Saturday 31 August 2019

Delicious Kozhukatai Recipe for a Joyous Ganesh Chathurthi


Delicious Kozhukatai recipe for a joyous Ganesh Chathurthi:

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Ganesh Chathurthi is the birthday of Lord Ganesha and is celebrated by his 
devotees all over the world. One characteristic feature of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations is the distribution of sweets that are first offered to the God. One sweet that you will find during Ganesh Chaturthi is the Kozhukatai. According to Hindu mythology, Kozhukatai was the favourite food of Lord Ganesha. He simply couldn't resist reaching out for the sweet stuffed dumplings and devotees never fail to enjoy these sweets during Chaturthi celebrations. 

Sweet Kozhukatai Recipe
Ingredients Of Kozhukatai:
For the filling:
1 cup coconut, grated
1 cup jaggery
A pinch of nutmeg
A pinch of saffron
For the shell:
1 cup water
2 tsp ghee
1 cup rice flour

Prepare fillling:
• Heat a pan, add the grated coconut and jaggery.
• Stir for about five minutes. Add the nutmeg and saffron, mix well.
• Cook for another five minutes and keep aside.
Prepare modak:
• In a deep dish, boil water with ghee. Add the salt and flour. Mix well.
• Cover the dish and cook till its half done.
• Spread some ghee on the base of a steel bowl and while the dough is still hot, knead it well.
• Now take a little dough, roll it into a ball, flatten it well, shape the edges into a flower pattern.
• Put a spoonful of the filling onto the dough and seal it.
• Put the dumplings in a muslin cloth and steam them for 10- 15 minutes. Serve.

Spicy Kozhukatai Recipe:
Ingredients:
1 cup rice flour
1+1/2 cup water
1/4 th tsp salt
5-6 Chopped mint leaves
1 teaspoon olive oil
For the filling:
1/2 cup whole red lentil (whole masoor)
1/2 cup whole green lentil (whole green moong)
1 chopped onion
1-2 chopped green chillies
3-4 chopped garlic pods
1 small chopped tomato
Few chopped coriander leaves
2 tsp tomato ketchup
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon red chilli flakes
1/2 teaspoon chat masala

1/2 teaspoon black salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
Prepare filling:
• Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil and splatter some cumin seeds and curry leaves.
• Add chopped onion and saute till soft.
• When onion becomes soft add chopped garlic and chopped green chillies.
• Add chopped tomato and salt. Give it a good mix and cook for 3-4 minutes.
• Add the soaked lentils. Before adding discard the soaked water.
• Mix well and cover. Simmer and cook till lentils become soft.
• When lentils cooks completely, add tomato ketchup to bind the ingredients.
• Adjust seasoning and sprinkle some chopped coriander leaves and remove from heat.
Prepare Kozhukatai:
• In a deep dish, boil water with ghee. Add the salt and flour. Mix well.
• Cover the dish and cook till its half done.
• Spread some ghee on the base of a steel bowl and while the dough is still hot, knead it well.
• Now take a little dough, roll it into a ball, flatten it well, shape the edges into a flower pattern.
• Put a spoonful of the filling onto the dough and seal it.
• Put the dumplings in a muslin cloth and steam them for 10- 15 minutes. Serve.

Tuesday 27 August 2019

How to choose the perfect Fitbit for you?

How to choose the perfect Fitbit for you?

For many, Fitbit is almost synonymous to a fitness lifestyle tracker.
Such has been the impact of the company.  The range of wearables from Fitbit include options that will satisfy the great majority. That’s as long as you pick the right one for you. Here is a guide that could help you choose the perfect Fitbit. Fitbit now available in Viveks!

Fitbit Inspire HR:

The Fitbit Inspire HR is an upgrade from the Fitbit Inspire tracker. It comes with all-day sleep and activity tracking, smartphone notifications, clock faces and interchangeable straps. It has a touchscreen display, is swim proof and it offers automatic exercise recognition too. What makes it better is the added features such as heart rate monitoring, more advanced sleep data, VO2 max, goal-based exercise modes and connected GPS. Enjoy up to 5 days of battery for daily progress without constant charging.


Fitbit Charge 3:

The Fitbit Charge 3 offers everything the Inspire HR does, that includes swim tracking and goal-based exercise. If you like the fancy bells and whistles of more expensive fitness trackers and running watches, then the Fitbit Charge 3 is the way to go. It has more advanced smartphone notifications, like quick replies for android users and an altimeter that helps in measuring the altitude. Battery lasts up to 7 days for continuous access to insights and inspiration. Use 15+ exercise modes, set goals, see progress in real time and learn how to improve over time. 





