Karadaiyan Nombu/Nonbu is a traditional festival of fasting observed in remembrance of the Satyavan – Savitri legend. So this festival is also known as Savitri viratham in Tamil / Savitri Vrat in Hindi. On this day, Women observe fasting and pray for the wellness and long life of their husbands.
This year 2025, it is observed on March 14th, Friday. As it is an important festival of South India, I thought of sharing its pooja procedure/Pooja vidhi and the timings for pooja across the world and slokam in Tamil, English and Sanskrit for beginners.
I wanted to keep a record of all our festival celebrations in my blog for my future reference. So I started with this festival. There is a story/Katha behind this festival and few slokam to recite for married ladies. I have shared it in detail below. Click this link for nonbu adai recipe(Sweet adai and salt adai) for neivedyam.
Significance of Karadaiyan nombu
A princess, Savitri through her devotion saved her husband, Satyavan, from death. So this festival is also known as Savitri viratham in Tamil / Savitri Vrat in Hindi. On this day, Women observe fasting and pray for the wellness and long life of their husbands.
This nonbu/vrat should be done exactly in the time when Tamil month ‘Masi’ ends and the next month ‘Panguni’ starts. I have shared the nonbu timings for different parts of world below. Please check it. Fast is observed from the sunrise on the supposed transition day and ends with the Puja. Women break the fast by eating the Karadai (Made of Rice & dal) preparation with unmelted butter by chanting a slokha given below.
Benefits of Karadaiyan nombu
In short, the reason why this fasting is carried out is that “ Savithri fought with yema (the God of Death) to save her husband’s (Satyavan) life”, the same way the married women should fast on this auspicious day for long life of their husbands. Unmarried woman also observe Karadaiyan Nombu and pray to Goddess to get good men as their husband. Prayers are offered to Gowri Devi and women meditate on Savitiri and wear a yellow thread round their neck as they chant the following slokha/slokam.
Women who are not able to perform this pooja on Nombu day can do this pooja on the following Tuesday or Friday in Panguni month in auspicious time of the day.
Karadaiyan nombu story
Savitri, the only daughter of King Asrapathi, decided to marry Sathyavan, a man destined to die within a year, despite warnings from the palace astrologer. On the day of his predicted death, Sathyavan lay under a tree, and Savitri sat beside him. As he grew weak, the God of death, Yama, appeared to take his soul.
Savitri, devoted to her husband, followed Yama and asked for three wishes in exchange for returning. Yama granted her wishes: her in-laws’ kingdom restored, her parents blessed with more children, and her own future filled with children. Only then did Yama realize he had been tricked into granting Sathyavan life, as Savitri, a chaste woman, would not bear children if Sathyavan were dead.
Reluctantly, Yama restored Sathyavan’s life. Savitri returned to the tree, and as Sathyavan revived, she celebrated by preparing a simple offering of rice and dal, known as Kaaradai nombu adai.
This dish, offered with unmelted butter to Yama in gratitude for saving her husband, marks the Karadaiyan Nombu festival. The story, shared by our fellow blogger Jaishree Mam in her blog, celebrates Savitri’s devotion and triumph.
Click this link for Karadaiyan nombu Sweet adai & salt adai recipes using homemade rice flour in detail with step by step pictures.
Nombu Timings in India
In 2025, the date of Karadaiyan Nonbu is March 14th, Thursday.
Chennai, Tamil nadu
Karadaiyan Nombu on Friday, March 14, 2025
Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham – 06:32 AM to 06:59 PM
Duration – 12 Hours 27 Mins
Manjal Saradu Muhurtham – 06:59 PM
Nombu timings across the world
In United States, For Washington DC
As per Drikpanchang.com
Karadaiyan Nombu on Friday, March 14, 2025
Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham – 07:21 AM to 09:29 AM
Duration – 02 Hours 08 Mins
Manjal Saradu Muhurtham – 09:29 AM
For Sunnyvale, California
Karadaiyan Nombu on Thursday, March 13, 2025
Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham – 07:22 AM to 06:29 AM, Mar 14
Duration – 23 Hours 07 Mins
Manjal Saradu Muhurtham – 06:29 AM, Mar 14
For Newyork, New Jersy
Karadaiyan Nombu on Friday, March 14, 2025
Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham – 07:09 AM to 09:29 AM
Duration – 02 Hours 20 Mins
Manjal Saradu Muhurtham – 09:29 AM
For Los Angeles, USA
Karadaiyan Nombu on Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham – 07:05 AM to 12:16 AM, Mar 14
Duration – 17 Hours 11 Mins
Manjal Saradu Muhurtham – 12:16 AM, Mar 14
Australia
Karadaiyan Nombu on Friday, March 14, 2025
Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham – 07:01 AM to 12:29 AM, Mar 15
Duration – 17 Hours 27 Mins
Manjal Saradu Muhurtham – 12:29 AM, Mar 15
London
Karadaiyan Nombu on Friday, March 14, 2025
Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham – 06:16 AM to 01:29 PM
Duration – 07 Hours 12 Mins
Manjal Saradu Muhurtham – 01:29 PM
Singapore
Karadaiyan Nombu on Friday, March 14, 2025
Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham – 07:11 AM to 09:29 PM
Duration – 14 Hours 18 Mins
Manjal Saradu Muhurtham – 09:29 PM
Malaysia
Karadaiyan Nombu on Friday, March 14, 2025
Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham – 07:20 AM to 09:29 PM
Duration – 14 Hours 09 Mins
Manjal Saradu Muhurtham – 09:29 PM
Dubai
Karadaiyan Nombu on Friday, March 14, 2025
Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham – 06:29 AM to 05:29 PM
Duration – 10 Hours 59 Mins
Manjal Saradu Muhurtham – 05:29 PM
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Karadaiyan Nombu on Thursday, March 14, 2024
Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham – 06:03 AM to 10:16 AM
Duration – 04 Hours 14 Mins
Manjal Saradu Muhurtham – 10:16 AM
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Karadaiyan Nombu on Friday, March 14, 2025
Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham – 06:57 AM to 02:29 PM
Duration – 07 Hours 32 Mins
Manjal Saradu Muhurtham – 02:29 PM
Berlin, Germany
Karadaiyan Nombu on Friday, March 14, 2025
Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham – 06:23 AM to 02:29 PM
Duration – 08 Hours 06 Mins
Manjal Saradu Muhurtham – 02:29 PM
The timings mentioned here are just approximate ones taken from “Drik Panchang” , If you are looking for accurate timings, please use the link below. Mention your city name ( Anywhere in the world) and find the timings and date.
