Karadaiyan Nombu, also known as Karadaiyan Nonbu, is a festival of Tamil community which is celebrated on the first day of Panguni month in the southern calendar.
A fast is observed by married women on this day for the well-being and lo g life of their husband. Goddess Parvati or Gauri is worshiped on the occasion of Karadaiyan Nombu.
The festival commemorates the wisdom of Savitri and her devotion towards Goddess Parvati that even Lord Yama was forced to return the life of her dead husband Satyavan.
It is also believed that Karadaiyan Nombu is the birth day of Goddess Parvati.
Check: Hindu Calendar 2024
Karadaiyan Nombu 2024 Overview
| Festival | Karadaiyan Nombu |
| Date | March 14, 2024 |
| Day | Thursday |
| Frequency of celebration | Annual celebration |
| Mainly Observed by | Married women of Tamil Brahmin community |
About Kedara Gauri Vrat
Karadaiyan Nombu Vrat 2024 Date
Karadaiyan Nombu is derived from two Tamil words- Karadai which is the name of a unique Nivedyam prepared on this day and Nombu which means Vratham, i.e., a fast.
It is observed at the moment when Tamil month Maasi ends and the month Panguni starts. Women tie yellow thread on the occasion of this festival and the thread is tied exactly at the same time as the new month of Panguni begins.
In the year 2024, Karadaiyan Nombu falls on Wednesday, March 14. The muhurat for tying Manjal Saradu will be 12:46 PM on March 14.
Significance of Karadaiyan Nombu
The festival of Karadaiyan Nombu is related to Savitri and her husband Satyavan. The story of love and devotion that Savitri had for her husband Satyavan has been told in Mahabharata, an epic of ancient India.
Married women observe a fast on this day for long lives of their husband while unmarried girls observe it to get ideal person as their husband.
Karadaiyan Nombu Puja Vidhi
On the occasion of Karadaiyan Nombu, women worship Hindu Goddess Gowri and her blessings are sought in the form of long lives of their husband. On the day of festival, women get up early, clean their houses and take a holy bath. After that, they decorate their homes and temples with flowers and design kolam (rangoli).
Women offer flowers and prayers to Gauri and wish for the well-being of their husband. The devotees then offer the Naiveidhyam along with a platter called Tamboolam which consists of two beetle leaves, beetle nut, turmeric, Kumkum, flowers, coconut, bananas and some coins.
After the puja is over, they tie a sacred yellow thread called as Manjal Saradu or Nonbu Charadu around their neck. Once all the rituals are completed, the women consume karadai as prasadam. Karadai is a special dish prepared from rice flour, black eyed peas, jaggery and coconut and is eaten hot with butter.
Story of Karadaiyan Nombu festival
Karadaiyan Nombu is observed by women for long life of their husband. According to the Hindu legend, there was a women named Savitri who was married to a woodcutter named Satyavan. Satyavan was destined to die exactly one year after his marriage and knowing about this, Savitri still married him.
One day Satyavan was cutting woods in the jungle when he suddenly fainted and died. Lord Yama came to collect his soul but as he started his journey back to the Yama Lok, Savitri started following him. Yama asked Savitri to return back but she refused and kept following him. On the way, Savitri started talking about Dharma and praised Lord Yama for his selfless activities. Impressed by the speech given by Savitri, Yama asked her to make any wish, except tthat she cannot ask for life of Satyavan.
Hearing this, Savitri asked Yama for a blessing of hundred children. This put Yama in a dilemma but at the same time he was also moved by the purity and devotion of Savitri. He then granted the wish of her having hundred children and returned the soul of Satyavan. It is believed that it was the same day as Karadaiyan Nombu on which Savirti won her husband’s soul back from the Lord.
Karadai Nombu Adai Recipe
- Karadai is prepared using grated coconut, water, green chilly, soaked white kidney beans, salt, and rice flour. People, also prepare another dish using the same ingredient, however, they replace salt by jaggery.
- Once the batter is prepared, it is further steamed.
- Once cooked, Karadai is served with white butter.
Summary
Karadaiyan Nombu festival is mainly celebrated in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala. This festival is celebrated by married women for the well-being of their husbands.
Married women keep fast and worship Goddess Mahalakshmi and Goddess Parvati for the well-being and long life of their husband.
The festival is much similar to Savitri Puja celebrated in other states of India. It is celebrated on the last day of Maasi Masam.
Karadai Nombu Adai is a special holy dish prepared on this day.
Frequently Asked Questions
We are celebrating Karadaiyan Nombu 2024 on 14th of March.
Here the term Karadaiyan means a holy dish and nombu means fast.
Karadai Nombu Adai is prepared on Karadaiyan Nombu and it is prepared by rice flour, soaked white kidney beans, grated coconut, green chillies, salt and water.
First of all, thanks for the detailed procedure and information. I have a query, whether the women should start her fasting from previous day (like in this case should we start fasting from 14th? As nombu fast break time is on 15th between 6 to 6:45 am. Kindly confirm
I have also the same query
whether should we fast on 14th or no fast this year. I hope even otherwise on 4th Tuesday night, would we avoid rice and take only phalaAahar