The Tamil calendar is based on the solar cycle. It has a sixty-year cycle with 12 months each year. The Tamil months begin and culminate based on the Sun’s shift from one Rasi to the other. Tamil calendar always begins on April 14th, the vernal equinox with the month Chithirai and ends on the following year April 13th with the last month being Panguni. The Tamil months are named with reference to the nakshatra or star that prevails on the full moon day or pournami. The 4th month of the Tamil calendar is the month of aadi/ aashada named after aashada nakshathira/ star.
The Tamils consider this to be an auspicious month for Shakthi worship. The goddess along with Natural forces are worshipped with fervour. Water bodies are worshipped, the monsoon is welcomed with gaiety, the snake gods are invoked, and the environment is venerated without any bias. This month also denotes the auspicious beginning of all religious festivities for the entire year. Sundays, Tuesdays, and Fridays are considered to be very auspicious, and several rituals are performed.
Foodialogues brings to your home a simple neivedhya for the goddess …..broken wheat Rava/godhumai rava payasam or kheer. Loaded with milk, jaggery, and nuts this auspicious offering is a harbinger of prosperity.
Ingredients Godhumai Rava Payasam Recipe:
- Wheat Rava ½ Cup
- Water 3 Cups
- Milk 3 Cups
- Jaggery ½ Cup
- Nuts slivered 3 tbsp
- Ghee 3 tbsp
- Cardamom powder ½ tsp
- Saffron few strands
Godhumai Rava Payasam Preparation Method:
- Wash and pressure cook the wheat rava with 3 cups of water.
- Simultaneously boil and simmer milk till it is reduced to 1 cup in consistency.
- Dissolve the jaggery in water and strain. Boil the strained jaggery and simmer it. Add the cooked wheat rava to the simmering jaggery and bring to a boil. Keep stirring constantly to avoid burning.
- Cook till the mixture becomes a semi-solid mass.
- Add the condensed milk and cardamom powder and stir constantly. Stirring continuously on a low flame is very important to avoid curdling.
- When the payasam begins to bubble switch off the flame.
- Heat ghee and fry the nuts. Pour it over the payasam.
- Sprinkle the saffron and the neivedyam is ready for offering to the goddess.
Aadi Special “Godhumai Rava Payasam” is ready 🙂
