Pitru Paksha / Mahalaya Paksha is in veneration of our deceased ancestors. In my earlier post of Payatham Paruppu Payasam, I have given an elaborate explanation regarding Pitru Paksha.
Pitru Paksha starts on a Pournami /Full Moon Day and Culminates on Amavasya / New Moon Day. This New moon day is known as Mahalaya Amavasya or Sarva Pitru Amavasya ; considered to be very auspicious as it is believed that even if we are unable to pay obeisance to our deceased fore fathers all round the year, offering our oblation on this particular day will please their souls and we shall be blessed abundantly.
This year Mahalaya Amavasya is on 6th October 2021 . Another speciality of Mahalaya Amavasya is that the Holy Festival of Navratri commences from the day after Amavasya .
Each family has a different way of offering bhog to the ancestors depending on the family tradition and culture .
In this post,I am going to share on how Mahalaya Bhog is prepared and offered in a Tamil Brahmin Family . There may be slight variations, but the basic menu remains the same . Almost every Amavasya ,this kind of meal is prepared in homes where elders follow the traditional practice even to this day . So we can call this a basic and simple Amavasya lunch menu .
This is the simplest bhog /samayal /thaligai one can prepare and offer to the ancestors. You can follow this menu for all the Amavasai / New Moons that fall round the year if you have elders at home who offer Shraadh / Tharpanam on Amavasya.
Click on the individual recipe names to follow the recipe.
- Pavakkai Kuzhambu / Pavakkai Pitla / Haagalkai huli
- Payatham Paruppu Payasam / Moong Dhal Kheer/ Hessrubele Payasa
- Ulundhu Vadai / Uddhina Vade / Medhu Vada
Unlike regular days ,we cannot use all vegetables and lentils for preparing an Amavasya meal . There are specifications to be followed . Now a days it is not possible to sit and make such an elaborate spread on working days,so we can follow as much as we can to keep up our traditions rather than give up completely.
- Bittergourd (Pavakkai) & Vazhakkai ( Raw Banana) atleast must be included . Other vegetables that can be included are cucumber, yam, sweet potato (sakkaraivelli kizhangu) , clustered beans(kothavarangai), flat beans (avarakkai), taro root(arbi /seppankizhangu)
- Moong Dhall /Payatham Paruppu and Udad dhall /Ulutham Paruppu are the only lentils that are used .
- Jaggery to be used for sweetening the paysam.
- Coconuts ,dry red chilli, green chillies ,pepper ,mustard ,ginger are to be used for seasoning and as spice agents .
- Ghee / Nei to be served alongside rice without fail.
In this basic Amavasya platter ,I have prepared a very simple and easy menu option which can be prepared without much stress and strain .
The 2 main mandatory vegetables bitter gourd and raw banana are part of the lunch menu.
Click on the individual recipe names to follow the recipe.
- Pavakkai Kuzhambu / Pavakkai Pitla / Haagalkai huli
- Payatham Paruppu Payasam / Moong Dhal Kheer/ Hessrubele Payasa
- Ulundhu Vadai / Uddhina Vade / Medhu Vada
Vazhakkai Kariamudhu / Vazhakkai Podimaas / Vazhakkai Curry
Cooking Time - 8 to 10 mins
Complexity - easy
Serves - 2 to 3
Ingredients
2 tsp curry powder / kariamudhu podi
Few curry leaves
2 tbsp fresh grated coconut
2 dry red chillies
1 tbsp oil
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
Salt as needed
Method
- Peel the raw bananas and roughly chop them into big cubes .
- Take sufficient water in a pan and boil the chopped raw banana with some salt . The pieces should be well cooked but firm to touch . This may take about 6 to 7 mins.
- Drain the water and let the bananas cool a bit.
- In a pan heat the oil and temper the mustard seeds,curry leaves and red chillies.
- Add the boiled banana ,saute it well and sprinkle the curry podi over . Toss it well and lightly mash the bananas like how we do for potato curry.
- Close a lid and continue to cook for a minute or two .
- Finally garnish with fresh coconut and serve .
Such a simple and yet tasty preparation Priya. Like using plantain so am sure will love this vazhakkai podimaas. For Shraadh I don't think we prepare only specific dishes. It usually is what perhaps our departed loved. But interesting as I never gave that a thought. Will have to ask my aunt what tradition we follow.
ReplyDeleteIt is something similar we prepare for the shraddh. Urad dal wada is made in our tradition too. Vazhakkai Podimaas looks tasty, it's been a long time I prepared this one. Will try to make it sometime soon.
ReplyDeleteMamiyar makes the mouth watering vazhakkai.podimas like you. Since vazhakkai is a luxury for us, hardly make these lovely stuff. Now I want some!!
ReplyDelete