23 MAA VILAKKU

Maa Vilakku / Rice Flour Lamp / Biyyam Pindi Deepam / Akki Thambittu

 



Maa Vilakku is a lamp made with freshly pound rice flour and jaggery prepared during some months like Thai(Mid January - Mid Feb on Fridays) or Aadi( Mid July - Mid August on Fridays(or Tuesdays or Sundays) and or Purattaasi( Mid September - Mid October on Saturdays) and offered to god. The tradition varies from family to family. During the month Aadi, this is prepared and offered to goddesses like Mariamma or Amman or even to the House god or Diety especially on days like Friday which is considered to be very auspicious if not can also prepare and offer on Tuesdays or Sundays which is also considered good for Goddesses. Also it depends on the family to light one lamp or 2 lamps. It is then placed on top of a Banana Leaf.

Spread in front of the diety and the lamps are placed with some flowers below it and kumkum/vermilion applied to all four sides on the dent/hole where wick is placed. Ghee poured in the hole and wicks are litted. 






Other than preparing it on certain days, my grandparents used to prepare this and take to us to a temple( SankaranKovil), a temple near our native and offer it to the god in return to some prayings that is prayed for a cause( That is for a quick cure of something that someone has been having for a long period).

In Karnataka this is called as Akki Thambittu and prepared during Mangala Gowri Vrata and Nagar Pachami( The fifth day after Bheemana Amavasya that comes on Mid July - August)

Note, this post is just showing you how to prepare and how it looks. This has not been offered to any god, Will update the post with new pictures with the offerings.




Recipe and details from Mom:-

Raw Rice / Pacharisi / Pachi Biyyam - 1 cup
Jaggery / Vellam / Bellam - 1 cup
Ghee
Wicks

 


Wash and soak rice in water for 20 - 30 minutes. Drain water completely and spread on a cloth to dry under shade. Next when still moist, powder it in a mixie to a fine powder. Use a siever and sieve the powder over a paper. Place back the ones that does pass the siever again the mixie and run it to powder again until you are left with just few granules.
Next add the grated/shaved/powdered jaggery and mix well. Run this mixture once again in the mixie so both gets mixed. Remove and transfer to a wide container. Press it well and mix them both to form a dough consistency. The pressing itself warms the jaggery to melt and help in mixing well. Next shape as lamps like a round ball. Use the thumb to press on top to make a dent or hole to place the wick. Instead can use a lemon and just make a small push to form the hole. Pour ghee to fill it and place wick. Lit it and place and offer it to the god.

Break into pieces and distribute as prasadam to eat.

23 comments/Reactions:

Shabitha Karthikeyan said...

We used to make this in my Grandma's place. You made me feel nostalgic !!

Geetha Anand said...

We also offered god in sankaran koil padma...It is good that you posted this recipe..

Hamaree Rasoi said...

Great prasadam to prepare. Loved the photos.

Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi

Lifewithspices said...

At my MILs place we do this in month of thai .. perfectly done ..

Chitra said...

lovely post...brings back sweet memories

Priya Sreeram said...

got nostalgic- my mom still follows the tradition of making it on all fridays; nice

Vishku said...

Hi Padma,
Nice thambittu at appropriate time.....

Shanthi Krishnakumar said...

Lovely divine post

Rachana said...

This is so interesting and new to me. Loved the photos.

Indian Khana said...

Wow this is new for me and love the post ....

GEETHA ACHAL said...

My mom used to make it always at home when we make poojas..

Love it...Thanks for making us recall it..

Prathima Rao said...

Nice post!!! This is all new to me..Interesting!!!
Prathima Rao
Prats Corner

Anonymous said...

nice informative post.
indu srinivasan
kattameethatheeka.blogspot.com

Saraswathi Iyer said...

Looks divinful.

Unknown said...

Great post Padma..

Apu said...

Beautifully made!!

Unknown said...

I used to love and wait for these months as mom used to make it, love your pictures :)

epoxy said...

very nice thanks for the post

epoxy said...

very nice thanks for the post

kalyani said...

nice pics Padma -- we offer this during Perittasai maasam, not aavani at my place..

Cheers
Kalyani
New Event: Fasting Foods – Vrat ka Khaana Special
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Anonymous said...

some nostalgic feelings and memories twinkled

Anonymous said...

I want to share my experience. It may be long! My mom in India used to make on Purattasi Saturday. Last year my mom recovered from a serious illness and she reminded me of the maavilakku maa for Purattasi saturdauys]. I started to make last year and unfortunately, this year I totally forgot! and guess what, I had a dream last night of my mom eating the maa vilakku prasadam in India and I just remembered and looked at the calender, it is a Saturday [I guess it is purattasi month [October], i might have missed], but I made the prasadam today [Saturday], using your recipe. Thank you Padma for a nice recipe.

Lakshmi Sadasivan

subbu said...

It was a wonderful post especially the photos with vaazhai ilai. My mother prepares maa vilakku for kaarthigai deepam. I've been planning for this year. Feels so good to see traditional things done the traditional way!
Regards

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Padma