http://www.drikpanchang.com/festivals/karadaiyan-nombu/karadaiyan-nombu-date-time.html
Please note the time of Maasi ending and Panguni starting varies from country to country. If you wish, you can consult your temple priest or check with elders or refer Panchangam. Avoid Rahu kalam and Yama gandam timings for doing pooja. Better to do it before 9pm on festival day.
Women who are not able to perform this pooja on Nombu day can do it on the following Tuesday or Friday in Panguni month in the auspicious time of the day (Avoid rahu kalam and yama kandam) .
Do’s & Dont’s
- There is a saying in Tamil, “Maasikkayiru Paasipadarum”. It means you have to tie the nonbu saradu (yellow rope) in maasi month itself.
- Its not auspicious to perform Pooja (Nombu) at midnight (Agaala neram).
- It is also not auspicious to perform pooja before brahma muhurtham.
- After 9 pm, Ambal becomes ugra swaroopini from Santha swaroopini as per tantra sastram.
- Do not drink Buttermilk on this festival day because there is a saying in Tamil ” Yezhaiyaar nootra nonbai Mozhaiyaar kondu selvaar”.
- Next day morning, give 2 kaar adais to cow (Pasu maadu) if possible. This was done by Savithri to rescue her husband Sathyavaan from Yaman. Because of the above mentioned reasons, if the time falls after 9pm for your location, you can do the pooja from 7 pm to 8.30 pm at night. Otherwise you can perform as per the transition muhurtham from maasi to panguni.
Ingredients required for Pooja
- Rice flour paste (for drawing rangoli) – Refer my in-laws blog for kolam ideas
- Lamps / Vilakku
- Flowers
- Betel leaves, nuts, coconut, banana
- Rice, Legumes ( black eyed peas – We keep a mix of 9 grains) and Unmelted butter.
- Jaggery, cardamom, green chilli, ginger and seasoning ingredients for making sweet & spicy adai.
- Camphor, Incense stick.
- Yellow rope tied with a flower in the center.
- Banana leaf or plates
How to perform pooja
For pre preparatory works, sweep the house the previous day of the festival. Wash the lamps and keep kumkum dots on the eve of festival. Prepare the homemade rice flour, roast and keep it ready for the next day use.On the festival day morning, we wake up early and take head bath. Draw Rangoli/Padi kolam in the entrance using rice flour paste(Maakolam) and in front of the pooja room. If you are fasting till pooja time, you can just drink milk, lemon juice or consume any fruits. Elders and pregnant ladies can take recipes made of raw rice like upma, idli and any side dish without onion, garlic.
Do not drink buttermilk on this day.Roast the black eyed peas/ karamani/ thatta payaru and pressure cook for one whistle. Prepare sweet adai by mixing rice flour and cooked peas in jaggery syrup. Similarly prepare salt adai too. Steam both the adai in an idli pot and set aside. After finishing the neivedyam works, decorate the pooja room. Make yellow thread by greasing a thread with turmeric powder. Tie a flower in the center of rope. The number of threads should be equal to the number of woman+girls at home along with one for Goddess Lakshmi. After decorating the pooja room, light the lamps.
At the time of pooja, wear a silk saree. Keep the Nombu adai with umelted butter on top of adai in the middle of banana leaf or a plate. Keep the broken coconut, betel leaves, nuts and banana and yellow ropes in the edge of banana leaf or plate (nuni ilai). Do the neivedyam, show the dhoop & dheep. Perform Mangala aarti by chanting the slokha.
Karadaiyan Nombu Slokam
The following is the Tamil chant while doing neivedyam.
“உருகாத வெண்ணெயும் ,ஓர் அடையும் நோற்று உனக்கு நான் வைத்தேன் ,எந்நாளும் என் கணவர் எனை விட்டு நீங்காத அருள் தருவாய்” என்று அம்மனை நோக்கி வேண்டி நமஸ்கரிக்கவும்.
“Urukaadha Venneyum oradaiyam naan nootren
Orukkalum en kanavar ennai vittu pririyadhirukka vendum”
which means I offer butter and the rice made out of kaar arisi. Bless me that I live happily with my husband for long.
After doing the pooja, chant the following slokha and then tie the yellow rope.
देवनागरी:
दोरं गृह्णामि सुभगे सहारिद्रम् धराम्यहम् |
भर्थु: आयुश् सिद्ध्यर्थं सुप्रीता भव सर्वदा ||
IAST
doraṁ gṛhṇāmi subhage sahāridram dharāmyaham |
bharthu: āyuś siddhyarthaