MENU FOR AADI PERUKKU - AADI 18 FESTIVAL LUNCH MENU

      Aadi Month - Aashad/Aashadam/Karkkidakam is an auspicious month in Tamil Calendar, generally special for Women folks and Farmers.  Aadi is a Tamil month that begins from mid of July and ends in the mid of August. Aadi Velli, Aadi Chevvai, Aadi Pooram, Aadi Perukku, Varalakshmi Nombu, Sashti Vritham all culminate together in this month converting it into a total festive mood throughout the month. Though every festival has its own importance, Aadi 18/Aadi Perukku commonly called as 18aam Perukku falls on the 18th day of the month and it is a celebration of the upcoming Monsoon Season.  Perukku which literally means Multiply or Proliferate.  There is also a belief that the water level of Cauvery River rises to the 18th Stone of the open baths on this day.
      Though we do not celebrate this festival, my reminiscence of this Month comes along with an age-old  Tamil Proverb - "Aadi Katril Ammiyum Parakkum"(The Wind of this Month is so strong that it carries off the stone Mortar).  This is the month when the harshness of the sun is reduced and the winds become favourable. Then comes the Aadi Perukku/Aadi 18 holiday on the first week of August. During school days, any holidays are cherished as a matter of fact and this one comes out of a blue moon, never remembered until the day.
      I always relate Aadi Perukku with "Ponniyin Selvan," a Tamil Classic Novel, a magnum opus written by "Kalki,"  The 1st Chapter is "Aadi Thirunaal," through which I have an unforgettable visualization of Aadi Thirunaal festival through the anecdotes of this Novel. The opening scene starts with the hero Vallavarayan Vandhiyathevan slowly riding on his horse after a long & tiring day, along the banks of Veera Narayana Eri/Veeranam Lake, enchanted by the greenery and lusciousness of the region.  He moves around describing, how the people in the area celebrate the festival watching the gushing waters, dressed up in new clothes, eating Chithirannam in Kamugu Mattai(a part of Areca/Betel Nut Tree), teasing and enjoying. The scenario is where River North Cauvery(Kollidam) emptying itself into the vast lake through Vadavaaru.

"Vadavaaru pongi Varuthu
Vanthu Parungal Palliyare
Vellaru Virainthu Varuthu
Vedikkai Parungal, Thozhiyare!
Cauveri Purandu Varuthu Kana
Varungal, Pangiyare!"

     People who live near waterfronts or rivers spend their day along the banks celebrating Aadi Perukku.  They worship the River and eat packed lunch - Chithirannam/Kootanchoru/Kathambha Sadam/Mixed Rice. It is traditionally mentioned as Cauvery Perukku, which has a special mention in Ilango Adigals, "Silapathikaram" too.  Aadi Perukku is quite synonymous to 'Karai purandodi varum Cauvery", where mythologically it is believed that the River Cauvery is gushing its way towards the Ocean to meet her daughter Mahalakshmi.

Aadi Pattam thedi pathu vethaikkanum kannamma!!!
       A Tamil Song lyrical which says we have to sow the seeds during the Aadi month. All across South India, it is considered as an auspicious time to Sow Seeds, especially Paddy during this Samba Pattam/Aadi Pattam. Water, rain and the favourable wind brings hope to the farmers ensuring good harvest and prosperity.