Atla Tadde: Atla Taddi is a traditional festival of Hindus in Andhra Pradesh. The festival is celebrated by Hindu women to seek the blessings of Goddess Gauri for a happy and long married life.
When is Atla Taddi celebrated?
Atla Taddi falls on the third night after a full moon of the Ashwiyuja month of the Hindu calendar. As per the Gregorian calendar, Atla Taddi Nomu falls in October month every year.
Atla Taddi 2024 Date
Atla Taddi 2024 Date falls on October 12.
The story behind Atla Taddi
According to the Hindu Puranas, Atla Taddi is a ritual that was suggested by Goddess Gauri to be practiced by all young unmarried girls to seek the blessings of the goddess for a suitable bridegroom. In ancient times, a princess of a big kingdom wanted to oblige the Goddess by keeping a fast of Atla Tadde but could not able to complete it as she fainted out of thirst and hunger. Seeing her in this condition, her brothers showed her a mirror with the reflection of a fire in it which is resembling like a moon.
When the princess grew up and search for a suitable match, they could not able to find a suitable groom. Hence, her brother fixed her marriage to an old man. Out of anger, the princess ran away to the forest and started crying by sitting under a banyan tree. Seeing her condition, Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati emerged in front of her and explained that since she had not completed the Atla Taddi ritual, she was in this situation. Following this, the princess went back and completed the Atla Taddi Nomu as directed and soon she got married to a guy of her choice.
Atla Taddi Rituals
- On this day, all married women and young girls wake up at dawn and after a holy bath, eat Suddi which consists of rice, curd, and Gongura pickle before sunrise
- They keep a day-long fast, till they see and worship the moon in the evening
- On the eve of Atla Taddi, ladies apply Mehendi on their palms
- The entire day is spent singing traditional songs, swinging, and preparing special dishes
- In the evening, after seeing moon, the women start worshiping Goddess Gauri
- Ten Dosas and a Thoram are distributed among other married women
