Kapparisi 

Kapparisi is a special prasadam (offering) prepared and distributed as part of the Aadi 18 festival in Tamil Nadu.

It holds significant cultural and religious importance and is believed to bestow blessings and protection on devotees during this auspicious occasion. Here are some key aspects of the significance of Kapparisi prasadam during Aadi 18 festival:

👉Divine Offering:

 Kapparisi is considered a divine offering to deities and river goddesses during Aadi Perukku. It is prepared with great devotion and gratitude, symbolizing the act of giving back to nature and seeking blessings for prosperity and well-being.

👉 Blessings from River Goddess: 

Aadi Perukku is primarily dedicated to the worship of water, and rivers are revered as goddesses in Tamil culture. Offering Kapparisi to the river goddesses is believed to seek their blessings for an abundant supply of water, which is crucial for agriculture and livelihoods in the region.

👉Gratitude to Water:

Kapparisi is a way for devotees to express their gratitude to the water bodies that sustain life and bring prosperity to the land. It is a symbolic gesture of acknowledging the importance of water in their lives.

👉Protection from Natural Disasters:

 Aadi Perukku falls during the monsoon season when heavy rains can lead to flooding and other natural disasters. Offering Kapparisi is believed to appease the river goddesses and seek their protection from floods and calamities.

👉Unity and Communal Harmony: 

Aadi Perukku is a festival that brings people together to celebrate the abundance of water and nature. The act of offering and sharing Kapparisi fosters a sense of unity, communal harmony, and the spirit of sharing among devotees.

👉Traditional Rituals: 

The preparation and distribution of Kapparisi are accompanied by various traditional rituals and prayers. The prasadam is often placed in a traditional leaf (vazhai ilai) and distributed to devotees, adding to the cultural significance of the offering.

👉Sacred Tradition: 

Kapparisi prasadam during Aadi 18 festival has been observed for generations, and it has become an integral part of the cultural heritage and religious practices in Tamil Nadu.

Preparation of this traditional Kapparisi prasadham is very simple, firstly the raw rice is washed and soaked for sometime then water is drained and the rice is dried in shade .Once its dried, it is roasted in ghee until light golden brown colour.Next the other ingredients like sesame seeds,pottukadalai,coconut are also roasted in ghee and added to the rice .Now a jaggery syrup is prepared and brought to hard ball consistency and then this roasted rice mixture is added to it and mixed swiftly and delicious Kapparisi is ready.

 Kapparisi is not prepared during Aadi Perukku but also during naming ceremony, clan diety functions and other festivals too.

This Kapparisi is kept on a Vazhai Elai or betel leaf and offered to river goddess or clan diety and then distributed to the devotees .

Check out how to make this traditional Kapparisi recipe below.

Ingredients 

Raw rice -1/2 cup

Jaggery-1/2 cup 

Coconut pieces-1/4 cup

Black sesame seeds-1/2-1 Tsp 

Fried gram dal (pottukadalai)-2 Tbsps

Cardamom powder-1/4 Tsp 

Ghee-2 Tsps 

Recipe Video 

Method 

👉Wash and soak the raw rice for 1/2-1 hour. Drain water spread on clean cloth and dry in shade .

👉Meanwhile dry roast the sesame seeds until it pops and transfer to a plate.

👉Heat a 1/2 Tsp of ghee and sauté the coconut pieces and fried gram for 2 minutes transfer them to the plate .

👉Next add another Tsp of ghee and sauté the raw rice in medium heat until light golden brown colour making sure not to burn the rice.transfer to the plate.

👉In a pan add powdered jaggery add 1/4 cup water and dissolve the jaggery completely by bringing it to a boil then strain it and again keep on the heat . Keeping stirring until the syrup reaches to hard ball consistency.Switch off the gas

👉Immediately add the roasted ingredients and cardamom powder and mix everything swiftly until well combined.

👉The mixture will become like a hard mass but don’t worry allow it to stay as such for sometime and then while still warm try to separate the mixture by breaking them.

👉Offer this Kapparisi prasad to the divine and distribute it to the devotees.

Preparation time-1 hour for soaking and 20 minutes for cooking 

Serves-3-4