~Thiruvathira puzhukku~

Thiruvathira is a festival falls on the asterism Thiruvathira in the Malayalam month of Dhanu (December-January). On thiruvathira morning, devotees throng Shiva temples for an early worship which is reckoned as highly auspicious.
Tradition says thiruvathira is celebrating the death of Kamadeva, the mythological God of Love. According to another version, Thiruvathira is the birthday of Lord Shiva. The festival has similarities to adra darshan celebrated in Tamil Nadu.
An observance called Thiruvathira Noyambu is kept by women on this auspicious day, with the prayer to get good husbands ( of course the married ones pray for well being of their husbands) . .On Thiruvathira day we make a special dish called Thiruvathira Puzhukku with eight different tubers . It is also called ettangadi ('ettu' - is eight in Malayalam, angadi- shop in Malayalam where you get the tubers)

Ingredients:
1.Elephant Yam (Chena)- 1/4 kg
2.Taro (Chembu)-2
3.Asiatic yam (Kachil)-1(small size)
4.Sweet potato / madhurakizhangu -1
5.Raw Banana /pacha kaya -1
6.Tapioca (kappa) -1
7.Koorkka  -10
8.cheru kizhangu - 2
9.Red gram / vanpayar -1 cup
10.Grated coconut-2 cup
11. small onions -3
12.green chilly - 2
13.Cumin seeds-1/4 tsp
14.Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
15. chilly powder -1/2 tsp
16.Curry leaves-few
17.Coconut oil-2 tsp
17.Salt

Method:
1.Cook red gram with little salt.
2.Cut all roots  and banana into fairly big cubes.
3.Blend coconut with green chilly, onions and cumin seeds.
4.Cook all vegetables  in a cooker by adding 1/2 cup water turmeric powder and chilly powder. Wait for 3 whistles. Turn off the stove and keep it for 10 minutes.
5.Add the cooked  red gram / vanpayar, blended coconut  mix, enough salt  and curry leaves .
6.Mix well and keep on low flame for 5 minutes.
8.Turn off the flame and add coconut oil  on top.
9. serve with  gothambu rice or kanji.