In Andhra Pradesh, the married women will celebrate the Atla Thadhe festival for the health and long life of their husbands. This traditional fun-filled festival can also be celebrated by young girls in the view of getting a good-hearted husband. For the newly-wed-bride, it is celebrated within the 16 days of the wedding (before Padhavaru Rojula Panduga) aiming the joyful married life. The ladies from both the families are invited to attend the ceremony at bride’s parents home.
On the day of the festival, the bride will get up before the sunrise and will have the yoghurt rice. This shall keep her going until she breaks the day-long fast in the evening. She will wear a new saree and do Gowri puja in the morning. The priest will help her to conduct Gowri Nomu as the other ladies witnessing the puja. He reads out few stories to the bride that have religious significance. At the end, the Vayanam is offered to Gowri Devi first followed by the other ladies. The Kumkuma and Gandham are applied to all the ladies attending the ceremony.
The “Vayanam” is made up of 11 Atlu (Dosas), one lightened Kudumu, and one Thoranam made up of 11 knots. The Vayanam is given to at least 9 to 11 Muttaduvulu each who had this ritual completed before. The bride will offer the Atla Vayanam to each lady by holding it with her saree pallu while uttering these words.
“Istinamma Vayanam – Puchukuntinamma vayanam; Mummatiki ichindhamma vayanam – Mummatiki puchukuntinamma vayanam; Vayanam puchukunna vanitha evaru – Nenenamma Gowri Parvathi; “
The Vayanam receiving the lady is considered as Gowri Devi. Hence she will offer her blessings to the bride. The ladies will eat the Vayanam Kudumu as it still lightening and wears the Thoranam to their left hand. They will take the Vayanam Atlu to their home to share with their family later. The ladies will swing in Vuyyala for this festival.
In the evening, the bride will do Dheparadhana to Gowri devi and see the moon before breaking her fast (Atlu). She will eat Vayanam Atlu and Kudumu offered to the Gowri devi along with other foods prepared at home.
After the ceremony, few of the Vayanalu will be sent over to the groom’s place to share them with their close relatives and neighbours. Along with Vayanalu, the bride’s parents will send over sweets like Ariselu, Kudumulu and thambulam to the groom’s home.
This ritual can be celebrated on the day of “Atla Thadhi” if it is not performed to the bride within the 16 days of wedding. The mother-in-law of the bride will offer a new saree to the her at the end of puja.
Preparations & Shopping list:
- Find out the auspicious time from the priest to celebrate the ceremony
- Arrange the priest to conduct the puja
- Get the puja items list from the priest
- Shopping List: Shop for puja items as per priest’s list
- Invite ladies to attend the ceremony
- Prepare Kudumulu
- SL: Rice flour, Jaggery, Ghee
- Prepare Atlu
- SL: Rice, Urad dal
- Prepare vayanalu for Muttaduvulu
- Prepare Vayanalu, Ariselu, Thambulam to send over to groom’s place
- SL: Bunch of bananas, beetel leaves, somp packets
- Arrange a swing for ladies to swing
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