Recipe for Huggi/ Khichdi and Gojju

Ingredients:
Rice -- one cup
Mung dal --two cups (if prefered use one cup)
Pepper and Jeera -- one teaspoon each
Ginger (minced)--one tsp
Ghee -- 4/5 table spoons (can also add a mix of ghee and oil)
Haldi powder-- 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste
If so prefered one may use a peice of dal chini, a few lavanga and a little dry coconut in the seasoning.

Method::

1. Wash the rice and dal, add the ginger, pepper , jeera, one table spoon of ghee, haldhi powder, salt and curry leaves and water(double the qty of rice and dal) and cook in a preasure cooker for 3/4 whistles.
2. After it cools , in a thick bottomed kadai put in the rest of the ghee and add the desired seasoning.
3. Next add the dal and rice mixture.
4. MiX well and serve hot with Gojju.

For Gojju::

1. Soak a small lime- sized peice of tamarind in water and remove pulp.
2. In a kadai pour some oil, and add udad dal, chana dal, dry chilli,mustard and hing
3. When the mustard crackles add the tamarind water and allow to boil well the raw smell is gone.
4. Add some slit green chillies and turmeric powder.
5. Next add salt, curry leaves and jaggery, boil for a few more mins .
6. Finally, mix about 2-3 teaspoons of rice flour with water and add to the boiling gojju. This is a thickener and the gojju will now get a good consistency.
7. Take off fire and serve with huggi.

Dhanur Maasa

Dhanur maasa comes every year around December. On that day the Sun enters Dhanur raasi(Sagittarius) and from that day onwards up to shankaranthi it is called Dhanur maasa. During this month...

• God is worshipped early in the morning before sunrise.
• Huggi/kichdi/ Ven pongal is offered to god as prasad.
• The puja and naividya is to be done before sun rise.
• Laksmi stotra is also to be recited.

Khichdi is made with rice, mung dal, ginger, pepper, jeera, and good amount of ghee and eaten with gojju. Performing puja and naividya before sun rise will give peace of mind and good health to the worshipper and his /her family.
This huggior Khichdi is made with one part rice and two parts mung dal. This is the best combo, however it can also be made with equal parts of both rice and mung dal. Mung dal is easily digestible and pepper and jeera are good for the cold season and the ginger is added in order to digest the ghee besides being good for winter.
If made properly this is a very tasty dish. I have given the recipe for this above.

Tulsi Puja and Daily Prayers

Sri Ganeshaya Namaha.

Everyday worship should begin with a Tulsi puja. Here is a Tulsi stotra that can be recited everyday while worshipping Tulsi.
Tulasi Stotra.
Namaha tulasi kalyani namo Vishnu priye shube ;
Namo mokshapradhe devi namah sampath pradhayini::
Prasidha thulasi devi prasidha harivallabe:
Ksherodha madhano drathe tulasithvam namamyaham::
Yanmoole sarva thirthani yanmadhye sarvadevathaa
Yadhaagre sarva devascha tulasi thvaam namaamyaham::


With this prayer women and girls should pour water to the tulasi plant and apply haladhi , kumkum,gejavastra,  sandal paste and put flowers.
It is a must to grow a tulasi plant in the house or flat.

Some short stotras that can be recited daily and learnt by heart easily.

For Ganesha:----

Shuklaam baradharam Vishnum

shashivarnam chaturbhujam:

Prasanna vadhanam dhyayeth

sarva vignopa shanthaye:;

In the morning after cleaning the front yard or front of the house and drawing the rangoli this prayer is to be recited. While applying haladhi and kumkum to the thresh hold.
Sarasija nilaye saroja hasthe dhavalatha raankusha gandha malya shobe:

Bhagavathi harivallabe manogne thribuvana bhoothikari prasidhamahayam::

These are some of the important points which members of a family ought to follow. As far as possible everyday . If this is not possible at least on festival and important days, especially by the women.

• Head bath should be taken after applying oil on the head.
• While puja is progress do not talk loudly fight or cry.
• Do not leave foot wear right in front of the enterence of the house.
• Always draw a rangoli after cleaning the frontage of the house.
• Women must be clean and neatly dressed always with the hair combed.
• Never wear torn and faded clothes and avoid black clothes.
• Sweep and clean the house before lighting the evening lights and the lamps.
• Before lighting the lamps keep the front door opened and the back door closed.
• Treat Savashnis and Bramins with respect especially when they come to your house.
• When you give fruits and coconuts to anybody they should be in good condition never damaged or spoilt.
• Reciting a stotra or mantra is must while performing puja.
• Recital of Rama nama 108 time a day is a good habit.
• A Tulasi plant in the house is a must in every household. All ladies must pray to Tulasi. A tulasi dala offered to to Lord Krishna is like offering all the wealth in the world.
• Each family have their household diety, which is called KULA DAIVA, to this you should offer prayers and follow the customs and the traditions of the family.
• It will be a good idea to make a note of all the customs and traditions of the family, and the gothra , with children moving away from home, the traditions and family customs are being forgotten. One way will be to give a copy to the children concerned.

Welcome

Hi All,
This a new blog to discuss our Hindu customs.. As the address indicates, the festivals & food!!
Please feel free to comment and ask questions.
Cheers,
Lalitha
These some of the important points to be remembered, by all, women on some points.
 The front of the house should be swept and Rangoli drawn. The front enterance should be always clean and have look of a Happy household.
 A Tulasi plant is a must in any Bramin Houehold.
 Recite Rama Nama as many times as possible every day.
 1. One should never take a head bath without applying oil, at least a drop should be applied.
  2. While Puja, is in progress, don't, fight, talk loudly , argue , don't keep the TV on and watch the Tv most of the time, do keep your Mobiles on silent. Concentrate on the Puja and pray.
 3. Don't leave foot wear right in front of the entrance.
 4. Never sweep and wipe the house, after Puja and in the evenings, after the sundown.
 5. Don't wear torn, discolored clothes, especially women should not wear patched and torn Sari's.
 6. While lighting the Evening, light , keep the front door open and back door closed.
 7.  Welcome and show respect to Bramins and Savashni/Muthaidhis and also guests. Athithi Devo Bhava .
 8. While giving any fruit coconut  or anything, do give only good ones and dont pass away spoilt and rotten fruit etc.
  The place where gods are kept should be clean  and look pleasing.
 The house should also be kept looking spic and span, with the lady of the house neat and dressed well, Our house is our Temple .
  Women , in house should not cry for every little thing and be sad,
 JUST LIKE WHEN WE GO TO STAY FOR HOLIDAYS, IN ANY PLACE ,WE EXPECT THE PLACE TO CLEAN , THE GODDESS OF PROSPERITY AND GOD WILL LIKE A CLEAN PLACE TO STAY.