Vellaputtu & Pasiparuppu sundal- Navrathiri Day 9 Prasadham | Gayathiri's Cookbook

Navrathiri is a nine days festival dedicated to goddess Durga.During these 9 nights and 10 days, goddess Durga is worshipped in 9 different forms.Numerous rituals are followed during Navratri. These rituals vary from state to state and within a state region to region.During Navratri, various dolls are collected and displayed in multiple steps for public viewing. The displaying of dolls during "Golu festival" is so popular that it is also known as doll festival.

In South India, apart from public display of dolls, 9 days of Navratri are divided into three equal numbers of days. Goddess Durga as Kali is worshipped during the first 3 days of Navratri. After Goddess Durga, for next 3 days Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity is worshipped. During the last 3 day of Navratri Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of learning and knowledge is worshipped.
Each day of the festival stands for an auspicious colour, which is dedicated to all the avatars of the Goddess.

Navrathiri day 9 prasadham:
Vellaputtu & Pasiparuppu sundal

Vellaputtu Ingredients:
Raw rice- 1 cup
Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
Salt-1/2 tsp
Jaggery- 3/4 cup
Cashews- As needed
Coconut- 1/2 cup

Directions:
1. Soak raw rice in water for 30 minutes.Drain the water completely and spread it on a cloth for 2 hours.Grind it to a coarse powder consistency. Dry roast the flour for couple of minutes.
2. Mix 1/2 tsp turmeric powder and 1/2 tsp salt in 1 cup of water.Slowly sprinkle the water little by little and mix it well.Check consistency. If we hold a handful of flour tightly, it should hold solid and if we drop, it should break.This is the right consistency. Don't add too much water.
3.Steam cook this for at least 12 minutes.Add 3/4 th cup grated jaggery and 2 tbsp water and allow it to boil.
4. Right consistency: If you pore 2-3 drops of jaggery syrup in water, it should not dissolve. You should be able to roll it to a ball.Switch off the heat immediately.
5. Add the jaggery syrup to the cooked rice flour and mix well.Then add fried cashews and coconut.
Vella puttu is ready!!

Ingredients for Pasiparuppu sundal:
Moongdal- 1/2 cup
Salt- 1/2 tsp
Oil- 2 tsp
Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp
Green chillies- 3
Shredded coconut- 1/2 cup
Curry leaves- for garnishing

Directions:
1. Soak 1/2 cup moongdal in water for 30 minutes.Cook with salt until dal is soft but not mushy.Strain the water and keep it aside.
2. Heat 2 tsp oil.Add mustard seeds, green chillies, shredded coconut and curry leaves. Saute for 2 minutes.
3. Add cooked dal and mix it well.
Pasiparuppu sundal is ready!!