Dear Chithra, Could you please guide us on how Sumangali Prarthanai & Pondugal ceremonies? Thanks and love Pavithra
Dear Pavithra, Last year a friend requested the same by P M . So I drafted them & have them ready. I have the Thanjavur & palghat style in a broad format. There are bound to be minor differences in each family and place. You may get the details from elders. But remember, if there is no one to guide you, you can follow this as a general procedure. I have checked up with elders and got their approval. I take this opportunity to thank the I L ite who helped me with editing and final drafting. May God bless her & hers. Love, Chithra.
Chitra, Amazing ways of ambal. I have been doing pondugal. but with the help of mil. then last 2 years husband's chitti helped but was not happy (Chitti has never done pondugal/attended one in my 14 years of marriage). i felt she made mistakes. so was actually thinking of asking you for a general procedure. we are from tanjavur (komal to be precise) to compare note. I should really thank Pavithra, for asking this. Love shanthi
Dear Shanthi, I am very happy to read your post. Now that you have done it with your MIl , you will know where exactly, there are changes in your family. I plan to post it shortly.Thanjavur format is from my sambandi who hails from T proper. Palghat is from my MIl & co-sister who are from there. Love, Chithra.
SUMANGALI PRARTHANAI- (PALAKKAD TRADITIONS) Sumangali prarthanai is a combination of shubha and punya karmams, performed when there is a wedding in the family (either daughter or son),or before an auspicious function like poonal, seemantham etc. If a female family member has passed away as sumangali, it is customarily performed on the day next to the devasam – annual function. Suitable months All the months except adi, markazi & purattasi Suitable days? Fri, wed- most ideal Sun thurs & mon – secondary Tue & sat – not done Not performed on ekadasi, dvadasi, pournami, amavasai – because on these days, oil bath cannot be taken. Saree 9 yards saree – no black, preferably yellow or red On the previous day On the day previous to the sumangali prarthanai, one must take the following: oil, shikakai & manjal podi to the houses of all ladies who are participating. . They must be requested to have oil bath with this & come to partake of food and wearing 9 yards saree. Girls who have attained puberty, but are not married are usually not allowed to participate in the Sumangali Prarthanai. To initiate proceedings on the day of Sumangali Prarthanai This has to be done by the main lady conducting the sumangali prarthanai, before bath at 5 A . M. At, 5 A M draw podi kolam on a palakai over kolam on the floor Place saree & blouse on it. In front, keep vethalai, pakku, manjal kizangu, all oil & shikakai Smear drop oil on the saree, dot shikakai Offer a namaskaram That oil is to be used by all ladies of the house for bathing No. of Pondugal Minimum 7 – include one kanya pon . Should be odd no. The number of Sumngalis participating varies from 5 - 9.It depends on the house custom & how much space is available to put nuni elais. Let us call the main palakai with saree as pudavaikalam. Besides this odd no. of pondugal , 2 leaves (also called swami elai) are mandatory. Before going for oil bath, now wash the saree & dry on the terrace. Clean the place, now draw maakolam, after bath Place on the maakolam the following- Palakai, 2 swami elais one on either side of pudavaikalam. Draw separate kolams for all other . On the palakai keep a mirror at the back & a marapachi in front of the mirror. On the palakai over the marapachi, place the saree – make kosavams, tie & keep on palakai – blouse + other dresses like chithadai on the palaka or nearby Decorate both the mirror & pudavai with flower garland & gold chain. Near by, keep kumkum, chandanam,akshathai, uthiri poo, niraya poo, manjal, vethalai, pakku, Pancha pathram jalam, chukku vellam, panakam, maruthani, ( neer mor) , thengai pal,sombu jalam, bakshanam, fruits. NB: neer mor is custom only in some families, not all. Invite all ladies - request them to stand – give manja podi – ask them to apply it on the legs & wash. Make them stand in the hall, offer kumkum, chandanam, flowers &show arathi or kalpooram Invite sappida vango - சாபிட வாங்கோ & make them sit As far as possible keep all elais & arrange persons sitting, facing North & east. Next option is facing west. Facing south is avoided. This is determined by the space available. Start serving from swami elai – round & clockwise direction After serving all items ( including sadam & ghee); the main person, conducting should go near the main pudavai, collect flowers, akshathai, manjal & kumkum – pour 2 tsp water from panchapathram. , keep in the right hand. First take the hand round for first swami elai, pour down only the water – repeat round for all elais, finally come to the pudavai kalam & offer everything there. Perform namaskaram facing palakai, to the saree etc.which signifies the sumangali. Ask all family members also to offer flowers & do namskaram. Kudikka neer: First swami elai – one spoon near the elai for both elais. Round for all ladies then 1 tsp to all ladies on their hand & also saying ‘Ellarum neer vangikkongu’ எல்லோரும் நீர் வாங்கிகோங்கோ Finally come to swami elai & say , Arinjava ariyathava therinjava theriyathava ellarum vanthu saappidungo” அறிஞ்சவா, அறியாதவா, தெரிஞ்சவா, தெரியாதவா எல்லோரும் வந்து சாப்பிடுங்கோ Perform namaskaram. Now sappadu can start. Offer thengapal immediately after rasam sadam Before they get up, offer 1 tbsp sombu water from near the pudavai elai to all ladies After food: Request everybody to sit together. Offer panakam, chukku vellam,vethalai pakku etc dakshinai & finally maruthani Permitted vegetables: All nattu vegs except drumstick, potato. Tomato is allowed in some houses. Samayal 2 pachadi – one curd, one puli 2 kootu - one with & one without puli 2 curry - podithuval Parikkai pitlai & morkuzambu Ordinary rasam Arisi- vellam - little pal - payasam (Rice is cooked & then jaggery is added. Remove & add milk enough to get the required consistency). Thenga thogayal Thick thayir Ama vadai, neyyappam, poli ( optional) Fruits: First preference - Mango, jack fruit, banana, secondly others like apple, orange, sathukudi & grapes. Love, Chithra.
