After about 6 years I was motivated to write a post on this blog. Recently we had a divine experience of hosting Sri Ahobhila Muth Navaneetha Krishnan Perumal Thirumanjanam at our house. While we were prepping for this event, I constantly thought about how my paatis and chittis maintained Madi in the house. For them it was an everyday affair and not on one single day madi was jeopardized (Shhhhh!!! The days when Swetha gargled on the Nadu Mitham were exceptions).
We had three kitchens in Chidambaram. One was popularly called as a Coffee Hall. Here is where a Gas Stove with a cylinder present. Ladies in six yards Sarees are allowed in this hall. Only Coffee could be prepared in this kitchen. Our Raju Thattha's duty is to make filter Coffee in the morning for all the household members and can be drunk before taking shower. Occasionally Radha chitti makes Aloo Gobhi in this kitchen. Only grand kids could enjoy that as it might have Onion Garlic. Other than that, this kitchen is just used for storage.
Then comes the main kitchen where Thenpadi Thaligai is made. As far as I remember, there was no gas stove brought to this kitchen. All food were prepared with a regular veragu aduppu and I have seen only Booma Patti as the chief chef cooking all during the day. This kitchen is a big space with a nadu Mitham. Married Ladies should wear Madisar to enter in this kitchen. They are allowed to change only after the Perumal Aradhanm is over. This Thaaavaram has a perumal Modai where our Thatha does daily aradhanam for perumal. There is also a big space for us to sit and eat and is immediately Shanitized (I think Sanitizer must have been derived from here) after the meal is over.
There is another exclusive kitchen maintained for Madi Thaligai (extra special for days when strict Madi has to be maintained) No one enters this kitchen (Well Nobody saw us here when we played Hide and Seek :0)) I have seen Thaligai being made in this kitchen twice in my lifetime, Once for Pongal and once again for Mangali pondugal.
Kodi madi is seen on almost every ceiling of the kitchen and Kolla thavaram. Badri was a baby then, and nobody else could have reached that high. There were always extra Madi clothes hanging during emergencies. Madi sarees and Veshtis are hung there immediately after they are washed and are left for drying.
We had three kitchens in Chidambaram. One was popularly called as a Coffee Hall. Here is where a Gas Stove with a cylinder present. Ladies in six yards Sarees are allowed in this hall. Only Coffee could be prepared in this kitchen. Our Raju Thattha's duty is to make filter Coffee in the morning for all the household members and can be drunk before taking shower. Occasionally Radha chitti makes Aloo Gobhi in this kitchen. Only grand kids could enjoy that as it might have Onion Garlic. Other than that, this kitchen is just used for storage.
Then comes the main kitchen where Thenpadi Thaligai is made. As far as I remember, there was no gas stove brought to this kitchen. All food were prepared with a regular veragu aduppu and I have seen only Booma Patti as the chief chef cooking all during the day. This kitchen is a big space with a nadu Mitham. Married Ladies should wear Madisar to enter in this kitchen. They are allowed to change only after the Perumal Aradhanm is over. This Thaaavaram has a perumal Modai where our Thatha does daily aradhanam for perumal. There is also a big space for us to sit and eat and is immediately Shanitized (I think Sanitizer must have been derived from here) after the meal is over.
There is another exclusive kitchen maintained for Madi Thaligai (extra special for days when strict Madi has to be maintained) No one enters this kitchen (Well Nobody saw us here when we played Hide and Seek :0)) I have seen Thaligai being made in this kitchen twice in my lifetime, Once for Pongal and once again for Mangali pondugal.
Kodi madi is seen on almost every ceiling of the kitchen and Kolla thavaram. Badri was a baby then, and nobody else could have reached that high. There were always extra Madi clothes hanging during emergencies. Madi sarees and Veshtis are hung there immediately after they are washed and are left for drying.
