|| NAVARATRI || DUSSERA ||

First Three days are dedicated to Durga Maa; the Goddess of power and energy.
On the first three days, the goddess is invoked as a powerful spiritual force called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects.

During the next three days people worship Lakshmi Maa, the Goddess of peace and prosperity. In these days, Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees the inexhaustible wealth.

On Seventh and Eighth days, Saraswati Maa is worshiped to acquire the spiritual knowledge.

On Nineth day Kanya puja is performed, nine young girls representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshiped. The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the daughter of Brahma as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati.

In order to have all-round success in life, we need the blessings of all three aspects of the divine femininity, hence, the worship for nine nights.

Dussera or Vijayadashami, the tenth day is celebrated as the day of victory to rejoice about Durga's triumph over the demon Mahishasura.

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NAVRTATRI/DUSSERA at Cheenu's House...

In our house, on Mahalaya Amavasya Day, we lit a ghee lamp [see the picture :: the lamp is placed golden colour cage]. On this day the neivedhyam :: SAKKARAI pongal and GROUNDNUT sundal.

This Special Lamp will glow till the night of VIJAYADASAMI. Round the clock vigil is taken to protect the Jwalai [flame].

On all days during morning pooja, along with routine archanais, DURGA, LAKSHMI and SARASVATI ashtotram are performed with a SWEET [payasam or mysorepak or 7cups] and a SAVOURY [sundal or vadai, somedays both] as neivedhyam and in the evenings, LALITHA SHASRANAMA archanai,

With the blessings of Devi and all we hope next year the celebrations would be in our PADMA-SANKARAM.

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Aadi Perukku // Padinettamper

It is celebrated on the 18th day of the Tamil month Aadi in the Kaveri River basin districts of Tanjore and Trichi when the water level in the river rises significantly.

Aadiperukku, water ritual through religious practice:

Aadiperukku, otherwise called Padinettam Perukku – is peculiar to the Cauvery delta and is intended to celebrate the rising of the river, which is expected to occur invariably on the 18th day of the solar month, Aadi corresponding to the 2nd or 3rd of August. Hence "Padinettam perukku" - Padinettu signifies eighteen, and Perukku denotes rising. This festival is observed predominately by women in Tamil Nadu. The Aadiperukku, as a water-ritual, celebrated by women is said to honour Nature.

Whole families go the river bank and offer puja. There is a belief that young girls who do this puja offering Kaadholai (earrings made of palm leaf), Karugamani (black beads) and Kaapparisi (a sweet made of hand pounded rice and jaggery) will be blessed with good husbands. The families spend the evening by the river, eating preparations of rice like puliyodharai, lemon rice etc. Playing to the tune of Aadiperukku folk songs and Kummi by group by young women are the major attractions during this festival [the song which comes to my mind is "aadi padinettu, aadudhu poonchittu, ellorum kondadungo..." ].

All the year's major festivals are packed into the six months that follow, culminating with Makara Sankranthi or Thai Pongal in mid- January, giving meaning to the Tamil saying, 'Aadi Azhaikkum, Thai Thudaikkum'.

The original meaning of the ritual performance is a request to the village Goddess for rain for fertility of land, in order to secure a rich harvest. The women are involved in large groups significantly implying the fertility of women also ensuring continuation of human race with peace and harmony through empowered women.

Though many of us do not live along the River Banks, celebrate Padinettamper with the preparation of yemmy variety rice ==>>> Puliyansaadam [tamarind rice], Thengaisaadam [coconut rice], Thayirsaadam [curd rice] with fried vadam [crispy accompaniment]

The original meaning of the ritual performance is a request to the village Goddess for rain for fertility of land, in order to secure a rich harvest. The women are involved in large groups significantly implying the fertility of women also ensuring continuation of human race with peace and harmony through empowered women.