Navarathri Neivedhyam – Saraswathy Pooja – Ulundhu Vadai.(Crispy Savoury Snack made from Black Gram Dhal)

Crispy Black Gram Dhal Vadas were always my favourite from when I was a little girl. Madurai amma used to make them at home for all important festivals and I used to love to bite in to their crispy exterior and spongy insides!!!   I have two maternal uncles living in the north and whenever they [...]

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Navarathri Neivedhyam Day 8 – Black Channa Sundal garnished with sliced coconut pieces.

On this Ashtami of Navarathri I wanted to make an all time favourite – Black Channa Sundal garnished with sliced coconut pieces. Black Channa is very common among our homes as a classic Neivedhyam for Navarathri. It is in fact made on Saraswathy Pooja day as the “traditional” offering to Sarswathy, in my home. Just [...]

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Navarathri Neivedhyam Day 7 – Sweet Black Eyed Beans Sundal. (Vellai Karamani Vella Sundal)

Today being friday, my daughter wanted a repetition of the Sweet Sundal so we made the Black Eyed Beans cooked in jaggery. This is made very similar to the Sweet Green Gram Dal Sundal that I had previously posted. HINTS: Soak the Black Eyed Beans in water for at least 4-5 hours prior to preparation [...]

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Navarathri Neivedhyam Day 6 – Sweet Green Gram Sundal & Pidi Kozhakattai.

I remember when we were little kids, amma always used to make at least two days of Sweet Sundal during the Navarathri festival for all our sweet cravings!!! What a great idea, to incorporate the best of two worlds – legumes and jaggery!!! My sister D loves this version and in fact would pester her [...]

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Navarathri Neivedhyam Day 5 – Sweet & Succulent Gulab Jamuns.

Today was Sri Chakra Pooja at the local temple and I had been wanting to witness one for some time now. Today also happens to be my mother`s birthday. So I wanted to make some thing sweet for her, as well as offer some thing to Devi. I am not sure if this is very [...]

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Navarathri Neivedhyam Day 4 – Yellow Peas Sundal.

Today being the fourth day of the nine day celebration of Navarathri, the offering to the Devi was Yellow Vatana Peas Sundal. This has already been posted here previously and its also one of my favorite of the sundal preparations. Here is the pic…

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Navarathri Neivedhyam Day 3 – Arachu Vitta Sundal. ( Garbanzo Beans cooked with ground spices)

Today is the third day of Navarathri and we thought we should make a neivedhyam with the white channa or the garbanzo beans. This is probably the most used and most under-valued in the legumes family.Garbanzos (also called chickpeas) are a good source of cholesterol-lowering fiber, as are most other beans. In addition to lowering [...]

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Navarathri Neivedhyam Day 2 – Moong Dal Sundal.

Today being the second day of Navarathri and a weekend, I thought Moong Dal Sundal would be a good choice. Moong Dal is a good source of high levels of protien and contributes only a very low percent of fat calories to the diet. Moong Dal Sundal would be an excellent choice as an evening [...]

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Navarathri Day 1 – Kadalai Sundal(PeanutsSpiced with coconuts and chillies) & Venn Pongal.

Today being the very first day of Navarathri and also the first saturday of the tamil month of “Purattasi”, it was an auspicious day completely. Today`s Neivedhyam was: Venn Pongal. Kadalai Sundal. KADALAI SUNDAL: This variety of Sundal made of raw peanuts does  not need any soaking and can be prepared with little or no [...]

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Navarathri – Significance & Manifestation- Festival of Dolls.

Navarathri – The name itself conjures to me years and years of tradition locked safely in trunks and cardboard boxes and handed down  from generations. My earliest memory of Navarathri was in Madurai in my grandmother`s home near the Perumal Temple. They had this lovely red oxide floor that I oh so love. Madurai amma [...]

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