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March 12, 2016

Karadaiyan Nombu Pooja Procedure, Date, Timing, Slokha, Celebration

Karadaiyan nombu procedure
Karadaiyan Nombu/Nonbu is a traditional festival of fasting observed in remembrance of the Satyavan – Savitri legend. As it is an important festival of South India, I thought of sharing its pooja procedure/Pooja vidhi and the timings for pooja for beginners. I wanted to keep a record of all our festival celebrations in my blog for my future reference. So I started with this festival. There is a story/Katha behind this festival. I have shared it in detail below.

Click this link for nonbu adai recipe(Sweet adai and salt adai) for neivedyam.

A princess, Savitri through her devotion saved her husband, Satyavan, from death. So this festival is also known as Savitri viratham in Tamil / Savitri Vrat in Hindi. On this day, Women observe fasting and pray for the wellness and long life of their husbands. This nonbu/vrat should be done exactly in the time when Tamil month 'Masi' ends and the next month 'Panguni' starts. I have shared the nonbu timings for different parts of world below. Please check it. Fast is observed from the sunrise on the supposed transition day and ends with the Puja.Women break the fast by eating the Karadai (Made of Rice & dal) preparation with unmelted butter by chanting a slokha given below.

In short, the reason why this fasting is carried out is that “ Savithri fought with yema (the God of Death) to save her husband's (Satyavan) life", the same way the married women should fast on this auspicious day for long life of their husbands. Unmarried woman also observe Karadaiyan Nombu and pray to Goddess to get good men as their husband. Prayers are offered to Gowri Devi and women meditate on Savitiri and wear a yellow thread round their neck as they chant the following slokha/slokam

Women who are not able to perform this pooja on Nombu day can do this pooja on the following Tuesday or Friday in Panguni month in auspicious time of the day.

The following is the Tamil chant while doing neivedyam.

Urukaadha Venneyum oradaiyam naan nootren
Orukkalum en kanavar ennai vittu pririyadhirukka vendum

"உருகாத வெண்ணெயும் ,ஓர் அடையும் நோற்று உனக்கு நான் வைத்தேன் , எந்நாளும் என் கணவர் எனை விட்டு பிரியாதிருக்க வேண்டும் " என்று அம்மனை நோக்கி வேண்டி நமஸ்கரிக்கவும்.

which means I offer butter and the rice made out of kaar arisi. Bless me that I live happily with my husband for long.

While tying the rope, recite the following slokha :

ेवनागरी:
दोरं गृह्णामि सुभगे सहारिद्रम् धराम्यहम् |
भर्थु: आयुश् सिद्ध्यर्थं सुप्रीता भव सर्वदा ||

IAST
doraṁ gṛhṇāmi subhage sahāridram dharāmyaham |
bharthu: āyuś siddhyarthaṁ suprītā bhava sarvadā ||

தமிழ்
தோ³ரம்ʼ க்³ருʼஹ்ணாமி ஸுப⁴கே³ ஸஹாரித்³ரம் த⁴ராம்யஹம் |
ப⁴ர்து²: ஆயுஸ்² ஸித்³த்⁴யர்த²ம்ʼ ஸுப்ரீதா ப⁴வ ஸர்வதா³ ||

Meaning : Devi, I am tying this nombu saradu around my neck for the longevity of my husband (Father for unmarried girls). Please bless me.

Please check the video below for Karadaiyan nombu adai recipes.



Karadaiyan nonbu adai

Story of Karadaiyan Nombu

Savithri was a princess of a rich kingdom in ancient India.She was born as the daughter of King Asrapathi. She was the only child of her parents. When she attained the age of marriage, she told her father that she would herself search for a suitable husband for her. She wished to marry Sathyavan who lived in the forest. Despite being warned by the palace astrologer that he would die within a year of marriage, she married Sathyavan. 

