Atla Tadde is a traditional festival celebrated by both unmarried and married Hindu women of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for getting a husband or for the health and long life of their husbands. It occurs on the 3rd night after the full moon in Aswiyuja month of Telugu calendar, and falls in either September or October in the Gregorian calendar.It is the Telugu equivalent of Karva Chauth, which is celebrated by north Indian women the following day.
Telugu women commemorate Atla Tadde by fasting for a day without food or water. Women perform pooja in the evening and break their fast by eating small Atlu (dosas) after gazing at the Moon.
Following are customs in some places of Andhra Pradesh, India:
This festival is celebrated by women and children.
On eve of this day, they apply Gorintaku (henna) on their palms.
Women and children wake up in the early morning before the sunrise, and have suddi (rice cooked day before night) with perugu (curd) and Gongura chutney.
Unmarried girls and children will play on the streets singing Atla Tadde Song after having suddi until sun rises.
People swing in the Uyyala (Swing (seat)).
People watch the reflection of the Moon in nearby pond or lake after the sunrise welcoming the day.
Pootarekulu (sweet made with rice flour, jaggery, and milk)
Kudumulu (5 for gauri devi) (for yourself and other muttayuduvu 5 each and on 4 kudumulu you place one on top of the 4 and make it as deepam and eat the same after your pooja when the deepam is still lighting)
11 small Dosas (for each)
Toranam for hand (with 11 knots for atla tadde n 5 knots toranam for Undralla tadde)
On this day, some have a custom of preparing atlu and keep those as offering to goddess Gowri, and after they will be distributed to relatives, neighbors as vaayanam. For each muttayduvu (these ladies/relatives fast along with the one who is having this pooja perform). The ceremony includes 11 ladies who already took this vayanam and if your menatta (dad's sister) took this vayanam the rituals continues. To all these 11 ladies you give each 11 atlu with deepam (made of rice flour and ghee and lit in front of goddess Gowri) you offer each lady the vayanam by holding with your sarees palluor kongu...