NAVRATHRI 2014-IST

This year Navarathri celebrations are from 25th September to 2nd October. Vijaya Dasami on 3rd October. As per the Almanac, the Mahalaya Amavasya is on 23rd September. As Amavasya thithi is also prevailing on 24th till 12.25PM (IST) the nine day puja  which starts only on Pradamai thithi,this year starts on Thursday (25th September)Arranging golu padi (dolls) and kalasastapana can be done on 23rd or 24th (till amavasya thithi rules)during an auspicious time.
This year there are only eight nights of celebration instead of nine nights.Again the Ashtami thithi is only upto 8.47am on eighth day (2nd October) so the puja for Ashtami and the Durga Ashtami festival is on 1st October. Since it is on 7th day both saptami and ashtami puja is on 1st October.
I am posting the link for spread sheet(chart) giving the details of nine ways of worshiping and offering to be made during the 8 days.



In  India in every Hindu home Shakthi the Mother Godess is honoured in their own tradition.  Even in temples Durga Devi is portrayed as blessing the visiting devotees in various forms during the ten day festival. In accordance with  the lunar calender, as per the astrological  star of each day, Alankaram (form) is chosen  to symbolize the triumph of good over the evil and portrayed on all 10 days.
Source: Kanaka Durga Temple, Vijayawada, A.P.

Let us Pray Devi by chanting slokas of Durga, Balathripura Sundari, Gayathri, Annapoorani, Lalitha Thripura Sundari, Mahalaxmi, Saraswathi, Mahisasuramardhini. Rajarajeshwari on Dasami is the Alankaram in temple.

MAHADEVYAICHA VIDHMAHE SARVASHAKTHYAICHA DEEMAHI THANNO DEVI PRACHODAYATH.

Happy Bathakamma to all my friends in Hyderabad. Bathakamma Panduga is the special way of celebrating  Navarathiri in Telangana region. It is a delight to watch ladies and girls performing the fete around the decorated flower plate. This is another form of worship to Maa Durga from her devotees.  

Kolam/Mugulu drawn during Navarathiri

The pictures below are taken from my 2011 posts. The Kolum is drawn in Puja place or before Golu. Day one using rice flour pulli/dots kolum (hridayakamalam) is put , On 2nd day Kattam pottu, wheat flour kolam, On 3rd day a flower kolam using pearls. On 4th day padikattu kolam using akshadai, on 5th day Bird kolam using Kadalai, on 6th day Devi namam (names) using paruppu, on 7th day Thittani using flowers, on 8th day Padmam using Kasu (coins) and on 9th day Any Ayudam using camphor (karpooram) are drawn.

Starting with pulli kolum, the clockwise pictures are the nine kolum to be put during Nine days
The center Picture is the Puja at Seattle during 2013

NAVARATHIRI-2014 (USA /PST)/Kumari pujai/Navadurga pujai

I am happy to post the Navarathiri chart continuously for the sixth year. It gives me a great pleasure in sharing this with my relatives and friends, who follow the details given in my spread sheet.  This year the Navarathiri puja starts on  Wednesday,24th September. Amavasya is on 23rd and Kalasa stapanas and arranging Golu/dolls can be done on this day.Pradamai thithi is on 24th wednesday and 1st day puja for Devi starts on this day. The puja can be performed on consecutive 8 days till Navami,
Thursday 2nd october. Vijaya Dasami is on 3rd October.
I shared the details which I followed from the book DEVI BAGAVADAM, in my earlier posts. This year the chart is prepared based on the Almanac (date) and showing in tabular columns the nine ways to worship Goddess by offering Prasadam as per thithi, star, day, performing puja with nine types of flowers and aromatic leaves, and fruits. putting daily a different Kolam using a different material each day (http://hemakrish-beshanaindiansamayal.blogspot.com/2014/09/kolam-during-navarathiri.html )and in the evening Sundal neivedhyam to be offered using the  pulse as per  Navagraha. Different eatables to be given to Kanya each day.
Kumari puja-worship of a young pre-puberty girl is given prominence during Navrathiri. As per Devi Bagavadam a girl child starting from the age of two  to ten  is worshiped each day. Alternatively on the last day of Navrathiri we invite nine young girls and honor them by washing their feet, offering them prasada and giving them a token.
During Navrathiri we maintain a sattvic lifestyle of vegetarian food. One usually fasts during these nine days, taking one meal at sunset of a particular type of food. The fast is ended on the eighth day,
Ashtami by worshiping nine young girls.As per tradition, puris, kesari and sundal are served to young girls. While doing so, each girl is assumed as one form of Goddess Durga. Accordingly by chanting the name of each form, the worship is done honoring the girl. Thus Navadurga  or Nine manifestations of Ma Durga worship is also fulfilled.
These are the Nine forms of Goddess Durga representing Her various attributes.