Days passed and the last day of Satyavan's life as per the prediction dawned. On that day, Satyavan made Savitri sit under a tree and went to fetch fruits and logs for fuel. After sometime, he returned feeling very tired. Savitri made him lie in a bed made of fresh green leaves keeping his head in her lap. As Satyavan started closing his eyes, there appeared in front of Savitri, a huge figure with a bison as his vahana. Savitri with her dedication and devotion could immediately recognize the figure as Yama, the God of death.

She immediately saluted him and asked him the purpose of his visit. Yama replied that as destined Satyavan's life span was over and he had come to take his life to the other world. Saying this Yama started walking away with Satyavan's soul. Savitri left the body of the lifeless Satyavan under the tree and started following Yama. Yama forbade her from following him, saying she could not follow him to the other world, as Yama loka was inaccessible to living beings. Only souls of dead beings are taken there. Savitri insisted on following her husband’s soul. Yama could not stop her from following him. At last, Yama agreed to grant her three wishes on condition that she would go back. She agreed. 

She asked as the first boon, that her in-laws get back their lost kingdom which Yama granted readily. For the second wish she asked that, as she was the only child of her parents, they get more children. This was also granted by Yama immediately. As the last wish, she asked that she should have many children which also was granted by Yama in his eagerness to get rid of her. Only after granting this wish,  Yama realized that he had been tricked into granting Satyavan life, as a pious and pathivratha (chaste) woman like Savitri cannot have children if Satyavan were to be dead. Yama had to accept his defeat and restore the life of Satyavan. Savitri came back to the tree where she had left the lifeless body of Satyavan. By the blessings of Yama, Satyavan woke up as if from his sleep and Savitri narrated the happenings to him.

To offer her gratitude to the Gods, Savitri immediately made a simple neivedyam with available things on hand, Rice & dals and tied the mangala sutra once again as her husband had got back his life. Her offerings were durwa grass and peepal leaves.She performed neivedhyam with wild rice and toor dal. That is kaar arisi and thuvaram paruppu.The preparation is known as Kaaradai nombu adai - the festival takes its name from the unique dish prepared using Kaar arisi. It is believed that Savitri cooked such a dish and offered it to Lord Yama along with unmelted butter as a sort of thanksgiving for sparing her husband’s life. This is how Karadaiyan Nombu festival came into existence. I thank Jaishree for sharing this story in her blog. You can find that in the link below.

Source: https://jaishreesblog.blogspot.in/2008/03/karadayan-nombu.html


Click this link for Karadaiyan nombu Sweet adai & salt adai recipes using homemade rice flour  in detail with step by step pictures.


Nombu Timings 

In 2024, the date of Karadaiyan Nonbu is March 14th, Thursday.

For India :
Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham - 09:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Duration - 2 hours  (as per vakiya panchangam)

As per Drik Panchang website : 
Karadaiyan Nombu on Thursday, March 14, 2024
Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham - 06:32 AM to 12:46 PM
Duration - 06 Hours 15 Mins
Manjal Saradu Muhurtham - 12:46 PM

DO'S & DONT'S

Generally, 
1. There is a saying in Tamil, "Maasikkayiru Paasipadarum". It means you have to tie the nonbu saradu (yellow rope) in maasi month itself.
2. Its not auspicious to perform Pooja (Nombu) at midnight (Agaala neram).
3. It is also not auspicious to perform pooja before brahma muhurtham.

4. After 9 pm, Ambal becomes ugra swaroopini from Santha swaroopini as per tantra sastram.
5. Do not drink Buttermilk on this festival day because there is a saying in Tamil " Yezhaiyaar nootra nonbai Mozhaiyaar kondu selvaar". 
6. Next day morning, give 2 kaar adais to cow(Pasu maadu) if possible. This was done by Savithri to rescue her husband Sathyavaan from Yaman.

Because of the above mentioned reasons,  if the time falls after 9pm for your location, you can do the pooja from 7 pm to 8.30 pm at night. Otherwise you can perform as per the transition muhurtham from maasi to panguni. 


