Once we hear the word Tulasi, Holy Basil ,we remember two major things - one its great medicinal value and the other a holy plant kept at home and worshipped. The courtyards of Hindu houses have a special structure to house the tulasi plant. It is called the tulasi maadam. There are many interesting stories about this plant.
It is a custom that we offer Modagam/Kolukattai to Lord Vinayaga on His birthday, "Vinayagar chadhurthi"(விநாயகர் சதுர்த்தி) . Let us see an easy to do, delicious kolukattai here.
Ingredients:
For Pooranam:
May Lord Ganapathi give you success in all that you do! Happy Vinayagar Chadhurthi !
Great to see Vinayagar wall hanging especially done in pipal tree (அரச மரம்) leaves itself.
This a view from our balcony and here you can see the cheerful red வாகை மலர் (which in olden days a conqueror wear a chaplet of sirissa flowers and celebrate his victory over royal enemies).
How to prepare:
Grind well the mint leaves and ginger with half a cup of water. Filter and pour it in a vessel. Add lemon juice and 3 cups of water. Finally, salt and sugar is added if needed.
How to do the flower basket:
1. Some dry coir is taken and is painted with green emulsion paint for a leafy effect. Allow it to dry for 24 hours.
2. * The ice cream sticks are arranged in a hexagonal shape and the ends are pasted so that a hexagonal ring is formed. The next round of hexagon is similarly made and fixed such that the first hexagon ring is in inner side and the second outward. Then the third hexagon ring is made and fixed such that the second ring is in inner side and the third being outward and so on. Continue till eight rounds are completed. Now one third of the basket is done. Similarly, repeat from * for two more. Allow them all to dry.
3. Above the first hexagon part, place the second part upside down and the third one as the first. Fix it firmly.
4.For the base which is hollow should be covered with the icecream sticks placing them next to next and by appying the adhesive.
How to do the red roses:
1.Red color paper is cut into squares of 5cm side.
2.Petal shape is drawn and cut. For the bud at the centre, a small piece of red color paper is wound around the string. Keep a petal on the thick string and wind it with a thread then the next petal and wind. Keep going until 8 petals are kept consecutively and at last knot it. Now cut the green color paper in the shape of calyx and leaves.
3.Tie the calyx after the last row of petals are wound. Wind the string with the floral tape for the stem portion. Above that the leaves are pasted at random.
How to do the wall hanger:
1. The square cardboard of 7 inch side is taken.
2. A white sheet is pasted above it and the pattern as shown in the above picture is drawn.
3. Poster or acrylic colors can be used to fill the design pattern. The outlines are given with a golden glitter.
4. Some golden thermacoal (used for decorations) are pasted as shown above. Allow it to dry.
5. The complete cardboard is finally coated with glue & gloss or a transparent plastic sheet is cut to the needed size and pasted for lasting longer.
6. A bunch of pink and maroon color woollen threads are tied to the three corners of the cardboard with some golden thermacoals in it. In the fourth corner left out, a thick thread is tied as a loop so that it could be hung to the wall.
