About Atla Tadde:
The festival of Atla Tadde is celebrated by women for the long life, success, and prosperity of their husbands. It falls during the Telugu month of Aswayuja. It is celebrated for the three days after full moon day. Atla Tadde is dedicated to Goddess Gauri. Atla Tadde is a popular festival of Andhra Pradesh where the married women seek the blessings from Goddess Gauri for a long, prosperous and happy married life. It is observed on the third day of the Shukla Paksha of Aswiyuja month according to Tamil calendar. It is Tamil equivalent of the much celebrated North Indian festival of Karva Chauth.
Legend:
It is believed that Goddess Gauri had suggested unmarried girls observe the ritual of Atla Tadde to get good husbands. As per the legend, a princess kept a fast of Atla Tadde to get a good life partner. But she was unwell and fainted out of thirst and hunger. Her brothers showed her a mirror with the reflection of a ball of fire which looked like a full moon. Princess's brothers were unable to find an appropriate groom for their sister. Hence, they decided to get her married off to an old man. Dejected princess ran away to the forest and started crying under a banyan tree. Goddess Parvati appeared in front of her. She explained to Princess since she had not completed her Atla Tadde, this was what had befallen. The Princess came back to the palace and followed the rituals of Atla Tadde. Soon she got married to a young prince of her choice.
Rituals/ Celebrations:
Atla Tadde is celebrated by married women and unmarried girls. The women wake up before sunrise and eat rice that was cooked the day before, with curd and paste of Gonghura leaves. The married women wear traditional saree and ornaments. The unmarried girls and the young girls sing traditional Atla Tadde songs. Women swing on the Uyyala or the swings. They apply Gorintaku or Mehendi in their hand. At night, after sighting a full moon in a pond or lake women worship Goddess Gauri by offering Paltalikelu, a special sweet made from jaggery, milk and rice flour. The other dishes are Dhal, curd, Gonghura Pachadi, Kudumulu, Seven tiny Dosa, Tamarind rice, and Sambar with eleven types of vegetables. Pot is placed on the rice grains along with Mango leaves, turmeric, coins, flowers, and Kumkum. After worshipping Goddess Gauri, women break their fasts by consuming Atlus or Dosas. Women also recite Gauri Ashtotram. The host who conducts the puja offers Atlus or mini dosa with a lamp made from rice flour and ghee to 11 women. The lamp is lit in the presence of Goddess Gauri. The host should give away the Atlus to the 11 women while holding the sacred offerings with their saree pallus. Some sacred mantras are chanted while giving away the Atlus to the ladies who attend the function. The host and other women who attend the function then break their fast by consuming the Atlus and Palatalikalu.