In United States, For Washington DC  

As per Drikpanchang.com


Karadaiyan Nombu on Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham - 07:22 AM to 03:16 AMMar 14
Duration - 19 Hours 55 Mins
Manjal Saradu Muhurtham - 03:16 AMMar 14


For Sunnyvale, California 
Karadaiyan Nombu on Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham - 07:21 AM to 12:16 AMMar 14
Duration - 16 Hours 55 Mins
Manjal Saradu Muhurtham - 12:16 AMMar 14
 For Newyork, New Jersy 
Karadaiyan Nombu on Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham - 07:10 AM to 03:16 AMMar 14
Duration - 20 Hours 06 Mins
Manjal Saradu Muhurtham - 03:16 AMMar 14

For Los Angeles, USA 
Karadaiyan Nombu on Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham - 07:05 AM to 12:16 AMMar 14
Duration - 17 Hours 11 Mins
Manjal Saradu Muhurtham - 12:16 AMMar 14
Australia 
Karadaiyan Nombu on Thursday, March 14, 2024
Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham - 07:01 AM to 06:16 PM
Duration - 11 Hours 15 Mins
Manjal Saradu Muhurtham - 06:16 PM
London
Karadaiyan Nombu on Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham - 07:03 AM to 03:16 AMMar 14
Duration - 20 Hours 14 Mins
Manjal Saradu Muhurtham - 03:16 AMMar 14

Singapore
Karadaiyan Nombu on Thursday, March 14, 2024
Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham - 07:11 AM to 03:16 PM
Duration - 08 Hours 06 Mins
Manjal Saradu Muhurtham - 03:16 PM
Malaysia 
Karadaiyan Nombu on Thursday, March 14, 2024
Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham - 07:20 AM to 03:16 PM
Duration - 07 Hours 57 Mins
Manjal Saradu Muhurtham - 03:16 PM

Dubai
Karadaiyan Nombu on Thursday, March 14, 2024
Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham - 06:29 AM to 11:16 AM
Duration - 04 Hours 47 Mins
Manjal Saradu Muhurtham - 11:16 AM

Riyadhi, Saudi Arabia

Karadaiyan Nombu on Thursday, March 14, 2024
Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham - 06:03 AM to 10:16 AM
Duration - 04 Hours 14 Mins
Manjal Saradu Muhurtham - 10:16 AM

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Karadaiyan Nombu on Thursday, March 14, 2024
Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham - 06:56 AM to 08:16 AM
Duration - 01 Hour 20 Mins
Manjal Saradu Muhurtham - 08:16 AM

Berlin, Germany

 Karadaiyan Nombu on Thursday, March 14, 2024
Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham - 06:22 AM to 08:16 AM
Duration - 01 Hour 54 Mins
Manjal Saradu Muhurtham - 08:16 AM


The timings mentioned here are just approximate ones taken from "Drik Panchang" , If you are looking for accurate timings, please use the link below.  Mention your city name ( Anywhere in the world) and find the timings and date.

Please note the time of Maasi ending and Panguni starting varies from country to country. If you wish, you can consult your temple priest or check with elders or refer Panchangam.   Avoid Rahu kalam and Yama gandam timings for doing pooja. Better to do it before 9pm on festival day. 

Women who are not able to perform this pooja on Nombu day can do it on the following Tuesday or Friday in Panguni month in the auspicious time of the day (Avoid rahu kalam and yama kandam) .

Click on this kolam to view with video
Click on this picture to view how to draw it with video :)


Ingredients required for Pooja

Click this link for Karadaiyan nombu Sweet adai & salt adai recipes using homemade rice flour  in detail with step by step pictures and video.

  • Rice flour paste (for drawing rangoli) – Refer my in-laws blog for kolam ideas
  • Lamps / Vilakku 
  • Flowers
  • Betel leaves, nuts, coconut, banana
  • Rice, Legumes ( black eyed peas – We keep a mix of 9 grains) and Unmelted butter.
  • Jaggery, cardamom, green chilli, ginger and seasoning ingredients for making sweet & spicy adai.
  • Camphor, Incense stick.
  • Yellow rope tied with a flower in the center.
  • Banana leaf or plates
How to perform pooja

For pre preparatory works, sweep the house the previous day of the festival. Wash the lamps and keep kumkum dots on the eve of festival. Prepare the homemade rice flour, roast and keep it ready for the next day use.

