Monday, September 17, 2007

Vinayakar Chathurthi 2007

Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is the auspicious day when Lord Ganesha was born. It is on this day when the supreme god of wisdom and good fortune bestows his presence on earth. Ganesh Chaturthi falls between August 20 and September 15 and this festival lasts for ten days.
On this day, idols of Lord Ganesha are decorated elaborately inside homes or outside for people to view and offer their prayers. Coconut, jaggery, modakas, and red flowers are offered. Vedic hymns from the Rig Veda and Ganesha stotra from the Narada Purana are chanted. Here are some of Lord Ganesha`s favourite delicacies that you could offer him on this day.
(Information courtesy: Sify.com)

Although we celebrate Chathurthi every year, there is one year that is so close to my heart. That year is 2003. The reason behind that is.....around that time we were trying for a baby. So, every festival was celebrated with tons and tons of requests to all the gods and especially to my favorite - Pillayar/Ganesha.




























I wanted to do something like rangoli for that chathurthi but I finally ended up doing this. The outline was drawn by my hubby and we both did the rest together. It started like a fun way to kill time, but we were very happy with the end result. We kept on chatting until 2 am that we did not realise the hours flying by. After a week's time I confirmed with my gynac about my pregnancy. So that is the unforgettable Chathurthi for us so far.

This year I had too many things going on the same day of the festival. Our city festival, Kavin's gym class, friend's coming over for dinner, pooja decorations and cooking. Phew!!! Anyway, I could start my work only after 4pm. I managed to do all the work except the Kozhukattais. Finally, my hubby pitched in and he did the kozhukattais. Everything was completed by 5.45pm and we did pooja by 6pm. Although, I made pongal, sundal and idllis for neivedhyam I could not take any pictures.

Anyway, here is the recipe for the Sweet kozhukattais that I....sorry my hubby made.

Ingredients:
Riceflour-1 cup
Coconut grated -2cups
Jaggery- ½ cup
Cardomom powder- ½ tsp
Salt – a pinch
Oil- 4 tsp

Procedure:
Bring 2 cups of water to a rolling boil. Add a pinch of salt and 2 tsp oil to the water. Add this to the riceflour and mix well till it gets a dough consistency.When it is cooled add some oil to that and knead it into a soft dough.Make small balls out of this. Now for the filling melt jaggery with a tsp of water. Then add coconut and cardomom powder in a pan and heat it. Remove from heat and allow it to cool. After sometime oil your palms and make small rice flour balls. press the rice flour ball in the middle and make a cup . keep the coconut ball inside this and close it. The final shape should be like a modhak. Steam this for 5 to 8 mins . Remove and cool it.

Urad dal kozhukattais:

Ingredients:
Urad dal - 1/2 cup
green chillies - 1 no (finely chopped)
curry leaves - 1 twig(finely chopped)
Oil - 1 table spoon
Hing - 1/4 teaspoon
salt to taste
mustard seeds - 1 teaspoon

Procedure:
Wash and soak urad dal for 1/2 hour. Drain well and grind coarsely adding salt and hing adding 2 tablespoons water. Heat oil in a kadai and add mustard seeds ,curry leaves, green chillies and the ground urad dal. Cook on a low flame stirring well for 5 minutes. Switch off gas. The filling is ready. For the outer cover, flatten the rice balls like a small plate. Place a small amount of filling in the middle. Fold over and seal the edges. Steam them for 5 to 8 mins and serve.

I'm sorry guys that I did not take the step by step pictures. Just didn't find time at all. Will try to update this post some other time.
I wish to send this to Latha Narasimhan of " The Yum blog" for her Festival cooking series. Thank You Latha ma for hosting this.

21 comments:

FH said...

I love that black slate Ganesha.
What?! Your hubby made those perfect ones!! I take back all I said about him, he is a great husband!;D
Great entry Kribha!

Kribha said...

Hi Asha,
That's too bad. I was happy that you were on my side. But now you are not. I'm a bit sad now.:( But I'm sure my hubby will be showing all his teeth when he sees your comment.

Unknown said...

Great looking Lord vinayaga. Looks like u have fed him well.