1) Shri Shailaputri - daughter of the Himalayas, yielding steadfastness.
2) Shri Brahmacharini – personifying purity, deep love and shraddha.
3) Shri Chandraghanta – who holds the power and Soma of the Moon.
4) Shri Kushmanda – unfolds bliss, happiness and well-being.
5) Shri Skandamata - Mother of Skanda, she personifies eternal fire.
6) Shri Katyayani – the power of transformation as the aspect of Ma Kali.
7) Shri Kalaratri – destroyer of darkness and ignorance.
8) Shri Mahagauri – bestower of purity and endless virtues.
9) Shri Siddhidatri – bestowal of all accomplishments, spiritual powers and knowledge.
Courtesy:hindupad

I am giving below the link for the chart which is as per US time. This year there is a variation in the chart from that of Indian time ( IST). In India the Navrathiri puja starts on 25th September and ends on 2nd October. Vijaya Dasami is on 3rd. The Puja for Sapthami and Ashtami are to be performed on same day (ie) on sapthami thithi (1st October) and Navami on 2nd October. Hence I prepared two separate charts. In US,  the puja is to be performed on all 9 days starting from 24th September through 2nd October.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AlPi-SCjGqUXdE9XRjBCaUtVSUxSRmM5S08xa1Znd2c&output=html
Wish you all a happy Navrathiri. Let us offer and pray with deep shraddha and reverence and am
sure Devi will confer Her devine grace.
The link prepared as per Indian Time is posted in the following post.

Murungai keerai/drumstick greens powder (Repost)

When it comes to podis, there is nothing to beat Kandipodi in Andhra cuisine which is called Parruppu podi in tamil. Also in the list are Karivepilai podi (Curry leaves podi), Thengai podi (Coconut podi), Pudina podi (Mint Leaves Podi) and Murungai keerai podi ( Drumstick Leaves podi).

In the South Indian hotels especially in Andhra, we find these podis along with pachadis (gongura and avakai) on the table ready for our service. And in all Andhra house hold, no meal is complete without having hot rice with ghee mixed in podi. The recipe is known as "annamlo podi" (literally meaning powder with rice). Since we grew up in Hyderabad, we are used to start with dry type rice with podi and fried curries as the first dish in our lunch. It is easy to make children eat when there is podi at home. This can be preserved for 3 weeks or more once it is prepared.

Here is the recipe using drumstick leaves which we rarely use to make poriyal. The podi is simple

to prepare and when mixed with rice, it tastes good and the green color is attractive. I used black sesame seeds here. The powder appears brown.

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INGREDIENTS

Murungai/drumstick keerai      2 TBLSP

Sesame seeds                      1/4 CUP

Urad dal                                  1/4 cup

Red chillies                            15 TO 20

Garlic (without peeling the skin) 10 CLOVES

Tamarind                         gooseberry size

Salt                                  to taste

METHOD:

Clean drumstick/murungai leaves and wipe with cloth.

Dry in shade on a kitchen towel. 

Dry roast the dried leaves till crisp.

Make powder and use 2 tablespoon of the powder for preparing the podi.

Dry roast urad dal, sesame seeds separately. 

In little hot oil fry red chillies.

When it is cool, powder together urad dal, sesame seeds and red chillies.

.Finally add powder of leaves, salt and tamarind ( i used dried tender leaves of tamarind/chintha chiguru) and garlic and grind to powder..

Have it with hot rice with ghee or sesame oil.

