Karkidakam

When agriculture was the major occupation of Malayalis, they chose Karkidakam for their needed rest due to the unending rains. During Kumbham and Meenam they had to fight with diseases due to scorching heat, so in Karkidakam they revamped and prepared for the next year. It marks the Sun's transition to Karkadaka rashi from Mithuna rashi..

People normally have Karkkidaka Kanji during this month. The ingredients of Karkkidaka Kanji are boiled Navarra ari (rice), Jeerakam, Thiruthalli, Uzhinnigi, Bala, Attibala,Chathurjatham,Jathikka,Gathipathari,Danakam,Kalasam,Assalli,Satkuppa,Manjal ,Kakkankaya, etc.The ingredients are boiled using coconut milk or cow milk along with coconut jagarry and pinch of salt .

This is Aadi for Tamilians and Shravan Month for North Indians. The Sanskrit word Karkkidaka means cancer (in Malayalam Njandu).

The tradition of reciting Ramayanam started from 16th century, when Ezhuthachan wrote Adhyatma Ramayana in the form of Kilippatuu ( narrated by parrot ) in pure and simple Malayalam language which was easily accepted by common people of Kerala, to whom, the grammatically moulded Manipravalam style of literatures was not at all perceivable at that time.

This month - Ammuma would recite -'Balagan Ayodhayil, Araniyan Thanil Poku,Kishkindan Rajanodu, Sundaran Yudham Cheyathu......' and the whole Ramayana.

For people from the cultural capital of Kerala- Thrissur - this month is for Nalambala Darsanam. Nalambala Darsanam involves offering prayers at the Triprayar Sree Rama Temple, Irinjalakuda Koodalmanikyam Temple, Moozhikkulam Lakshmana Temple, and Payammal Shathrughna Temple, which are dedicated to Lord Rama, Bharatha, Lakshmana and Shathrughna respectively, on a single day.

The doors of heaven are open on Karkidaka Vaavu, so do Malayalee's believe. 'MANASSINTE ULLARAKALIL VEDANA CHALICHA SINDHOORAMAYEE VIDAPARNJU ................ ORUVARSHAM MUNPU...';ENIKU KANANAM...',Can I meet him on this day of this month? Will the doors really open? Karkidakam month is dedicated to dead ancestors when Shraddh ritual or pitru tharpan are offered to them.