Padma said...

What a divine post. You both are very artistic in making Ganesha look glamorous. I love that steamed modaks....check my post on GC

Chef Jeena said...

Lovely recipe Kribha I love all the pictures what a fantastic cook you are! :)

Prema Sundar said...

Vinayaka made of grains look so nice and the story behind that memorable work is really interesting Kribha.
Those kozhukattais look perfect and I was shocked to read that it was made by ur husband.. I have seen and heard husband's cooking but such a tedious job of making kozhukkattais by ur hubby is surprising.. congratulate him on my behalf for those wonderful kozhukkattais.

Viji said...

Lovely Rangoli Kribha. No doubt you say your husband is a perfectionist. The kozukattais are perfect in shape and texture. You have to follow his advice :) Have a good day dear. Viji

Latha Narasimhan said...

Lovely rangoli and ganeshas! Perfect kozhukatais too! Hope you have sent this for our ganesha event!

TBC said...

What a beautiful rangoli.Very impressive!

Kribha said...

Hi Pushpa,
A warm welcome to you. Thanks for your nice comment. Please keep visiting.

Hi Padma,
Nice to have your here. Glad you liked the Ganesha and modaks. I did check your site and have left a comment there.Please come back for more.

Hi Jeena,
Thanks for the compliments. But I cannot accpet it as it was my hubby who did it. Anyway, I will pass it on to him. It will surely make him happy.

Hi Prema,
yes dear. He is a good cook. I will gladly pass on your compliments to him.
Ofcourse, kozhukatais are little tricky. But my hubby got it right b'coz of the rice flour he got from my MIL. So, I feel he deserves only half of the praises and the rest goes to my MIL.

Hi Vijika,
Neengalumaa??? Anyway, I will gladly take your advice and try to be upto his expectations. When my hubby reads your comments ,horns are going to grow out of his head.

Hi Latha ma,
A warm welcome to you. I'm really thrilled to have you here. I just mailed you my post and checked the comments here. I was so happy to see that you had been here. Please keep visiting.

Hi TBC,
Thanks dear. Glad you liked it.

USHA said...

Hi Kribha,

So sweet story behind that wonderful art...really its was very live...Kozhukattai are very perfect...gr8 chef:))

Kribha said...

Hi Usha,
Thanks dear for your kind words. I would like to pass on the credit for making kozhukattai's to my hubby....b'coz he was the one who did it from start to finish.
Also, he just read your comment and said 'thanks' to you.

Rajitha said...

kribha- wow! ur hubby sure is a good cook..those look perfect..

Kribha said...

Thanks rajitha...will pass it on to him.

Bharathy said...

I too make the crescent kozhukkattais....
..seems God has showered his blessings well on you...to have such a cute son.:)

Swaruchy said...

Awesome ...simply awesome....I loved ur Slate Ganesha.......The Pooja decorations too were great :-)

Kribha said...

Dear Bharathy,
Thanks for your kind words and compliments. Actually, the crescent kozhukattais are urad dal ones. Only the modhaks are sweet. Did u also make it the same way?

Hi Sirisha,
Thanks dear. I'm so glad that you liked it.

Sumitha said...

Kribha kutty congratulations on the good news dear.The Ganesha made by both of you looks so good.You must frame it.
And I havent seen such perfect looking kozhukatais anywhere.There is no finger marks atall.Kribha so forth give kozhukattai making to your hubby;)

Kribha said...

Hi sumitha,
Thankyou so much dear. That's really sooooo sweet of you to call me so. But I have a doubt. Did you think that I have conceived now? If so, I'm not. This happened 3 years back. Anyway, You are such a sweetheart.
About the Ganesha...I have it covered in foil wrap and kept it under the pooja table. I have to frame it but I don't know when the time is going to come.
My hubby was all smiles after reading your comment and he thanked you for it.
Have a nice weekend. Hugs.:))

Rohini's kitchen said...

I love the Ganesha made of grains. Nice kozhukattais too.

Kribha said...

I'm sorry for the late reply Rohini. Nice to have you here and I'm glad that u liked the ganesha and kozhukattais.