Roasted leaves

powdered leaves

Roasted ingredients

Drumstick podi

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Vegetable salad with dip

As we all know vegetable salads are packed with nutrients and fibre and are a great way to get our daily serve of vegges.The dish may be served at any point during a meal. The recipe needs patience to cut vegetables and can be had with just salt and pepper. But to make it more appealing and interesting there are many ways to prepare and present it. It is tempting when viewed in  the TV cookery shows. To mention one such, is the daily programme telecasted in DD Podigai channel which are really worth watching. All the hosts give their best. These cannot be viewed on net. So I thought I should share those recipes which I noted down.
I am posting a salad to start with. The simple salad was prepared by Ramesh Ganapathy. I liked the accompaniment of a dip for this.
I regularly make salad  at home with a salad dressing. First I learnt this when I watched Mallika Badrinath
demonstrating it. She told to use a small bottle for this purpose and assemble the dressing ingredients and shake well. It should be refrigerated and used along with chilled cut raw vegetables for best result. Later to my surprise I saw Salad Dressing Mixer in a Supermarket in Arizona, and bought it. I was doubly happy to posses it as it had the recipes and a neutral millilitre scale printed on the bottle. Less I knew about Vinaigrette, French dressing, Russian dressing then.  After watching the Food network channel regularly,I started making different types at home.   There are many  salad dressing available in supermarkets too.

Ingredients for the Dip:

Paneer/Cottage cheese	100 gm
Curd/yoghurt	2 tablespoon
Green chilli	1
Lime juice	½ teaspoon
Tomato sauce	1 tablespoon
Mint leaves/Pudina	½ cup
Paste of sauted green bell pepper and onion	2 tablespoon
Mustard seeds	1 tsp
Salt	to taste

Vegetables for the salad

One each of Carrot, Bell pepper (3 colors), Beetroot and Cucumber.

Method

Cut vegetables for salad  in lengthwise and refrigerate them and use them just before serving.

Cut one small size onion and green bell pepper and saute in little oil and keep.

In a mixie jar take crumbled paneer, green chilli, salt, mustard seeds, mint leaves and the sauted onion and bell pepper and grind to smooth paste.

Add tomato sauce, curd and lime juice and blend again to mix well.

Remove and serve this dip with chilled vegetables.

It tastes yummy.

Boost your energy, immunity and vitality by eating raw vegetables that are high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

The TV host always concludes his show saying it is a (anbu kattalai) humble order rather than a request to his viewers to try this. I tried couple of times and am happy to share this too.

Chocolate cake

It has been almost a year now after I last posted summer special Vadams/fryums. I have good collection of rare recipes in my book. Most of them tried and tasted. I was a busy Grandma and also had a setback
 in my health. But nothing stopped me watching cookery shows and noting down many of them. I am a regular reader of all posts of the bloggers whom I follow.
To start with, I think it will be apt if I post a sweet item. This is the first sweet item which I am posting in my blog. There are couple of reasons for posting this. One marks the successful ONLINE learning of the
 famous PADUKA  SAHASRAM,  the great work of Swami Desikan comprising 1008 stanzas in sanskrit.
I dedicate this to my Guru Mrs. Chandra who taught me this. On completing this I made the sweet to offer to Lord.
The other memorable event was my 60th Birthday celebrations. It made it more special because my family members gifted me a cookbook. It had SIXTY  recipes from my blog which  each of my family members liked the best. I thank all relatives of my extended family who appreciated my cooking. The purpose with which I started this blog is served. They named  the book as  Family Cookbook.  I am happy to say my junior most niece is  trying her hand referring my recipe on traditional dishes. I consider the book as an AWARD for my efforts to post them in the blog.
I am happy I could share the recipes which I collected in dozen diaries since years. Each family will have a signature recipe. But none of our elders had the opportunity to write them and publish. The cook books came later and presently the internet. Thanks to the internet world.

This is for you Mrs.Chandra

Here is the recipe for Chocolate cake.

INGREDIENTS

All purpose flour/Maida	1 cup
Sugar	3 cup
Condensed milk	½ tin
Clarified butter/Ghee	½ cup
Cocoa powder	¾ cup

METHOD

Mix cocoa powder in condensed  milk and keep ready.
Heat a pan and melt ghee. Add flour and fry continuously till you get good aroma and set aside.
Make sugar syrup with 1/2 cup water till  you get one string consistency.
Add roasted maida and mix well for few seconds.
Add cocoa powder mix and stir well.
Keep stirring till it begins to leave sides.
Remove and pour into a greased plate,
Cut to the desired shape.
Remove pieces when it is cool .

