The auspicious Hindu festival of Karwa Chauth is here. Married women across the country are observing a day-long fast today, October 17, 2019. The Karva Chauth 2019 fast is traditionally observed in the states of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. In Andhra Pradesh, the festival is called Atla Taddi. Telugu women of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana observe Atla Taddi or spelt as Tadde with utmost devotion praying for the well-being of their partners. In this article, we will talk about Atla Taddi 2019 date, significance, rituals, traditions and celebrations, which is an association with this Telugu festival of Karwa Chauth.

Significance of Atla Taddi

Where the remaining parts of the country observe Karwa Chauth, married Hindu women of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana celebrate Atla Taddi for the health and long life of their husbands. According to the Telugu calendar, Atla Tadde occurs on the third night after the full moon in Ashwayuja month and falls in either September or October in the Gregorian calendar. The celebration of Atla Taddi is equivalent to Karva Chauth. It is equally promising and observed with much devotion.

Atla Taddi: Rituals, Traditions & Celebrations

On Atla Taddi, Telugu women keep a day-long fast without food or water. They apply Gorintaku, which is Mehndi on their palms. On the day, women and children wake up early before the sunrise and have suddi (rice cooked the night before) with perugu (curd) and Gongura chutney. The ceremony of Atla Taddi includes eleven ladies who already took a vayanam, and if your menatta (dad’s sister) took this vayanam the rituals continue. The eleven ladies are given altlu (mini dosas made of rice flour and ghee) and lit deepam in front of the Goddess Gowri. They are also offered the vayanam, which they will eat to break the fast after uttering the holy words praying Goddess Gowri.

Unlike Karwa Chauth, the celebration of Atla Taddi also includes the children and unmarried girls who play on the streets singing Atla Tadde song after having suddi until the sun raises. People watch the moon in the nearby pond or lake, perform puja and break the fast after having the atlu.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 17, 2019 09:04 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).