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Food offerings made to Lord in the Month of Ma:rghazhi or Dhanuh(~ december-january)

Dhanurma:sam / Ma:rgazhi is the most favourite month to all the devotees of the Supreme Lord Sri:manna:ra:yana, as it is in this month that the divine mother, A:nda:l, has performed a vratham (an austere observation) to attain the communion of the Lord. As part of the vratham, A:nda:l has composed 30 Pa:surams (divine songs) one for each day of the vratham and submitted to the Lord. In these Pa:surams, A:nda:l instructs us all the divine secrets of ve:das and educates us on the greatest welfare means of us, that is surrendering to the lotus feet of the Lord. A:nda:l has performed this vratham in the beginning of kaliyugam and got the supreme result of marrying the Supreme Lord, Sri: Rangana:tha (the Paragon form of Lord manifested in Sri: Rangam). Commemorating this auspicious time, pious people in subsequent ages have been performing the same vratham taking the supreme message of the divine mother during the same month of Ma:rgazhi every year. During this month, special food offerings are made to please the Lord of A:nda:l.

Daily, we prepare Venn Pongal (white rice pongal) for offering to Emperuma:n (Lord Sri:manna:ra:yana ) in the early morning. However, there are exceptions in respect to 3 days i.e., on 16th, 27th and 28th Pasuram days which are also discussed below.

SPECIAL PRASADAMS FOR DHANURMASAM:
1.Margazhi(1) - Sweet pongali , Dadhyodhanam
2.Ongi(3) - Dadhyodhanam
3.Thoomani(9) - Nimmakaya Pulihora(lemon rice),Sweet Pongali
4.Kanaithi(12) - dadhyodhanam
5.Nayaganay(16) - Sweet Pongali, Dadhyodhanam , Pulihora
6.UnduMadagali(18) - Sweetpongali, Sonti podi
7.MaariMalai(22) - Sweet Pongali
8.Anri(23) - Dadhyodhanam
9.Koodarai(27) - Akkaara Vadisalai
10.Karavaigal(28) - Dadhyodhanam
11.Sithum(29) - Sweet Pongali, Pulihora, Dadhyodhanam
12.Vanga(30) - Appalu, Pulihora, Sweet, Dadhyodhanam

Method of preparation of venn Pongal - the prasadam quantity intended for 3 to 4 people

Rice, green grams, asafoetida, ginger and water are cooked together. Then, salt and ghee are added. After that garnish is added. Ingredients for garnishing are ..

Method of garnishing: Take a heated pan and put ghee and fry peppers first. Then add cumin seeds to it. After both are fried, add it to pongal. Then cashew to be fried in a teaspoon of ghee. This also to be added to pongal.

On 16th and 27th Pasurams' days (i.e.,Na:ya:gana:y and Koodarai) Sweet Pongal (Sarkarai Pongal) is prepared for offering to Emperuma:n(Lord) in the early morning. The quantity of prasa:dam indicated here is intended for 5 to 6 people.

Method of preparation of Sweet Rice:

Rice and green grams are cooked in water and milk. Then Jaggery is added. On a seperate pan, cashew are to be fried in one teaspoon of ghee and after it is fried add kismis to it. After both are fried add them to Pongal. Then jAthikkAi Powder Cardamom powder and saffron and ghee to be added and mixed well. Then Sweet pongal is ready.

Curd rice to be prepared and offered to Emperuman in the early morning on the 28th Pasuram day (Karavaigal pin sendru)

Here is the recipe for preparing dadhiyannam(dadhyojanam).
The preparation is intended for 4 or 5 people.
1/2 litre rice with four times that quantity of water to be taken and cooked The cooked rice should be in semi solid form. When the cooked rice is hot, add 200 ML of milk and mix the rice well and allow it to cool down.Then add the following:-

The rice after adding the above items to be mixed well and now the dadhiyannam is now ready for offering to Emperuman. ( this preparation is for 28th pasuram, "Karavaigal pin sendru")