Karadaiyan Nombu is a Hindu festival which would be celebrated mostly by the South Indian married women for the welfare of their life partners. This festival is celebrated in order to reveal the significance of the Puranic Divine Mother Savithri who has saved her husband from the death god Yamadharma Raja by putting severe painstaking efforts. It is celebrated on the first day of Panguni as per the southern calendar.
Married women observe fasting on that day. Before the auspicious time, women would draw colourful kolams in front of their puja room, used to take bath and sanctify the ceremony by performing Puja to Ma Shakti Devi. ‘Karadaiyan Nombu’ refers to preparation of holy dish and consuming it along with the family members after performing fasting by the married women for the well-being of their husbands.
Rice powder mixed with jaggery would be prepared and it would be offered to the goddess, Ma Shakti Devi, also called as “GOWRI DEVI”, and it is also known as “SPECIAL ADAI” or as “KARADAIYAN ADAI”. People who belongs to all ages, likes the taste of this Adai. It is said that only due to Savitri’s devotion towards the goddess Shakti Devi, gave her sufficient strength, will-power and wisdom to get back her husband Satyavan’s life from the Death God!
Ma Savitri story is very popular in India and even some foreigners are aware of that, after knowing about our customs and rituals!
Karadaiyan Nombu is observed even in foreign countries like USA, Canada, South Africa, Singapore and Malaysia!
Karadaiyan Nombu for the year 2024 is on 14th March.
But at this present period, the practice of performing Karadaiyan Nombu is slowly decreasing due to increasing divorce rates and difference of opinions between life partners. We cannot blame women also in this regard, since things have become drastically changed due to the tremendous improvement in science and technology. Most of the women are employed and well-qualified and they prefer to stand up on their own legs even after their marriage, due to that, ego situations arises between the life partners, and this ultimately leads to permanent separation between them.
Let us pray to Ma Shakti Devi to develop strong bondage between the couples and let them celebrate the wonderful “KARADAIYAN NOMBU FESTIVAL” with full of joy, enthusiasm, perseverance, devotion and dedication.
“OM MA PATIVRATA SAVITRI DEVI NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR