Aati Amavasya in Tulunadu or Karkataka Amavasya is a festival celebrated with most fervour and devotion in most parts of the Karnataka especially in coastal region, in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu as well on the new moon day (Amavasya) of the Aashada (Aati) month of the Hindu calendar.
New moon day (Amavasya) is a regular feature comes every fortnight of month in the year. But why it is given so much of importance to Amavasye (New Moon Day) which comes in the month of Aashaada (Aati) and being considered auspicious by Hindus?
It is believed that on this day Shiva, the Lord of destruction in Hindu mythology is taken over by Parvathi’s devotion towards him and accepts her as his wife. Parvathi is considered by some schools of Hinduism as the supreme Divine Mother or Goddess and all other goddesses are referred to as her incarnations or manifestations.
They believe that during this period, the offerings they make, reach their late forefathers and in return are showered with blessing. Signifies the beginning of auspicious period, and many pooja’s are performed to Hindu deity’s during this period seeking blessing.
First moon occurrence of August month is marked as Aati amavasya, this is considered as a very auspicious day by Hindu’s.
Parvathi thus symbolizes many different virtues esteemed by Hindu tradition: fertility, marital felicity, devotion to the spouse, asceticism, and power. Hence it is believed if women abstain food (fasting) on this day and offer prayers to Lord Shiva, Parvathi chastely an unmarried would seek a good virtuous husband and married would pray for their husband’s long life, success and happiness.
Usually two idols are made using red mud clay, dried and decorated. One Idol depicts Lord Shiva & the other symbolizes Parvathi.
On this day people take a sacred dip or bath in the sea here and strongly believe that with the blessings of Varaha Swamy, all kind of skin diseases will immediately disappear.
Besides all the newlywed couples make it a point to visit Shiva or Vishnu temple and have a holy dip or bath in the sea water. They seek the blessings of the God, which will give them happy married life ahead with good health and wealth.
On this day, early morning any elderly male member of the family go to the nearby forest in search of medicinal tree called Pale Mara (Tulu) or Hale Mara (Kannada) known by botanical name as Alstonia Scholaris also known as Blackboard tree, Devil tree, Milkwood pine, White cheesewood and Ditabark in the English language,
Peel off chunks of its bark with sharp stone and walk away to their residence and pound it to get the bitter juice “Paleda Kashaya” after adding some spicy ingredients and seasoning which is consumed by the members of the family in small quantities.
As there were incidents reported about the death of the people due to the consumption of wrong decoction made out of the tree similar to pale mara,one should be very careful while selecting and bringing the bark of Paale mara in the night.
One may wonder the reason behind the consumption of the bitter juice (decoction) of this particular tree that too on the new moon of the lunar month of Aati (Aati Amavasya).
It is believed that this decoction prepared from the liquid tapped out of Pale mara is said to have the power to ward off health problems till the next Aati. This is one of the important aspects of the Tulu folk culture and custom.
It is said that once a year before consuming any food in the morning at least a small portion of the juice of the bark of this tree should be consumed to be healthy from any type of bowel troubles. Consuming the juice from the bark of this ‘Paleda mara’ would provide security from unwanted stomach ailments.
Besides the above reasons, the bark of Pale mara is used for medicinal purposes ranging from Malraia and epilepsy to skin conditions and asthama.
In Ayurveda it is used as a bitter astringent herb for treating skin disorders, malarial fever, urticaria, chronic dysentery, diarrhea, in snake bite and for upper purification process of Panchakarma. The milky juice of the tree is applied to ulcers.
After consuming Pale Kashaya, the family members are served with Metteda (fenugreek) Ganji (thin gruel of rice) (Tulu) or Menthe Ganji (Kannada) which is a simple yet a nutritious recipe prepared out of rice and methi (fenugreek) seeds.
Aatida Agel:
In most of the Tuluva families in coastal region a ritual of ‘Aatida Agel’ a kind of tradition (Remembering the late members of the family ) is being performed on the day of ‘Aatida Amavase’ to please the souls of deceased members of the family.
It is the tradition since long time that on this particular day some non-veg curries like dry fish curry ( mostly of Kolla Taru),Sukka chicken are cooked and served along with rice on the top portion of banana leaf in a row . Some side dishes of vegetable curries also to be kept.
Besides in one glass little quantity of ‘Gangasara’ (liquor) is also kept in front of each Agel. Some Manes (Low wooden seats) are placed behind each ‘Agel’ for the deceased souls of the family to come and sit.
In front of the ‘Agel’ water is placed in a copper or steel vessel on the white cloth. In one plate betel leaves, arecanut, lime, tobacco leaf, beedi and snuff are also kept in front of the Agel.
These items are kept in the beliefs that those who were chewing betel leaves, smoking beedis and snuff when they were alive will come after accepting the Agel and have their choices.
Once all these formalities are finished, family members both ladies and gents will come and assemble in front of the ‘Agel’ to welcome the deceased souls of the family to this treat of ‘Agel’ and accept it and pray to be with us always and visit every year on this day of Aatida Amavase. Once the prayer is finished, close the door of the room for a while and come out.
After sometime open the door and enter the room and sprinkle the water from the vessel on the Agel and distribute the contents of the Agel among all members of the family like Prasadam.
It is believed that once this practice is started, it has to be continued every year.
In case, it is discontinued or not done, some bad omen will be experienced in the family, it is believed.
Shekar Moily
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