On the festival day morning, we wake up early and take head bath.  Draw Rangoli/Padi kolam in the entrance using rice flour paste(Maakolam) and in front of the pooja room. If you are fasting till pooja time, you can just drink milk, lemon juice or consume any fruits. Elders and pregnant ladies can take recipes made of raw rice like upma, idli and any side dish without onion, garlic. 
Do not drink buttermilk on this day.

Roast the black eyed peas/ karamani/ thatta payaru and pressure cook for one whistle. Prepare sweet adai by mixing rice flour and cooked peas in jaggery syrup. Similarly prepare salt adai too. Steam both the adai in an idli pot and set aside. After finishing the neivedyam works, decorate the pooja room. Make yellow thread by greasing a thread with turmeric powder. Tie a flower in the center of rope. The number of threads should be equal to the number of woman+girls at home along with one for Goddess Lakshmi. After decorating the pooja room, light the lamps. 

At the time of pooja, wear a silk saree. Keep the Nombu adai with umelted butter on top of adai in the middle of banana leaf or a plate.  Keep the broken coconut, betel leaves, nuts and banana and yellow ropes in the edge of banana leaf or plate (nuni ilai). Do the neivedyam, show the dhoop & dheep. Perform Mangala aarti by chanting the slokha.

"உருகாத வெண்ணெயும் ,ஓர் அடையும் நோற்று உனக்கு நான்  வைத்தேன் ,எந்நாளும் என் கணவர் எனை விட்டு நீங்காத அருள் தருவாய்" என்று  அம்மனை நோக்கி வேண்டி நமஸ்கரிக்கவும்.

"Urukaadha Venneyum oradaiyam naan nootren
Orukkalum en kanavar ennai vittu pririyadhirukka vendum"

which means I offer butter and the rice made out of kaar arisi. Bless me that I live happily with my husband for long.

After doing the pooja, chant the following slokha and then tie the yellow rope.

देवनागरी:
दोरं गृह्णामि सुभगे सहारिद्रम् धराम्यहम् |
भर्थु: आयुश् सिद्ध्यर्थं सुप्रीता भव सर्वदा ||


IAST
doraṁ gṛhṇāmi subhage sahāridram dharāmyaham |
bharthu: āyuś siddhyarthaṁ suprītā bhava sarvadā ||

தமிழ்
தோ³ரம்ʼ க்³ருʼஹ்ணாமி ஸுப⁴கே³ ஸஹாரித்³ரம் த⁴ராம்யஹம் |
ப⁴ர்து²: ஆயுஸ்² ஸித்³த்⁴யர்த²ம்ʼ ஸுப்ரீதா ப⁴வ ஸர்வதா³ ||

Meaning : Devi, I am tying this nombu saradu around my neck for the longevity of my husband (Father for unmarried girls). Please bless me.

After finishing the pooja, sit in the same place and tie the yellow rope for Goddess Lakshmi and then tie a rope around your neck by yourself and tie the rope for unmarried girls around their wrist. i.e Married women should tie the thread around the neck by themselves or by a oldest sumangali at home and you can tie the thread for unmarried girls around the wrist.

If you wish, you can fall at the feet of your husband and get his blessings. After tying the rope, take one adai along with unmelted butter and eat it. Give the second adai to your husband. Rest of the adai can be distributed to the members of family. This is how Karadaiyan Nonbu is performed in our house. This procedure may differ as per places. Consult the elders about your family practice and do the pooja.

NOTE : The thread you tied around the Lakshmi / Ambal Idol can be removed after few days once its worn out and it should be tied to a plant or dispersed in river water. The thread tied around the women can be tied to the mangal sutra if you wish OR tie it in a plant or branch of a tree. Women who are not able to perform this pooja on Nombu day can do this pooja on the following Tuesday or Friday in Panguni month on the auspicious time of the day.


