Bheemana Amavasya

This is also known as Bheemeshwara Vratha. It is celebrated only in the old Karnataka area(Mysore, Bangalore, etc.) In these regions it is also popularly called Gandana Puje(Husband's Puja)! This festival falls on the last day the month of Ashada (the fourth month in the Lunar calander.) On this day, unmarried girls worship either a pair of dolls made of mud or a pair of lighted lamps. The mother ties a thread dipped in turmeric and decorated with flowers on the right hand of the girl and blesses her. In the olden days a mother always wanted her daughter to get a good husband and hence the name Gandana puje! Naturally, a modern mother wishes her daughter to have good education , a good career and so many other things in addition to a good husband.

This year, Bheemeshwara Vratha was on 12th August 2007.

There does not seem to be any special dish that is prepared on this day. Generally a kheer , a dal and some mixed rice are made along with some vegetables. My favorite dish for this day is a kheer made out of rice and chana dal(chick pea dal) Here is the recipe:

Rice-Chana dal Kheer:

Rice..................................................!/2 cup

Chana dal........................................1/4 cup

Jaggery.(powdered)......................1/2 cup

Milk................................................ 1 cup

Cardomum powder....................... 1/2 tsp

Cashew nut pieces........................1 tbsp

Raisins(green)................................1 tbsp

Ghee(clarified butter)....................1 tsp

Turmeric powder.............................1/4 tsp

Method

Wash the rice and dal in water . To this add one cup milk and one cup water . Add the turmeric powder and pressure cook it(about 3 or 4 whistles) Allow the pressure to come down before opening the cooker. Add the Jaggery, coconut scrappings(optional), cardomum powder and cook for sometime till the ingredients blend together. Fry the cashew nut pieces in ghee till golden brown, add the raisins to this. Pour the kheer in a serving dish and garnish it with the fried nuts and raisins.