Sumangali Prarthanai – Thanjavur Tradition Buy a 9 yds saree in silk or cotton. The preferable colours are red, yellow & green. Including the “ pudavai kalam “ there can be 5 or 7 ( odd number) Girls below 5 yrs & girls who have attained age, but are not yet married, are not allowed to sit. The daughters in law of the house also are not allowed to sit as “ pendukal” - this varies with families. Daughters of the house & any other married ladies can sit. For the participating ladies, go to their houses the previous day evening, give them kumkum, haldi, oil, shikakai, vasanai podi & invite them to come. On the morning of the day, wash the 9 yds saree & a blouse piece with madi (shuddam)after bath & dry.The main person conducting the function should not take an oil bath. Put a big kalyana kolam in the entrance, put semman & tie “ mavilai”. For the pudavai kalam – put a square kolam, (padi kolam), over that keep a palakai & put kolam on that. In front of that, put a kolam to keep the elai. On both sides of the pudavai kalam put kolam for 2 elais , beside for elais facing N, E & next preference W. Fold the dry saree so that the “ pallu” comes on the top. The corner of the same should face N. Fold the blouse & keep on that. On the saree keep the following: A small mirror Oru kavuli ( 100 no:s) vethalai Plenty of kali paakku Plenty of urundai manjal nalangu manjal – (mix of haldi & chunnambu) on a vethalai 12 bananas 10 yds malli, kathambam or roses Maruthani on a vethalai A ball of haldi & water on a vethalai Chullu vella urndai in a vethalai A gold chain In a “ kudam” – water to which cardamom powder & dry ginger powder are added One sombu of panakam One sombu of neer mor Coins to give ladies with vethalai pakku On the kolam in front of pudavai kalam, put double nuni elai, one overlapping the other. Nuni should face N. On other kolams, place elais & “ kudikkum jalam” Start before or after rahu kalam. When the ladies arrive give them manjal mixed with water, to wash their legs, apply & come. Then give them chandanam, kumkum & flowers & ask them to take their seat near the elais. Offer al items on menu to the pudavai kalam first & hthen serve clockwise to other elais. Show “ doopa deepam” to pudavai kalam first & then to all ladies. The “ conducting person” should take in the hand akshathai & flowers, sprinkle below the pallu of the saree in the pudavai kalam & pay your respects( in mind) to all the deceased sumangalis of the family. Show karpooram to the same. Now offer a tsp jalam to the pudavai kalam & to all ladies in their hands. They should drink it & start eating. Nobody should get up halfway through. After everybody finishes eating, again offer a tsp of water to thepudavai kalam & move the pallu corner to the N. One of the daughters in law should eat the pudavai kalam sappadu. After meals the ladies should be given naeer mor, panakam & chukku vellam. Then smear haldi on their legs & put nalangu. Offer flowers, maruthani, chandanam & kumkum. In a plate keep lot of vethalai, pakku, gundu manjal, coconut, kumkum bharani, comb, mirro, coin, 2 bananas, blouse piece – keep in their paLLU. Give akshathai in their hand, do namaskaram & ask them to blless you. After the person who conducts has eate, she must give the saree to a poor woman who also is asked to eat. ( I think this varies in each house) Samayal: Paruppu payasam - thayir pachadi - vella pachadi - vazakkai curry - avarai or kothavarai curry - poosani kootu - pitlai - mor kuzambu - thani kootu - kadalai paruppu sugar kosemalli - paasiparuppu savoury kosemalli - coriander thogayal - ginger, mango pickle - curry leaf thogayal - rasam - banana, mango, jackfruit - ulundu vadai - sojji appam - thengai sadam - lemon rice - kalathukku paruppu - ghee - curds - honey Love, Chithra.
Dear eenu, Thankyou very much for the very prompt F B. Again, I repeat, I owe it to the blessed soul who edited it for me patiently. May her tribe increase. Love, Chithra.
Dear Chithra, This information is too good and fantastic.. Am feeling so good after getting these details... Thanks and love Pavithra