Click this link for Karadaiyan nombu Sweet adai & salt adai recipes using homemade rice flour in detail with step by step pictures and video.

FRIENDS, IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR ANOTHER TRADITIONAL NOMBU (As per Tamil brahmins) PROCEDURE AS PER VAITHAKASRI MAGAZINE , PLEASE REFER BELOW:

  1. Put arisi maa kolam ( Rice flour rangoli) in front of Ambal in pooja room.
  2. Put one nuni vazhai ilai( Banana leaf) per married women / girl baby in the house.
  3. The edge of the banana leaf should face North.
  4. On the edge, place betel leaf & nuts, banana and nombu saradu/yellow rope.
  5. In the middle, keep two adai / kaar arisi adai with butter on it.
  6. Keep one extra nombu saradu on the banana leaf of the oldest sumangali/ married women. This is for Ambal/ Goddess.
  7. If the number of leaves is an odd number like 1,3,5 put one leaf extra and make it to even number like 2, 4, 6.
  8. Put flower garland for ambal photo and do ashtothra archanai, dhoopam, dheepam.
  9. Ladies and girls should do prokshanam( sprinkle water 3 times around the banana leaf) saying the following lines.
"Urugaadha vennaiyum ore adaiyum naan tharuven,
Oru kaalum ennai vittu en kanavar piriyadhirukka vendum" .

Pray this to Ambal. The oldest sumangali should tie the nombu saradu to ambal Photo. Then she should tie herself around her neck saying the following slokham.

देवनागरी:
दोरं गृह्णामि सुभगे सहारिद्रम् धराम्यहम् |
भर्थु: आयुश् सिद्ध्यर्थं सुप्रीता भव सर्वदा ||

IAST
doraṁ gṛhṇāmi subhage sahāridram dharāmyaham |
bharthu: āyuś siddhyarthaṁ suprītā bhava sarvadā ||

தமிழ்
தோ³ரம்ʼ க்³ருʼஹ்ணாமி ஸுப⁴கே³ ஸஹாரித்³ரம் த⁴ராம்யஹம் |
ப⁴ர்து²: ஆயுஸ்² ஸித்³த்⁴யர்த²ம்ʼ ஸுப்ரீதா ப⁴வ ஸர்வதா³ ||

Meaning : Devi, I am tying this nombu saradu around my neck for the longevity of my husband (Father for unmarried girls). Please bless me.

After saying this slokha, all the other ladies should say the same and tie the rope in front of Ambal photo.

Eat one kaar adai from your respective banana leaf. Other one is for your husband.

There is a saying in Tamil, "Eezhaiyaar notra nombai mozhaiyaar kondu selvaar".
So on the whole day, avoid buttermilk. Next day morning, give 2 kaar adais to cow (Pasu maadu) if possible. This was done by Savithri to rescue her husband Sathyavaan from Yaman.

Thanks Vaithikasri for the information.
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March 11, 2016

Paneer 65 Recipe – Dry Paneer Fry

Paneer 65 recipe
Paneer 65 is an yummy, kids friendly, deep fried snack for teatime and parties. I am planning to share a collection of Paneer recipes from my blog. But before that, I wanted to post some more yummy and interesting paneer recipes which are in my try list for long time. Recently I tasted paneer 65 in a restaurant buffet lunch under starters. Raksha & myself loved it so much. So I tried to recreate the same at home after watching few YouTube videos.Actually Paneer 65 ( Dry Paneer fry) can be made in Chinese or Indian style.Here I followed Indian version and added masala powders. If you want to make in Chinese style, add tomato sauce, soya sauce, chilli sauce and pepper powder. As I wished, It came out with super crispy exterior and soft interior. As a general rule, this deep fried starter recipe should be eaten hot to enjoy its best taste. Summer vacation is going to start in another 2 weeks in India. Kids would demand varieties of snacks recipes from their moms. So friends, make this yummy, kids friendly Paneer snacks for them.Serve it with a fresh juice.They are going to enjoy it for sure. You too can enjoy a plate of paneer 65 with a cup of hot tea/coffee as I did. Lets see how to make this crispy, homemade Paneer 65 for evening snack or as a starter for lunch/dinner.
Do check out my Gobi 65, Baby corn fry, Chilli Idli fry
Paneer 65 recipe

