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Aadi Sevvai Poojai—Grandma’s Way, From Threshold to Thodaththu Pakkam

    ✍️ By Subhasri Devaraj
Image by Author

“Kanna, today is Aadi Sevvai… one of those days Amman walks around checking houses, seeing who’s calling her in with love. This pooja isn’t about grand rituals—it’s about your paasam (affection), your veedu (home), and your samayal that smells like memories. You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to start. I’m here to walk you through every step—from your doorstep to the pooja room and even that little thodaththu pakkam you forgot existed. Let’s get ready together.”

Early morning, before even the sun thinks of waking up, I open the front door. I sprinkle water mixed with turmeric—from the gate till the kolam space. This is not just cleaning, kanna… it's telling our Amman, “Vaanga, veetukku.” The entrance must smell of turmeric, not of phenyl and perfume.

🧹 Cleaning is not mopping… it’s welcoming

  • First, sweep the whole house—start from thinnai (portico), sweep inside, and lastly the backyard.

  • Boil water with neem leaves. Add turmeric. Use this to wipe everywhere. Especially near the pooja shelf.

  • Don’t forget the thodaththu pakkam—small outhouse or store room. Even that gets one turmeric wipe. Amman sees everything.

After that? Sit down with a pencil and paper. Write the pooja list like you’re writing to your own daughter who just got married. Be complete. Be loving.

🛍️ Grandma’s Pooja List for Aadi Sevvai

Flowers:

Arali poo (white if possible), senthamarai, marikozhundhu 

Fruits:

Banana, mango (if season permits), guava 

Pooja Items:

Manjal, kumkumam, vibudhi
Camphor, agarpathi, karpooram
Thiri (cotton wicks), gingelly oil 

Specials:

Lemon lamps – 9 lemons, slice and scoop
Turmeric rope – fresh, tie around wrists
Neem leaves – for entrance and kalasam 

Kitchen:

Raw rice, jaggery, coconut, cardamom
Aval (poha), kadalai paruppu, rice flour 

Vessels:

Bronze or brass lamp, two pooja plates 

Others:

Small kalasam, mango leaves, turmeric root

Video:



🪷 Setting the Stage – From Door to Pooja Room

Entrance must welcome Amman.

  • Draw a fresh kolam—no stencil, your hand must touch the ground.

  • Tie mango leaves on doorway. Turmeric rope across the top.

  • Lemon lamps outside the house—one on each side of the kolam.

Pooja Room must smell like faith.

  • Clean the shelf, place Amman’s photo or idol.

  • Keep turmeric-water bowl near her—sprinkle before starting.

  • Light two agarbathis and one oil lamp—this lamp must burn till pooja ends.

Set the kalasam with water, mango leaves, coconut on top, turmeric tied around. That’s your anchor. Treat it like a living guest.

⏰ Timing and Procedure

Start before Rahu Kalam. Between 6:00 AM and 7:30 AM is good.

  1. Sit in front of the pooja. Close eyes. Say “Om Shakti” three times.

  2. Light lemon lamps. One by one, steady hands.

  3. Apply kumkumam to Amman. Offer flowers—not just place, but shower.

  4. Recite simple “Amman Potri”—just say what you feel. “Kaval thandha Amman, karunai kattiya thaye.” No book needed.

🍲 Prasadam Making

Sweet kozhukattai:

  • Mix rice flour with jaggery, grated coconut, elakkai. Make small balls. Steam them on banana leaf.

Sweet pongal:

  • Boil rice and moong dal. Add jaggery, ghee, cashews, raisins.

Don’t forget neer mor and plain aval—Amman likes simplicity.

Place all prasadam neatly. No plastic covers. Brass plate, banana leaf or even steel—but clean and respectful.

💍 Extra Offerings Amman Loves

  • Glass bangles – green, red, or multicolor. Keep them in a small plate, offer with kumkum.

  • Blouse bits – bright colors like red, yellow, or maroon. Fold neatly, place with turmeric and flowers.

  • These are symbols of sumangali status—Amman blesses women with marital harmony and protection.

🌆 Evening Pooja—For Working Women

If you’re going to office and can’t do morning pooja, no worries ma. Amman understands. Do it in the evening with the same devotion. Here’s how:

🕯️ Timing

  • Finish before 7:30 PM. Avoid Rahu Kalam (4:30–6:00 PM).

  • Best time: 6:00–7:00 PM.

🧼 Quick Setup

  • Come home, freshen up, wear simple cotton saree or salwar.

  • Sprinkle turmeric water at entrance and pooja room.

  • Light lemon lamps at entrance and inside.

🪔 Pooja Steps

  1. Light the lamp, place flowers, blouse bits, bangles.

  2. Offer kumkum, turmeric, and chant “Om Shakti” or “Amman Potri.”

  3. Keep prasadam simple:

    • Aval with jaggery

    • Neer mor

    • Banana or coconut

  4. Tie turmeric thread on wrist, apply vibudhi.

  5. Sit quietly for 5 minutes. Let the lamp burn.

🌸 After Pooja

  • Share prasadam with family.

  • Keep one bangle and blouse bit near Amman photo till next Aadi Sevvai.

  • Say “Thaye, naan velaiku poyirundhaalum unai marakkala. Enga koodave iru ma”

🌺 How to End Properly

  • Offer archanai, and sit for 5 minutes. Let the lamp flicker.

  • Walk from pooja room to thodathu pakkam slowly, sprinkle turmeric water again.

  • Say “Thaye, indha veettu kaval neeye. paathuko ma.”

  • Share prasadam with neighbors—even a spoon is blessing.

Pooja over? Now put one flower in your hair, tie turmeric rope around your wrist, and sit for a moment. No rushing. Amman didn’t come to your house to watch you post stories. She came because you called.

This isn’t just tradition ma—it’s remembrance. Of our mothers, their mothers, and that strength passed through turmeric and tears.


🧠 Disclaimer:

✋ No AI Here:
This blog post was written 100% by me, Subhasri Devaraj, without the use of AI writing tools.
Every word is real, personal, and written from scratch — just like a proper conversation over filter coffee. ☕
No bots. No auto-generated fluff. Just me, talking to you

⚠️ No content here is copied or auto-published. I don't post anything I wouldn’t say to a friend.

📌 Copyright © 2025 — Subhasri Devaraj | The Heartlogue
All rights reserved. Please do not copy, republish, or reprint without permission


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