Fitbit Versa: 

The Fitbit Versa is an upgrade from just being a fitness tracker to an all round fitness cum smartwatch product. It’s better-looking and more lifestyle-friendly. Battery lasts for more than 4 days. Amplified brightness up to 1000 nits & durable screen made from Corning Gorilla Glass 3.
The Versa has phone-free music, which the Charge 3 does not have. 


Fitbit Versa Lite:

The Fitbit Versa Lite Edition offers a middle ground between the Charge 3 and the standard Versa smartwatch in terms of features and price. The Versa Lite Edition does not have the in-built GPS and an altimeter, but has the same features as the Charge 3, including swim proofing, apps and designer accessories. The smart track feature automatically recognizes and records activities like running, sports & aerobic workouts. Works round the clock with battery life that lasts longer than 4 days. 


Fitbit Ionic:

The Fitbit Ionic is the most high-end Fitbit device, as well as being the most feature rich. The exercise and activity tracking is the best you’ll get from any Fitbit tracker in the market. As you would expect from a top-end model, there’s built-in GPS, which is missing from the Fitbit Versa, onboard storage for your music, payments and other features that make it the best tracker to take along with you. Start dynamic personalized workouts on your wrist with step-by-step coaching. The GPS battery life lasts up to 10 hours. Access your favourite apps for sports, weather and more and make payments on the go with a built-in NFC chip. 



Tuesday 6 August 2019


Aadi – The Monsoon Festival Of Tamil Nadu



The Aadi month is the fourth month of the Tamil Calendar when monsoon starts. Aadi is the month of festivities related to the goddess of fertility and prosperity.  This year Aadi falls from July 17th  to August 16th.

The time is considered inauspicious for major functions like marriage, housewarming or starting a new business. This month marks the change in the position of the Sun from Uttaraayanam (northward) to Dakshinayanam (southward). Aadi Festival is mainly celebrated by women who offer prayers on river banks, lakes, wells and water tanks which become full during the rainy monsoon. This kind of worship is believed to provide prosperity, peace, and happiness to all people. It is during this time that the monsoon peaks on the west coast and the rivers of Tamil Nadu that go dry in the summer heat, get replenished, often to near full levels. The first day of Aadi, called Aadi Pirappu falls on July 17th, marks the beginning of the month. Pooja rituals are done followed by a feast with payasam. Newly married couples are invited to the in-law’s house and blessed with gifts and new clothes.

The auspicious days of the Aadi month are Aadi Sundays, Aadi Tuesdays (Aadi Sevvaai) and Aadi Fridays (Aadi Velli) where rituals are performed and the Goddess Amman is worshiped.

Varalakshmi Pooja which is on August 9th is an important ritual day that is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and is performed on a Friday that is right before the full moon day in the month of Aadi.

The no moon day known as Aadi Amavaasai which falls on 31st July is observed in places like Agni Theertham at Rameswaram and Thriveni Sangamam in Kanyakumari to help ancestral souls attain salvation.

Tamil Goddess Andal's (a manifestation of Goddess Lakshmi) birthday is seen as Aadi Pooram. Vishnu Temples in Tamil Nadu observe Aadi Pooram as a 10 day celebration by offering special poojas. Aadi Pooram and Aadi Perukku both fall on August 3rd this year.
Aadi Perukku (August 3rd)  or Padinettam Perukku is celebrated on the 18th day. Aadiperukku is extremely special in the Kaveri delta.

This celebration is particular to all the perennial river basins and lakes of Tamil Nadu, and is intended to celebrate the rising water level which ideally happens on the eighteenth day of the solar month. Hence “Padinettam Perukku” – Padinettu signifies eighteen, and Perukku denotes rising.  The last day of the Aadi month is also called Aadi Iruthi which denotes the end of the celebration.

People from various parts of Tamil Nadu still remember the departed souls of women upon the arrival of Aadi Iruthi, and offer exceptionally prepared food to their souls.

The Aadi Festival is exceptional because it brings families, friends, and all people together. All prayers and rituals bring harmony, religious amicability, and help trade and business to prosper. Tamil Nadu, a significant state delivering agricultural products and vegetables is gifted with this routine of observing Aadi as a significant festival.

This year, Viveks celebrates Aadi in an exceptional way by giving high discounts and valuable gifts at all outlets in Tamil Nadu other than Chennai. Celebrate Aadi with us and get free javuli such as pant, shirt, saree and salwar material when you purchase for Rs.5,000 and above.