Paneer 65 recipe


Paneer 65 recipe How to make paneer 65 at home - Kids friendly evening snack !!
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Snacks
Serves: Serves 2
Prep time: 30 Minutes
Cook time: 10 Minutes
Total time: 40 Minutes
INGREDIENTS

For marination
  • All purpose flour/Maida - 3 tbsp
  • Rice flour - 2 tbsp
  • Corn flour - 2 tbsp
  • Curd – 1 tsp or lemon juice – 1 /2 tsp
  • Ginger & garlic paste - 1 tsp
  • Dhania powder - 1 tsp (optional) 
  • Red chilli powder - 1 tsp ( Use Kashmiri chilli powder to get the same color)
  • Garam masala powder - 1/2 tsp
  • Salt, water - as needed
  • Chat masala powder - to sprinkle while serving (optional) 
METHOD

  • Take the paneer block and cut into thin strips of 2 inches length. Boil water till it starts to bubble. Switch off the flame.  Add the paneer pieces to hot water and set aside.Dropping paneer in hot water is optional if you thaw it completely.  It comes out well even without this step but softness would be less. 
  • In a wide bowl, take the flours, red chilli powder, dhania powder, garam masala powder, G&G paste, curd or lemon juice  & salt. Mix well without adding water.
Paneer 65
  • Then add the required water and make a batter similar to thick bajji batter. Check the consistency in the picture below. If the batter is thin, tails will form.
Paneer 65
Paneer 65
  • Now remove the paneer pieces from the hot water and drain the excess water gently.Do not squeeze too hard. Add the paneer pieces to the batter and coat it well.
Paneer 65
  • Let it marinate for 15 minutes.Do not marinate for more than an hour. Batter will become sour.It spoils the taste of dish. ( If you want to marinate for long time, refrigerate the marinated mixture till you fry them)
  • Heat oil to deep fry. Drop a pinch of batter and if it raises to the top immediately, oil temperature is just right. Now keep the flame low to medium and take the paneer pieces using a spoon. If you take it using your fingers, the coating may go off. So take it with a spoon and make sure the paneer piece is completely coated with the batter.
Paneer 65 recipe
  • Drop the paneer pieces and cook in batches. Do not crowd the oil. After dropping the paneer pieces, let it cook for few seconds. Then try to move the pieces with a slotted ladle else they will stick to the bottom of kadai. Keep moving them in between. Cook for a minute in medium flame and turn the pieces upside down. Cook the other side for a minute and remove when the bubbles start to cease and paneer pieces turn golden brown.Do not wait for all the bubbles to stop.If you over fry, paneer will become chewy. So remove at the right time.
Paneer 65 recipe
  • Remove in a tissue paper. Sprinkle chat masala if you like. Enjoy serving & eating hot !!

Note
  • If you don’t have corn flour in hand, use 4 tbsp of rice flour alone.
  • You can replace curd with a tsp of lemon juice.
  • Marination gives a nice crispy exterior and soft interior. If you are in a hurry, you can make it immediately too. If you want to keep the marinated paneer for long time, its better to refrigerate the batter till you deep fry.
  • Do not over fry the paneer pieces, it would turn chewy & hard.
  • Its better to use low fat paneer cubes to avoid becoming too soft or crumbly.
  • Frying in low to medium heat is important. If the oil is too hot n smoky, paneer 65 would turn dark brown in color.
  • Use Kashmiri chilli powder to get this color. I have not used any coloring agent here.
Enjoy this crispy, yummy snack/starter recipe at home with tea/coffee/Juice!!
Paneer 65 dry

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