Maa Vilakku Recipe | Maavilakku Maavu Recipe Using Rice Flour | Karthigai Deepam Recipes

March 6, 2025 | By
Maa vilakku
Maa vilakku /  Rice flour Lamp in English is an edible lamp made using rice flour, jaggery, honey and ghee. Maavilakku is a must and should neivedyam recipe in all our households for Karthigai deepam and Aadi month to offer Amman. My mom and mil makes different naivedyam recipes to God for karthigai deepam but offering maavilakku maavu is a common practice for both of them. Not only for Karthigai deepam , we make it during tamil month Aadi, Thai and Purattasi sani. Actually maavilakku maavu has to be made by mixing jaggery with home made processed wet rice flour. 
My MIL follows this procedure. But my mom makes it very simple using store bought rice flour. It can be done in minutes. Though I follow my MIL’s procedure, I thought of sharing my mom’s easy version with simple decoration in my blog. I have shared some tips and tricks from my mom to make a perfectly shaped maavilakku without losing its shape. For people who are not able to soak and grind the raw rice, this version would be useful. Do try this easy maavilakku maavu recipe with step by step pictures and video. Let me know your feedback.
I wish you all a very happy karthigai deepam, enjoy the festival of lights.

Do check out my other Karthigai Deepam Recipes too.

Maa vilakku

Maavilakku recipe

Maavilakku recipe Maavilakku maavu recipe using store bought rice flour for karthigai deepam. It can be done in minutes.

Cuisine: South Indian Category: Sweet Yields: 2
Prep Time: 5 Minutes Cook Time: 5 Minutes Total Time: 10 Minutes

INGREDIENTS
1 cup – 250ml

To make the maavilakku maavu

  • Store bought rice flour/ arisi maavu/ idiyappam flour  – 1/2 cup
  • Grated jaggery – 1/2 cup
  • Ghee – 2 to 3 tbsp (6 tsp, unmelted,thick ghee)
  • Honey – 1/2 tbsp ( 1.5 tsp)
  • Cardamom powder – 1/2 tsp

To make lamp

  • Thread/thirinool – 1 no
  • Ghee – 2 tsp(melted)
  • Kumkum and turmeric – little
HOW TO MAKE INSTANT MAAVILAKKU – METHOD

  • Take the rice flour and grated jaggery in a mixie jar. Pulse it 3-4 times. Do not grind continuously. But make sure, they are mixed well without any lumps. ( I got this tip from sharmi’s blog, thank you sharmi .) As the rice flour is dry, it will absorb all the water from jaggery.

maavilakku maavu step by step

  • Remove in a plate. Make a dent and add the thick, unmelted ghee. (The key here is if you use melted ghee, you can shape it easily but later on as the ghee hardens, maavilakku will also become hard. So if you use unmelted ghee, maavilakku will stay soft without losing its shape and taste). 
  • Initially add 1 tbsp and mix well. Again add 1/2 tbsp more, mix well. Add 1.5 tsp honey and mix well. Try to make a ball. Roll it tight between two hands. If it cracks, seal it with fingers. As you roll tight, jaggery will melt because of the heat of your hands and it will make a smooth ball. 

maavilakku maavu step by step 1

  • Make a smooth ball without cracks. Make a small dent in the center using your pointer finger for pouring ghee. Seal with fingers if any crack appears.( I used overall 2 tbsp unmelted ghee)

maavilakku maavu step by step 2

  • Apply turmeric and kumkum on all the sides. Put the thread and lit the lamp. Keep a flower nearby and offer to God.
Note
  • Maavilakku stays good for  a week in room temperature. I have seen people keeping it for months by freezing it. When you freeze the dough, bring it to room temperature before u consume.
  • My mom never use water or milk to make the dough as it reduces the shelf life. But if  you are concerned about adding ghee OR if you can consume it immediately, you can add water or milk to make the dough.
  • You can add more honey if you want to reduce ghee. But reduce the quantity of jaggery accordingly. 
  • Using unmelted, paste like ghee is more important for maavilakku to hold its shape for long time.
  • If you add more jaggery, it may leave water and maa vilakku will lose its shape.
  • For making home made wet rice flour, wash and soak the raw rice/maavu arisi for 30 minutes. Drain the water and spread it on a paper for few minutes. Remove and powder it nicely. Sieve the flour and proceed as mentioned above. 
  • To see the step by step pictures, please click this link. Remember if you are using homemade rice flour, quantity of jaggery and ghee used would be less. 
Maavilakku
Enjoy maavilakku with chopped coconut pieces. Tastes heavenly !
Maavilakku recipe

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17 thoughts on “Maa Vilakku Recipe | Maavilakku Maavu Recipe Using Rice Flour | Karthigai Deepam Recipes”

  14. Veera

    Hai,
    Your vilakku looks awesome. I need one clarification.
    have you joied 2 wicks together?
    Does it matter if the end part which is inside the vilakku separates?
    Thanks,
    Anitha veeravendhan

    Reply
    1. Chitra

      Hi Anitha,It doesn't happen.Its just a single thread.Even if u join,u should roll it tightly so that it won't separate :)

      Reply
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