ASTAMI THE EIGHTH DAY OF NAVARATRI SRI MAHA DURGA DEVI - KADAMBAM ANNAM

Astami the eight day of navratri on this auspicious day Kanaka Durga Devi is appears in the form of Durga. The most powerful goddess she is the mother of the universe, she is the power and she is behind the work of creation, preservation and destruction of the world. Durga Devi is mentioned by Veda s as a supreme power. picture source vijayawada kanaka durga temple.

The meaning of the Durga in Sanskrit is a fort, or is a place which is very difficult to reach. And one more meaning of durga is Durgatinashini meaning is the one who removes your sufferings. Hindus believe that Durga Devi protects her devotees fro the evils of the world and removes there sorrows. She is Simha vaahini means Loin is her vehicle, she is Trinayani means she is a three eyed Goddess. So durga Devi appears on Astami day to kill Mahishasura (an inhumane force/ a demon with buffalo face) with three eyes and eight arms with holding many weapons and red color saree and beautiful jewellery is made by gold and ocean pearls and precious stones. On this Durgastami day people believe praying Durga Devi with red color flowers, cloths and read Durga saptashati or Devi mahatyam and offers Pulagam or Kadambam Annam as prasadam

Here is my recipe for Kadambam Annam 

INGREDIENTS:----
Rice -- 1 cup
Tour dal (split pigeon peas) – 1/2 cup
Moong dal – 1 tab sp
Channa dal – 1 tab sp
Mixed vegetables – this should be 9 types of vegetables like – okra, pumpkin, bottle gourd, sweet potato, eggplant, Indian broad beans, drumstick
Tamarind paste – 1 tab sp
Sambar powder – 1 tab sp
Salt to taste
Turmeric powder – 1/4 tea sp
A few curry leaves
Oil or ghee – 1 tab sp
Mustard seeds – 1/2 tea sp
Asafetida – 1/2 tea sp 

METHOD:---
1. Mix rice and dal s wash and cook till they become soft (if you are using a pressure cooker the cook for 3 whistles) and leave a side.
2. Now boil the vegetables in enough water with salt and turmeric powder till half done then add tamarind paste and cook till raw smell of the tamarind disappears. 3. Now add curry leaves and sambar powder mix well and cook for 2 min.mix well and add rice and dal mixture and mix gently (don't mash the rice).
4. Now heat ghee or oil in a pan add mustard seeds and let them popup then add asafetida and add this seasoning to Kadambam rice mix gently and offer to Goddess Durga.