Ganesh Pooja

Ganesh  Chaturthi Wishes

May Lord Ganesh protect you and your family and bless all of us with peace and joy. Subh Ganesh Chaturthi.

- Srilaja Kanth

Varalakshmi Pooja wishes

Varalakshmi Pooja Wishes

Varalaxmi Vratha or Mahalakshmi Vrata is a sacred day in Hinduism. The ceremony is performed by married Hindu ladies on the Friday before the full moon in the month of Sravana in the Hindu calendar (corresponding to July/August in the western calendar). Those who cannot perform it on that day, can do it on any other Friday in that month. This is an important Vratha, meaning a vowed religious observance in Sanskrit. Varamahalakshmi Vratha is performed more commonly in the southern India.


Puja is performed by married Hindu women to seek the blessings of the goddess Mahalakshmi, wife of Lord Vishnu, who is considered to be the abode of wealth and prosperity. There is a legend that says that this vratam was recommended by Lord Shiva to his wife Parvati to gain wealth and prosperity.


On the day of Varalakshmi vratam, women clean their homes and decorate their front yards with rangolis (colorful designs traced on the floor). Later, they take a bath and deck themselves with beautiful clothes and jewellery. They invite neighboring laides to their homes and offer them tamboolam, an offering consisting of betel leaves, fruits, betel nuts, vermilion, turmeric and dakshina (money). Hence this festival is observed largely by women, invoking the blessings of Lakshmi on them, their husbands and their children.


God bless all of us.

- Srilaja Kanth

Father's Day Wishes!!!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

- Cilu's Food

Happy Mother's Day

Mother's Day wishes!!!

Hope you have a bright and wonderful Mother's Day.

Sri Rama Navami Wishes

Sri Rama Navami Wishes

 

Rama Navami is the day on which Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, incarnated in human  form in the land of Ayodhya. He is the ardha ansh of Vishnu or has half the divinitive qualities of Lord Vishnu. The word “Rama” literally means one who is divinely blissful and who gives joy to others, and one in whom the sages rejoice.

Ram Navami falls on the ninth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Chaitra (March/April) and coincides with Vasant Navratri or Chait Durga Puja. Therefore in some regions, the festival is spread over nine days. This day, marking the birthday of Lord Rama, is also observed as the marriage day of Rama and Sita and thus also referred to as Kalyanotsavam.

For this festival we prepare Panakam(Telugu)/Panaka(Hindi) sweet drink prepared with jaggery and flavored with dry ginger powder, cardamom and black pepper. We also prepare Vada Pappu (yellow moong dal) as naivedyam or prasadam to Lord Sri Rama.

Panakam/Panaka Recipe 

Ingredients:
     2 tbsp grated jaggery
     1 cup water
      1/4 tbsp dry ginger powder
     1 or 2 crushed cardamom
     1/4 tbsp black pepper powder
Preparation:
1. Mix jaggery in water and let it dissolve completely. If required filter mixed water.
2. Add black pepper powder, crushed cardamom, ginger powder and mix well.

Vada pappu is split yellow moong dal (2 tbsp) (pesara pappu) soaked in water for half an hour and strained. Mix 1/2 tbsp jaggery with soaked moong dal.

Ugadi Wishes - Ugadi Subhakanshalu

Sri Vikrutinama Samvatsara Ugadi Subhakanshalu 

Ugadi is celebrated as New Year Day in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The name Ugadi is derived from the name "Yuga Adi", which means 'the beginning of a new age'. It is celebrated on the first day of the Hindu month Chaitra, which marks the onset of spring. It is believed that Lord Brahma, the creator according to Hindu mythology, began creation on this day. Preparations begin well ahead of the festival. Houses are given a thorough cleaning, people don new clothes and special dishes are prepared.

Ugadi,  also known as Yugadi, is the Telugu New year and Kannada New year. Ugadi 2010 date is March 16. Ugadi or Yugadi means the beginning of an era. Hindus in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka celebrate their New Year as Ugadi whereas the people of Maharashtra celebrate it as Gudi Padwa. In Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka on Ugadhi day Ugadi Pachadi is prepared and distributed among the people. This festival is also celebrated as Cheti Chand or Sindhi New year.


Ugadi Pachchadi is the special recipe prepared on Ugadi day in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. This recipe signifies the combination of every aspect of life. Ugadi Panchanga Shravanam is done on Ugadi. Astrology predictions and yearly horoscopes are told by Brahmins on this day to common people.

• Neem Buds/Flowers for bitterness
• Raw Mango for tang
• Tamarind Juice for sourness
• Green Chilli/Pepper for heat
• Jaggery and ripe banana pieces for sweetness
• Pinch of Salt for saltiness

This mixture with all six tastes (షడ్రుచులు) , called Yugadi Pachhadi  (ఉగాది పచ్చడి) in Telugu and Bevu-Bella in Kannada, symbolizes the fact that life is a mixture of different experiences (sadness, happiness, anger, fear, disgust, surprise) , which should be accepted together and with equanimity.

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I hope this Ugadi will bring cheer, prosperity and peace in your life. Let us pray that we gain enough strength to accept the highs and lows of life with equanimity.

- Srilaja Kanth

Holi wishes