Attla Tadde 2010

Attla Taddi is the festival which falls after Dasara every year. It is one of the most celebrated  regional festivals of Andhra Pradesh and some places of Karnataka.This Festival gen erally comes in October or November. celebrated by married women as well as unmarried women. Goddess Gauri is worshipped on the day of Atla Taddi. It is celebrated on the third day after Ashwayuja Purnima, the Full Moon day in Ashwayuja masam of Telugu calendar, and falls in October as per Gregorian calendar.The festival date in 2010 is on October 25th i.e; on  Monday.This festival is a Telugu equivalent of Karva Chauth, a prominent festival of North India. This vratam is mainly performed by married women for their marital bliss and wellness of their husbands. Unmarried women perform Gauri Puja and celebrate the festival with utmost fervor to be blessed with a good and caring husband and great married life.

Atla Thaddhe is dedicated to worship Goddess Gauri. This is purely a women festival. On this day, women wake up early in the morning and perform spiritual bath or ceremonial bath. They eat Atlu (specially made dosas) after taking bath. They observe fasting till the evening. Women perform Gauri puja on this day.

It is believed that one who celebrates Atla Thaddhe with utmost devotion, may blessed with a good and caring husband. Married women perform Gauri puja for good health of their families especially their life partners.

Atla Taddi Bhogi is first day of Atla Taddi festival. After Atlataddi Bhogi day, Atla Taddi festival is celebrated.  Atla Taddi Bhogi   is observed on Ashwayuja Krishna Paksha Vidiya.

On this day, Telugu women wake up early morning and take ritual or ceremonial bath. In some places, Gauri Puja is also performed on the day. Gorintaku (Mehndi) designs are drawn on their hands during the day. This is the main ritual on Atla Taddi Bhogi. Thambulam (betel nut leaf) is taken after meals. Preparations for Atla Thaddi are done on Atla Thaddi Bhogi like inviting married ladies beforeday  to come & take Vayanam and making the Dosa batter.

Why Atla Thaddi festival is celebrated?

Atla Thadde is the Telugu festival equivalent of Karva Chauth, a popular festival in North India which is celebrated on the following day. This vratam is mainly performed by married women for their marital bliss and wellness of their husbands. Unmarried women perform Gauri Puja and celebrate the festival with utmost fervor to be blessed with a good and caring husband and great married life.

Atla Thaddi Gauri Puja Procedure – How to perform Atla Thadde Gauri Puja:

A small idol of Gauri is made with Pasupu (turmeric) and installed in a sacred and sanctified place. The idol is called Gauramma. Gauramma is offered Abhisheka (bath) while reciting the mantras, the performers spill Pasupu (turmeric powder), Kumkuma (crimson powder) and shower flowers.

At the end of the puja, Goddess is offered Naivedyam (food offerings) and then Aarti is given to Goddess Gauri. After Gauri Puja or Atla Thaddi Nomu, the performers and all family members take theertham and prasadam.Women keep a day-long fast without food and water on this day. This is also called 'Nirjala vratam'. After performing Gauri Puja in the evening, they break their fast. The special recipe of Atla Tadde is Atlu, small Dosas. Women eat Atlu to break their Upavasam after seeing the Chandamama, Moon, in the Sky.

Main Rituals & Customs:

Some main customs of the festival include – applying Gorintaku or Maidaaku (Mehandi) on palms and swinging in Uyyala (Swing seat). The more red colour they get with applying Mehandi, the more they will be loved by their husbands.Unmarried ladies wake up early in the morning like at 3 am or 4am,brush their teeth & eat Chaldi (Chaddi annam) (Lord Sri Krishna likes most) day before night cooked rice with Gongura pickle and Curd. People prepare atlu and distribute among their friends, neighbours and relatives. Mutthayuduvu Puja (Suhasini Puja) is performed during the festivals and offered attlu and some other items as Vayanam (offerings).

I like this Festival and Celebrated every Year before marrriage & My mom used to wake me up in the Wee hours and after brushing my teeth,had a day before cooked rice with Spicy gongura Pickle and Curd rice.Those days are very Funny.Evenings ,all of my friends used to gather near by a street having with a Uyyala ;used to Swing more high and enjoyed the day by showing our Mehendi Color & used to discuss about a person not known going to marry us and laugh.These memories are very nice to remember the Festive days with our Parents.Coming to the U.S , I am able to follow what I am able to Follow.Because,I like all the Tradition Festivals to folow and Celebrate since from my Child-hood.One nice moment & incident happened about this Festival was,"In Vijayawada,day before the festival starts everytime ,One Women comes to the Street with her basket with full of Mehendi Leaves (Gorintaaku) shouting with "Amma Gorintaaku......"and I was at the age 9years ,She sells the leaves by weighing only with her hand & I used to ask her Shall I weigh with my hand ,so that I can color more with my Mehendi leaves to hands & Legs."This made all Fun.Not only me ,many Kids at small age do a lot of Fun and makes to remember.So I too had a Fun & feeling that Past fun every year when this Festival arrives.But ,living in U.S;even I celebrate all the Festivals,but I feel something is missing ,like Parents,Friends and India Festival Environment.For this Festival,here I didn't Find out Mehendi leaves,Only the Mehendi cone to color hands and Swinging at near by the park.

Note:

• Telugu Women  Please have a look here.

             Happy Attla Tadde Wishes to all Ladies.