Thank you my dear

Thank you all

   

DEVI NAVARATHIRI - 2013

MAHADEVYAICHA VIDMAHE SARVA SAKTHYAICHA THEEMAHI THANNO DEVI PRACHODAYATH

Navarathiri is here again this year, starting on 5th October through 13th October followed by Vijayadasami on 14th October. We can celebrate by offering prayers on all nine days this year, making prasadams each day as per Day, Thithi, and Star without any overlapping of either star or thithi.
The day one  (5th Oct) is  prathamai , ( from 6.49AM IST) Saturday,and hastham star rules till the evening on that day. Accordingly  puja, on the following 8 days can be performed.
The Mahalaya Amavasya is on 4th October from 7.11 AM (IST). Arranging Dolls (Golu)  and Kalasa stapanam can be done on Friday,4th october as it is considered auspicious day.
The nine days celebration is all about worshiping Tridevi in nine different ways. I am posting the chart in the below link,  which is different from that of last year. The details of the Kolam and recipes for Kizhamai (day) prasadams are posted in my 2011September post in this blog.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1Pi-SCjGqUXc0RGT200Z3NmaGM

Apart from this, it is believed and emphasis is given in offering  the prayer to Goddess Durga on first three days as Devi/Annai takes the form of Durgai with a purpose to kill Madhukaidabar and Mahisasuran. Accordingly second three days prayers are for Devi who takes form of Goddess  Laxmi and accepts Devar thuthi , hears Asura's messenger Sukreeva's message and kills Thumralochana. Finally the third three days Devi prayers are offered to Goddess Saraswathi who takes this form with a purpose to kill Sandamunda, Rakthapejan and Sumbha Nisumbha.
 For those who are not able to perform elaborately following the chart ,I am posting the prasadam (kalanda saadam/mixed rice) to be offered each day so that nine varieties of rice prasadams can be offered during navrathiri.  Also gave the links for the recipes which are useful, for those making for first time. I thank Mrs. Shanthi Krishnakumar for her authentic easy method and for the rare recipes like kalkandu rice and ellu rice prasadams. These can be made in addition to the ones mentioned in chart. 

PRASADAM FOR  GODDESS DURGA

5TH OCT’OBER 2013	LIME RICE - http://shanthisthaligai.blogspot.com/2009/04/lemon-rice.html
6TH OCTOBER 2013	ELLU/SESAME RICE- http://shanthisthaligai.blogspot.com/2009/04/ellorai.html
7TH OCTOBER 2013	CURD RICE- http://shanthisthaligai.blogspot.com/2009/05/bahala-bhath.html

PRASADAM FOR GODDESS LAXMI

8TH OCTOBER 2013	SARKARAI ANNAM/SUGAR RICE
9TH OCTOBER 2013	PAAL ANNAM/MILK RICE
10TH OCTOBER 2013	KALKANDU SAADAM http://shanthisthaligai.blogspot.com/2013/01/kalkandu-sadham-iyengar-style.html

PRASADAM FOR GODDESS SARASWATHI

11TH OCTOBER 2013	VENPONGAL  http://hemakrish-beshanaindiansamayal.blogspot.com/2010/01/gama-gama-pongal.html
12TH OCTOBER 2013	COCONUT RICE http://shanthisthaligai.blogspot.com/2009/08/coconut-rice.html
13TH OCTOBER 2013	PAAL SAADAM/MILK RICE

Let us pray Goddess Durga, Laxmi and Saraswathi on all the nine days and seek the blessings. Chant Durga Ashtotharam  and Laxmi Ashtotharam on all the days, and Saraswathi Ashtotharam and slokas from Sapthami to Navami. Also chant or listen to Lalitha Sahasranamam daily. Offer panakam daily. Inviting guests for thambolam is a practice and we should also visit friends to take thambolam. Kanyas are treated as Devi and offered gifts and eatables. All the nine days will have a festive feel with divine activities everywhere. I wish all a very happy Navrathiri and trust that the information collected and shared by me will be helpful.