Karadaiyan Nombu or Karadayan Nonbu is a major Tamil festival which is celebrated at the time on Meena Sankranti or Sankramana. It is celebrated at the moment when Tamil month Maasi ends and month Panguni starts. Karadai is the name of a unique Nivedyam prepared on this day and Nombu means Vratham or Upavasam.
It is believed that Savitri got her husband Satyavan back from Yama, the Lord of Death on the very same day. Due to this legend Karadaiyan Nombu is also known as Savithri Vratam. On Karadayan Nonbu day women worship Goddess Gowri and offer her Karadiyan Nombu Nivedyam. After Puja women tie the sacred yellow cotton thread known as Manjal Saradu or Nonbu Charadu for well-being of their husband.
Married women observe it for long lives of their husband while unmarried girls observe it to get ideal person as their husband. On this day married women and young girls wear yellow robes and pray to Hindu Goddesses for long life for their husband or to get ideal person as their husband in the future.
The fast for Karadayan Vritham is observed from sunrise on the transition day when God Surya moves from Kumbha Rashi to Meena Rashi. Fast breaking time for Savitri Nombu might fall any time between current day Sunrise to next day Sunrise depending on time of Meena Sankramana. Please note that duration of fast depends on local Sunrise and Sankramana moment and varies for all locations.
If time for Manjal Saradu falls after midnight but before next day sunrise we show it in 24+ format as Hindu day starts and ends with Sunrise.
Significance of Karadaiyan Nombu:
Karadaiyan Nombu is a significant ritual that is mainly observed by married women in the southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. The word ‘Karadai’ refers to ‘a special naivedya (holy dish) and ‘nombu’ signifies ‘upvasam or vratam’. The observance of Karadaiyan Nombu is done in remembrance of ‘Satyvan-Savitri’ story. According to the legends, Savitri was a princess who with her utmost devotion towards her husband, Satyvan, saved him from the clutches of death. This story is very popular in India and there are few other Hindu festivals based on this legend, such as ‘Vat Savitri Puja’. The festival of Karadaiyan Nombu is observed by married women for the prosperity and long life of their husbands whereas unmarried girls keep this observance to get their choice of husband.
Rituals during Karadaiyan Nombu:
Fasting or vratam is an important ritual on the day of Karadaiyan Nombu. Married women observe a fast from the time of getting up. The fast is broken after completing the puja rituals. Women break their vratam by eating the unique Karadai preparation with butter. The fats is broken anytime in the late afternoon or evening.
On Karadaiyan Nombu a special naivedya is prepared and is known as ‘Karadai Nombu Adai’. As per the mythological stories, it is stated that Savitri prepared this special dish and offered it with unmelted butter to Lord Yama, the Hindu God of Death, as a thanksgiving gesture for returning the life of her husband, Satyvan.
Women on this day worship Goddess Gowri and offer the Karadaiyan Nombu Naivedyam to please the Goddess. Special mantras are chanted at the time of offering the Karadai to Goddess Gowri. The puja of Karadaiyan Nombu is performed at the specific time when Massi month ends and the month of Panguni just begins.
Another significant ritual on Karadaiyan Nombu is wearing the yellow colored thread, referred as ‘Karadai Nombu Saradu’ around the neck. A small flower is also tied to this yellow thread. This thread is tied for the well-being of husbands.
Women also decorate their houses with kolam on this day.
