Meenakshi Thiru Kalyanam | Malar's Kitchen

Tags

Buttermilk, chithirai thiruvizha, Lord Kal Alagar, Lord Parvathy, Madurai, Meenakshi temple, Meenakshi Thiru Kalyanam, Neer Mor, South Indian style butter milk, Spiced Buttermilk

Neer Mor / Butter milk, is such a perfect summer drink. Its extremely hot in India during summers, no one would dare to get out of the house between 11 am to 3 pm 😛 . During summer this is a drink which is always available at home 🙂 Hailing from the temple city Madurai, I would like to share details of a festival we celebrate every year.

Lord Meenakshi (incarnation of Lord Parvathy) has her temple in Madurai which so famous for the architecture. We have a festival that goes on during the summer when Lord Meenakshi is married to Lord Shiva. This festival is called the chithirai thiruvizha/ Meenakshi thiru kalyanam. Lord Kal Alagar (incarnation of Lord Vishnu) is believed to be Meenakshi’s brother. Lord Kal Alagar stays in Alagar kovil a temple situated 13 miles from Meenakshi temple. He has to come all the way from Alagar kovil to Meenakshi temple for his sister’s wedding. It is believed that he travels in a pallaku(couch) and the travel takes a weeks time. This whole picture happens every year and we celebrate Meenkashi’s wedding so wonderfully. Marriage happens in Meenakshi temple with the idols of Shiva and Meenakshi. Kal Alagar idol is carried from Alagar kovil to Meenakshi temple.

My house is located in the mid way of Alagar kovil and Meenakshi temple. Alagar’s idol passes through my home. During this time the whole Madurai residents would gather to worship. We all get dressed up so well 😀 and meet a lot of people in our community. Its a lot of fun. We invite friends, relatives to our home. Ahh I miss those days so badly, what a lovely time it used to be 🙂 The beauty of this festival is that though it is a Hindu festival, Muslims, Christians all gathers and celebrate it. I see this as a great unity which is why I love it 🙂 As this festival takes place during summer, many people distribute Neer Mor, Pannakam to help get rid of thirst and dehydration. So when ever I prepare neer mor, it reminds me of this festival 🙂

Ingredients:

Yogurt : 3 tablespoon ( can be full fat or skim)

Water : 1 cup

Salt : 1/4 teaspoon

Ginger : 1/2 teaspoon grated

Green Chili : 1 very finely chopped

Curry leaves : 1 strand finely chopped

Cilantro leaves : 2 – 3 strands finely chopped

Asafoetida : 1/4 teaspoon

Cumin seeds : crushed 1/4 teaspoon or Cumin powder : 1/4 teaspoon

Method:

Put the yogurt, salt, water, ginger in blender and blend it for 2 to 3 mins. Now transfer it to a glass. Mix asafoetida, chopped curry leaves, cilantro leaves, cumin seeds or powder. Mix well. You can serve it immediately or after refrigerating for some time.

Some people temper oil and use mustard seeds and add it. I wouldn’t want it that way, as the taste of buttermilk would change.

It helps in avoiding dehydration. It soothes you stomach.

Enjoy this refreshing summer drink friends 🙂