The humble, yet complex kozhukattai is a piece of art. Every time I wonder how our ancestors even came up with a dish like this, I feel a sense of awe.

The first thing that comes to your mind when you think of naivedya on Vinayagar Chaturthi is a Modak or Kozhukattai. The sweet preparation on this special occasion of Ganesha birthday, everyhome makes this as prasadam.

Though I grown enough out of childage, I still like to hide snacks from my siblings, I am sure that I would do this with my kids too🤣😂🤣😂.

Just like everytime,  right after the pooja, I came running to get my reserved piece of kozhukattai with little extra 😇 pooranam, hidden safely in the hot pot.. And

And it broke into two in my hand and fall on the plate....

That moment I got transmitted to the sweet memories of  story "A Love shower" by Anu harish SoulfulTulika

That was such a sweet love story with beautiful emotions and  kozhukattai...

My most favorite KMFF till date...

This naivedhyam reminded me about those naivedhyam moments.. 🤣😂🤣😂 I knew that's a naughty thought but I couldn't help myself thinking about that..

And immediately I want to write something on kozhukattai. But definitely I can't write love story with kozhukattai, hence I decided to write this story about kozhukattai itself...

There were lots of memories with kozhukatai for me from childhood. My earliest memory of kozhukatai is a story of Ammini kozhukatai,  which I heard from a naany in our village who makes this special kozhukattai for kids as some easy bites..

PS : This is a heard story and not mine. So you might feel this is as heard or read somewhere.

Long long ago, there was a Ammini Patti in a small village who was making kozhukkattais.

When she had made the upma and made nice round balls of kozhukkattais and put them to be steamed, there came the meaheh, meaheh, sound of Ammini Patti’s favourite cow, Gomu..

Gomu was just returning after grazing in the the near by field for the whole day and now she needed her mineral water which is kalanithanni...

Patti went to the backyard and allowed Gomu into the cowshed and tied her to her post... She then gave gomu her water and Kanji.

After talking to her for sometime (yes, Patti used to talk to gomu, and even to all the things she associated with her routine as if they were her child or friend) Patti went inside.

She opened the pot to see if the Kozhukkattais were done and found that they were not yet properly cooked.

So Patti asked, “Kozhukkattai, Kozhukkattai, aen veakalai?” (Hello Kozhukkattai, why are you not cooked yet)

To which Kozhukkattai replied, “Adupperiyalai, Naan veakalai.” (the stove was not lit, so I am not cooked)

So Patti asked the stove, “Aduppe, Aduppe, aen Eriyalai?” (Oh stove, why were you not burning?)

The stove said, “Veragu vaikkalai, Naan eriyalai.” (Nobody kept firewood, so I did not burn)

Patti turned to her daughter-in-law, “Mattuponne, Mattuponne, aen veragu vaikkalai?” (Oh dear daughter-in-law, why did you not put firewood in the stove?)

Daughter-in-law answered, “Kozhandai azhudduthu, Naan veragu vaikkalai.” (The baby was crying, so I did not put firewood)

Patti cooed to the baby, “Kozhande, Kozhande, een azhuthai?” (Oh my dear child, why did you cry)

The baby wept, “Erumbu kadichuthu, Naan azhuthen.” (Ants bit me so I cried)

Patti approached the ant, “Erumbe, Erumbe, een kadichai” (Oh ant, why did you bite the baby?)

Erumbu said, “En pothukulle kale pottal naan kadikathiruppeno” (Will I not bite if somebody put their foot into the ant-hill?)

The actual story ends here...Many of these Naani stories would appear to end abruptly, there were no solid reason behind it and we never asked for it.

This is a story said in a sing song way and the verses are in rhymes.

At the end of the story, the child is tickled in its foot with the verse, ”En pothukulle kale pottal naan kadikathiruppeno.”

So the story ends there. It is also meant to teach the children not to play with ant-hills, which were plenty those days

Memories are sweeter than a kozhukattais..
Enjoy this little story with some kozhukattai ..

Kathiripoo,  Wishing you all Happy Ganesh Chathurthi 🙏