pillaiyar nombu

Pillaiyar nombu

Pillayar Nonbu is a very unique and important festival for the people of Chettinadu i.e. Naattukottai Nagarathars. On this day Lord Vinayagar/Ganpati is worshiped by observing a fast. It is celebrated once in a year in December/January ( Tamil month : margali), on the 21st day after Thiru Karthikai or Periya Karthikai as the way we call it. The Nonbu / fasting which is for 21 days begins on the Thiru Karthigai day. On these days, only one meal (palagaram) a day is taken. Generally in varalakshmi nombu , ketharagowri , karadaiyan nombu women's used to fast but in chettinad during pillaiyar nombu men's used to fast an start the rituals in this nombu men plays a vital role. 

Once, some nagarathars gathered together and made the journey from Kaveripumpattinam. At that time, of karthikai Deepam the sailors were got affected by  tornadoes in the sea and the ship was diverted and the sailors werev unable to reach the terrain. At that time they Rememberd  maragathavinayagar an they prayed to him.From that day  onwards they  took a thread from their dhoti to calculate the no of days. After 21 days they reached the shore of an island. On the auspicious day of sasti an Sathya nakshtra. They made a small pyramid shaped pillayars with a rice flour, jaggery ,ghee and small wick, consisting of 21 threads they lighted those lamps  an thanked to maragathavinayagar with avarampoo. After some days they returned to Kaveripoompatnam.

Note: The above is a brief history of how Pillyar Nonbu originated. There is no written record about this festival. The story has been passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. 

The 21st day, the last day of the nonbu, is the day when Sasti converges with Sathaya Nakshatram.  It is a day of total fasting and the regular meal recommences after the final prayer has been offered to Pillayar.  During the 21 days a thread from a new Veshti/Dhothi is drawn and kept before the God. On the 21st day all these 21 threads are collected and twisted together to make the wicks needed for the function.

    On the day of the Nonbu a special pillayar is placed on the Nadu Veetu Kolam a special kolam which is put  for auspicious occasions in chettinad.  in the pooja room together with a bunch of flowers avarmpoo(Tanner's cassia) , kannupillai(Aerva lanata) tender paddy bunches , mango Leaves were, tied around a small stick.  This is the symbol of prosperity. The pillayar is beautifully decorated with flowers and garlands. 

The very important prasadam on this day is Karupatti Paniyaram, which is a paniyaram made using rice, jaggery and karupatti. This dough is also used make small pyramid shaped pillayars with a small wick, consisting of 21 threads, dipped in ghee is kept in centre of the pyramid. This is called Elai. Then comes  Vellai Paniyaram made using raw rice, Ulundu vadai, Thirattupaal made using milk. The other offerings are puffed gingerly seeds, puffed rice, puffed maize, puffed millet, Kadalai(peanuts) urundai, Ellu Urundai, fruits, beetle nut leaves, paaku, etc.  

After all the preparations for the function is over, the ceremony/function is started with the blowing of the sacred conch shell(sangu). The eldest person will wear a turban in the function lights the Elai Lamp i.e. the small pyramid shaped maavu with the wick in the centre. The first one he takes in the name of the God. Then the next one he takes for himself. And then gives one Elai for each those present in the function. It is the custom of the recipients to worship Pillayar, then receive the Elai and swallow it whole which symbolises that the Holy Spirit will become part of the devotee. An expectant mother receives two Elais. The number of Elai will be kept  in odd numbers. Suppose if a family have 4 members in the family, then the no.of Elai will be 5. 

 This is a unique practice which is followed in chettinad. Apart from chettinad region we can see this event in sri Lankan Tamil temples especially in pillaiyar temples. They call it as pillaiyar kathai. They use to read pillaiyar stories for 21 days .

-- Ramu. Rm.N

#Pillayar_Nonbu #pillaiyar #chettinad #joy celebration rituals happy #family_time  1January 2020