In the month of Sravan (Aavani) on the eighth day (ashtami ) after full moon is celebrated Janashtami or Gokulashtami. For some the birth star of Lord Krishna is important and so they celebrate it on the day Rohini star falls. Both come with a few days of each other, invariably.
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In the evening we perform puja to the picture of Lord Krishna for more than five decades, now ( I am told). It is a Thanjavur painting that we have.
As I have written earlier, in the customs and traditions followed are many even for the same festival. So I would like to share here how I celebrate this festival. If there are any short comings, please excuse.
In the morning, we perform puja to the Lord Krishna idols we have. He is in the famous crawling pose. After performing archana, we offer five types of fruits that include jamun (Jambul in Hindi or naga pazham in Tamil ). My father used to offer Jambul leaves also for Krishnashtami puja. We also offer, milk, curd, butter and ghee.
In the evening we perform puja to the picture of Lord Krishna for more than five decades, now ( I am told). It is a Thanjavur painting that we have.
The offering include that are the favourites to many of us. Uppu seedai, vella seedai, thenkuzhal, sweet appam, kheer or javvarisi (sago) payasam and aval (flattened rice). Aval reminds us of Sudama and Lord Krishna's friendship and Akshaya Tritiya.
Feet of Lord Krishna are drawn from the entrance to the Puja room just as we do for Varalakshmi Vratham where we draw the feet of Goddess Lakshmi. Some designs that can be drawn are shown in the image below. Ready made stencils are also available.
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Feet of Lord Krishna are drawn from the entrance to the Puja room just as we do for Varalakshmi Vratham where we draw the feet of Goddess Lakshmi. Some designs that can be drawn are shown in the image below. Ready made stencils are also available.
How to make uppu seedai (Palakayalu in Telugu)
Raw rice is washed and dried on a clean dry cloth in shade preferably under a ceiling fan and made into flour. Roast in a flat vessel (vanali) for a very short duration (We should be able draw a rangoli line ! neatly without discontinuity! after roasting) . Roast urad dhal till it changes colour to golden brown. Make it into a flour in a mixer and sieve it. For one measure of the rice flour add 1/8 th measure of urad flour. Add asafoetida, salt and jeera (cumin seeds) to this mixture. For better results, add butter. Mix all these ingredients with water to get the seedai dough. Roll them into spheres, do not roll them or press too much and fry in oil.
(Caution: Seedai can burst if there are any foreign particles in the ingredients used. So take care while frying in oil. ).
How to make the sweet appam
Add maida, sugar and milk in the ratio 1:1:1 and mix thoroughly so that there are no lumps. Add cardamom powder and finely cut cashew nuts (optional). Take the dough in a ladle and fry in oil or to avoid oil one can make it in kuzhi paniyaram style. It is tastes really good either way.