Varalakshmi Poojai/ Varalakshmi viratham

Varalakshmi pooja Or viratham is a festival to propitiate the goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu, one of the Hindu Trinity. Varalakshmi is one who grants boons (Varam). It is an important pooja performed by many women in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and North Tamil Nadu. The Hindu festival going by the name 'Vara Lakshmi Vrata' is celebrated on the Second Friday or the Friday before full moon day - Poornima in the month of Śravaṇā, also called Śawan in Hindi and Aadi in Tamil which corresponds to the English months of July–August.

Varalakshmi Vrata is performed by married woman for the well being of all the family members, especially husband, to get progeny etc. It is believed that worshiping Goddess Varalakshmi on this day is equivalent to worshiping Ashtalaksmi – the eight goddesses of Wealth, Earth, Learning, Love, Fame, Peace, Pleasure, and Strength. Because of the popularity in some states of India, it is declared as an optional official holiday in India, says Wiki.. This info is in general.

How we celebrate at house, me and my MIL start to prepare it from before a week. Planning to buy things, cleaning house, washing the lamps, buying silk saree for goddess Lakshmi, etc.

We decorate the door by putting flowers in the entrance door and tying mavilai thoranam.

This was in Bangalore house. All the neighbours and the street mates used to put kolam the previous day night itself.

Then we start the along arm of the Ambal in our pooja room. We tired vazhamaram in the entrance of the pooja room. We buy a silk spree every year for goddess Lakshmi. Flowers to decorate and worship her. Decorate her with jewels.

We invite Lakshmi by lighting lamps, put colour kolam outside the pooja room. It looks divine by itself with her beauty.

The Amman face is kept on the kalasam, kalasam consists of nuts, inclusive of badam, cashew, dried dates, raisins. We add turmeric , kumkum, 9 coins, kalkandu or sugar. We also add little rice to it.

My daughter is getting ready with meridians on her hand, she likes to wear patty pavadai and me and my MIl wore silk saree. 

These are the offerings to God, we keep a achu vellam and koppara thenga to God. We keep money in the pooja. We offer fruits.

That's my kid who worship God and poses to my snaps.

We invite all the neighbourhood ladies and kids and give them thambulam( vethala pakku parham, thenga) ! We also visit other houses and worship the God and receive thambulam!

Neivedhyam made on varalakshmi pooja are 

Puliodharai

Lemon rice

Coconut rice

Curd rice

Sweet corn vada : http://jiyasdelicacy.blogspot.sg/2012/11/sweet-corn-vadai.html

Sweet corn kheer: http://jiyasdelicacy.blogspot.sg/2012/11/sweet-corn-kheer_19.html

Kosambari : http://jiyasdelicacy.blogspot.sg/2012/11/cucumber-kosambari.html

Obbattu : http://jiyasdelicacy.blogspot.sg/2012/03/puran-poli-obbattu.html

Vazhaikkai podi

Vazhaikkai podi is a recipe which I learnt from Mr.Venkatesh Bhat from his program Samyal Samayal in Vijay TV, It was so appetizing and a different recipe using raw banana . We can also make this powder and store it for 2-3 days. Definitely it gives a different taste . It can be kept for lunch box . I served it with suttapplam. To give it a try and write to me.

Ingredients:

• Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Urad dal - 1/2 tsp
• Asafoedita- 1/2 tsp
• Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
• Curry leaves 

• Coriander seeds - 1 tbsp
• Bengal gram - 1 tbsp
• Urad dal - 1 tbsp
• Toor dal - 1 1/4 tsp
• Red chilly - 7
• Salt
• Oil / ghee
• Raw banana - 1

Method:

• Heat a pan, dry roast , bengal gram, urad dal 1 tbsp,toor dal,red chilly,coriander seeds and keep it aside. Grind it into a coarse powder with salt..
• Pressure cook the banana with little turmeric powder and salt for 3 whistles and peel the skin. shred the raw banana into small crumbs and keep it aside.
• Heat the pan, add ghee ,splutter mustard seeds, urad dal, curry leaves and asafoedita.
• In a bowl keep the cooked rice and add 2 tsp of ghee, add the shredded raw banana, tempered mustard seeds mixture and the coarsely ground masala powder to it.
• Mix well and keep it for sometime. 

Relish it with chips or suttappalam or any fried dishes! Yummy it is!

Aadi Perukku / Aadi padhinettu

Adiperukku (also written as Aadiperukku) is a Hindu Tamil festival celebrated on the 18th day of the Tamil month of Adi (mid-July to mid-August). In 2014, it is on August 3. The festival pays tribute to water's life-sustaining properties. For the blessing of mankind with peace, prosperity and happiness, nature worship in the form of Amman deities are organized to shower Nature’s bountiful grace on human beings. 

Adiperukku is a unique South Indian and specially a Tamil festival celebrated on the 18th day of the Tamil month of Adi (mid July). The festival coincides with the annual freshes of the rivers and to pay tribute to water's life-sustaining properties. It is celebrated near river basins, water tanks, lakes and wells etc. of Tamil Nadu when the water level in the rises significantly heralding the onset of Monsoon

Generally the neveidhyam would be variety rice.
My neivedhyam for the day 
Puliodharai
Lemon rice
Coconut rice
Curd rice
Candy rice