form small flat discs with your hands with a hole in between and place them on greased idli plate
Steam for 5 minutes
Kara Adai is ready to be served with butter
** M
y Notes : If the rice mixture is too dry the adai will crumble easily when we cook them in idli cooker. __Hence add extra water if necessary
