Karadaiyan Nonbu is a major festival celebrated by Women in Tamilnadu on Meena Sankranti. It is the day on which the Tamil month of Maasi ends and Panguni starts. Goddess Gowri is worshipped on this day and married women pray for the long life of their husbands. Karadai is a special type of Naivedyam made of rice flour, Jaggery and Karamani payaru ( Lobia, blackeye bean) smeared with unmelted butter. Fast is observed from sunrise till sankranti and Karadai naivedyam is done at the exact hour of sankranti. Women break their fast by eating the unique Karadai preparation with butter after completing the pooja.. It is then offered to the family members as Naivedyam .
Women tie the yellow thread called Nonbu charadu for their saubhagya (blissful married life) Young unmarried women will be granted good and noble husband of their liking by observing this fast. It is believed that Savitri got her Husband Satyavan from the hands of Yama, by observing a fast and offering Karadai. Hence it is known as Savitri Vratam also.
Karadaiyan Nombu is observed with full gaiety and fervor not only in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu but also in foreign countries like USA, Canada, South Africa, Singapore and Malaysia.
The Story of the great Sati, Savitri
King Ashvapati of Bhadra Desh had no progeny and performed a mahayagna for eighteen years for begetting a child. At the end of the Yagna , Savitri Devi blessed him with a boon of a baby girl. The royal couple named the girl as Savitri as she was the boon of Savitri Devi.
Savitri was educated in all sastras and grew up as an intelligent and beautiful young woman. At the behest of her father, Savitri left for a tour of the country with the ministers. After a few days, after visiting various pilgrimage centers and rishis’ ashrams, she returned to the palace. Raja Ashvapati enquired Savitri about the happenings of her tour. Devarshi Narada, who had come to visit the kingdom, was also sitting beside the King at that time. Savitri, bowed down to her father and the sage and said: “Father! I met a fine young man, Satyavan, the son of Dumatsen, who lives with his parents in Tapovan. He is truly worthy of me, so I have chosen him as my husband. I request you to please give my hand in marriage to him”.
Narada, who knows all events present, past and future, was aghast on hearing the words of Savitri and said,” ‘Rajan! Savitri has made a big mistake. Satyavan’s father has been evicted from his kingdom by the act of his enemies, he has lost his vision and is living in austerity in the forest hermitage. His son Satyavan is , no doubt, a fine lad. But as fate would have it, he is only left with one year to live.”’
King Aswapati was saddened on hearing the words of the sage. He said to Savitri, “My dear daughter! Please travel to any place of your liking and pick up another worthy husband for yourself. I cannot bear to see you losing all your pleasures of life in such a young age. Savitri was a sati, a true Hindu woman, well versed in the shastras. She said firmly, “Father! I have accepted Satyavan as my husband in my heart. Whether he is short-lived or long-lived, now he is my husband. When I have once accepted him as a husband, how can I ever think of a second man in my life?”
Seeing Savitri’s determination, Maharaj Asvapati went to the hermitage with the marriage proposal and conducted her marriage with Satyavan. Satyavan and Savitri spent a blissful year in the hermitage, until the time for the inevitable to happen arrived. Savitri went with her husband to gather fruits and flowers, while Satyavan was chopping some wood from a tree. A serpent sank his fangs into Satyavan’s leg. Satyavan came down in pain from the tree and lied down in his young wife’s lap.
At that time, Savitri saw a terrible looking person wearing a red dress. He was Sakshat Yamaraj. He said to Savitri, “You are a chaste and pious woman. I have come to take your husband’s life”. By saying so, Yamraj pulled out the sookshmasarira of Satyavan and took him along towards the south.
Savitri followed them. Seeing this, Yamaraj said, “O noble woman! Don’t you know, from what you have learned that a wife is a companion on this earth only? A person’s dharma alone accompanies him to my kingdom. So go back! Don’t try to follow me”. Savitri said “O. Dharmaraja, the dharma of a pativrata (faithful wife) is to go where her husband is. Since you are well aware of this, why are you stopping me?”
Yama tried to convince her but Savitri did not give up. Then the Lord of death said,” You are faithful to your husband, you are intelligent and you are also determined. I will grant you three boons in exchange of your husband. On hearing this, Savitri asked him to restore the eyesight of her old parents- in- law, as the first boon. Yama was pleased and said, “Let that be so”. In the second boon, she asked her father had only one child, which is herself, who has left his home after marriage. So please grant him sons to take care of him and the kingdom. Yama got highly pleased with her request and granted this boon too. Now the third boon was to be asked. Savitri bowed to the God and very politely said, “Hey, Dharmaraj, Please grant me a son as bright (tejasvi) and intelligent as Satyavan “. By this time, Yama was overwhelmed by the devotion of Savitri and without thinking, he said “Evamastu (Let it be so) “and started walking. Savitri stopped him and said.” O Lord, How can I get a son without my husband?” Not only Yama, but all the Gods in heaven watching this scene, praised Savitri for her intelligence and devotion. Satyavan was resurrected and united with Savitri.
The story further goes on to say that Dyumatsen regained his Kingdom and crowned Satyavan. They all lived happily ever after.
The trees under which Satyavan lied down on Savitris lap is a Banyan tree, called Vatvriksh in Sanskrit and hence the Vrat in honour of Savitri is called Vat-Savitri Vrat. Vat Savitri Vrat is celebrated in Northern parts of India on Jyesht Amavasya. There is a sect of people who perform this on Jyeshta Poornima.
The vrat is celebrated near a Vat tree and Offering made of Jaggery, rice flour and gram is done after watering the tree.
Whether it is done on Meena sankranti or in Jyeshta, the Vrat of Savitri is a major festival reflecting the age old culture of the Hindus where the union of two people through wedlock is considered sacred and the determination of a woman can even make Gods rewrite their judgments.