SWEET NONBU ADAI

On the day of Karadaiyan Nonbu, women worship Goddess Gowri and pray for longevity and welfare of their husband. Through this festival women try to emulate the devotion of Savithri and her love for her husband, Satyavan. Her bhakti to Goddess Gowri gave her the strength and wisdom to win back her husband's life from Yaman, the Lord of Death. Among the many festivals of South India, Karadaiyan Nonbu is more a renewal of the faith in the tradition.

Karadaiyan Nonbu is observed on the day of the conjunction of the Tamil months Masi and Panguni. It is to remember the great battle won by Savithri - a mythological character - over the God of Death - Yama, not by arms or ammunitions but by her clever arguments to regain her husband's life. Married women observe fast till the auspicious time arrives, whether it is late evening or mid afternoon.

Karadaiyan Nonbu is a festival of special significance to married women all over Southern India including states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.

We should get yellow ropes that has to be tied by all the women in a house. In each of the rope small flower is tied up and one rope should be put in the godess picture, one is tied  to thulasi plant  and the rest should be tied up by all women in the house.

"Urugadha Vennayam oru adayum vaithu nonbu notren oru nallum en kanavar piriyamal iruka vendum". This should be chanted while tying up the rope in the neck. Even the young  un married girls of more than one year old should tie up these ropes to get the blessings of God.

The neivehdyam for this fasting is Karadayan Nonbu sweet  Adai with butter and salt adai along with vetrilai, pakku, pazham and coconut.

Let’s see the recipe of Sweet Nonbu Adai.

  

INGREDIENTS

Rice flour                    - 2 cups

Powdered jiggery       - 2 cups

Water                          - 3 cups

Cardamom powder   - ½ tsp

Bean seed                  - ¼ cup

Coconut bits               - ¼ cup

Ghee                           - 2 tbsps

METHOD

Soak the bean seed for 2 hours and pressure cook with enough water.

Roast the rice flour, till the raw smell goes.

In a pan add three cups of water and powdered jiggery allow it to boil well and dissolve.

When it is dissolves strain through a strainer and again keep it on the flame  till it boils

Add rice flour, powdered cardamom, cooked bean seed, coconut bits.

Stir from the bottom till it thickens. Add ghee, mix well and remove from flame.

Allow it to cool. When cooled, take lemon size dough and press it gently to make thin adas over greased banana leaves. Or else you can make adais  and keep directly over  greased idli plates.

Make a small hole in the centre of each adas with your fore finger.

Steam for about 10 minutes. Remove from flame and keep aside for 5 minutes.

With a sharp edged spatula gently remove adas and keep in a serving dish.

Sweet nonbu adai is ready for naivedyam.Serve with butter.