Start of the festive season Aadi and celebrations in the Winter Solstice
This is a contribution post by Anuradha Sowmyanarayanan
Aadi is a special month in the Tamil calendar. Aadi/Aashada is the month that brings with it the festivals or the start of festive season. People happily get into the festive mood with the onset of Aadi on this month on 17th of July, Sunday. This Aadi brings a flow of festival starting from now till April- the Tamil new year. Avani Vittam, vinayaka chathurthi, Krishna astami, navarathri, deepavali, karthigai deepam, marghazhi , thai Pongal, masi noonmbu, panguni uttram and varasha pirappu are the major festivals of Tamil calendar.
What is Dakshinayanam?
Aadi month is the start of Dakshinayanam– the set of six months in the Tamil calendar which is divided on the basis of the sun‘s movement in a particular direction. In this month the sun’s progress south of the Equator, the half year in which the sun moves from the north to the south, the winter solstice.
Why is Aadi auspicious?
Because Aadi Fridays are special with abhishekam in temples for Amman or goddess. This month is dedicated only for Goddess rather than God. In this month Varalakshmi Noonbu is also celebrated with grand pujas being performed to goddess Varalakshmi at temples and at homes. So, this month becomes Ladies special. Gifts are received from brothers and parents. Betel leaf, betel nuts, fruits, flowers, turmeric sticks were distributed among fellow ladies at temples and at homes. Many are invited for lunch too. Aadi pal is a prominent dessert prepared in this month. It is a kind gesture to offer this to the guests visiting throughout this month. This is prepared using coconut, milk, jaggery, cardamom, cashew nuts and ghee.
Commemorating this festivity, Aadi discounts are provided in all shops
One more special feature of this month is a unique culture of feeding snakes which reside in the ant hills located at temples. This is because the Lord Vishnu is lying on the bed of Serpent God- Adhi sesha and Lord Shiva is having him as a necklace. So, Snakes are worshipped during this month by offering milk and banana in the ant hill. The same ritual is followed by many in the Tamil month of Thai also on Fridays.
A good time for farmers
“Aadippattam thedi vidhai” is a Tamil proverb – Calls all the farmers to sow goods seeds now to have a best harvest at the end of Dakshinayanam. It is a season meant for farmers to start their new venture.
On the 18th day of the Aadi month a festival named Adi peruku is celebrated by preparing variety rice and payasam being eaten at the banks of the river after offering puja to the water resource. This is a practice to offer their gratitude to water- which is a main source for the farmer’s livelihood. The importance of water and the benefits we get from using it wisely is stated by a great Tamil Saint poetess Avvaiyaar.
“Varappuyara Neer Uyarum, Neer Uyara Nel uyarum;
Nel uyarak kudi uyarum, Kudi uyarak kol uyarum;
Kol uyarak KON uyarvan”
With the main staple -rice, a dish along with toor dal and turmeric is prepared on Fridays in this month and offered to Goddess Annapurani with a prayer to bless with abundance of staple and food to eat. As yellow colour is considered special for the goddess, the Manja Pongal meaning yellow pongal is cooked.
Preparation of Manja Pongal
- Cook rice along with toor dal and turmeric in a pressure cooker
- Mix well adding salt and ghee
- Serve hot along with chutney or sambhar!
The month Aadi is dedicated to the Goddess so pray to her for the best time ahead for all the women out there.
Anuradha Sowmyanarayanan is a tutor, blogger, poet, book reviewer and passionate reader. Her interest in reading and writing paved the way for her blog in 2016. Book Food Language is an amalgamation of the three elements.
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