Kolam by Sudha Balaji

Tulsi Vivah ( marriage of Tulsi withVishnu say the puranas) is also celebrated as Uttwandwadasi.  The image of Tulsi Devi is placed on the Tulsi plant. Since we celebrate a marriage Tulsi is adorned with a mangalsutra.  Garlands made from cotton and flowers like jasmine are used to adorn the plant.  I have used the pink and red roses that bloomed in the rose plants in flower pots I have. Growing your own floral plants, watering them see the buds bloom into flowers, using the flowers for puja gives me a lot of mental satisfaction.  However, flowers and rangoli have a lot in common, both are beautiful, colourful and both last for a very short time. Tulasi kota decoration or Tulasi katte decoration for Tulsi marriage festival Festival - Tulsi Vivah Some more photos of Tulsi Vivah celebrations decorations rangoli , aarti , cotton garland Tulasi Pooja vidhanam and Tulasi Pooja ela cheyali through pics  Tulasi kota mundu muggulu Tulsi Maa decoration with silver Fac

Butter murukku pieces - savory recipe for Diwali or evening snacks What we need is rice flour that is readily available in the stores or rice flour that is home made by soaking rice in water , spreading it on a clean cloth , drying it in shade and then dry grinding it. Then white sesame seeds , asafoetida , green chillies wet ground in a mixer , butter and salt Take three measures of rice flour , 3/4 to 1 tea spoon butter is added. All other ingredients are added one by one.   Green chillies paste and salt can be varied according our taste. Mix will adding water little by little At this step we can check whether salt and chillies are as per our requirement We should prepare the dough as and when required only.  Do not prepare the entire dough at one stretch . After preparing the dough use the murukku achchu or template with single star shaped opening  Take oil in a vessel and when it has been heated to the right temperature Place the dough the in the achchu and ma

There are many options for side dish for rice with vendhaya keerai or fenugreek greens or just vendhayam or fenugreek.  I have tried to shared some traditional and different varieties that I prepare as side dish for rice at home for children and family.  Similarly with radish or mullangi what I have shared is a different kulambu  that  is prepared with jaggery added so it will liked by children due to its sweet and sour taste.   It is also an excellent side dish for Pongal Easy vendhaya kulambu without coconut without toor dhal How to prepare fenugreek kuzhambu  The ingredients are  Mustard, urad dhall,  , gram dhall  , fenugreek, asafoetida , red chillies and green chillies cut vertically Gram dhal is taken a little more than normal because we do not use toor dhal for this recipe We can add or decrease chillies depending upon the karam we need. Add a little oil in a vessel and saute with mustard , urad dhal , gram dhal , asafoetida, red chillies and green chillies Add turm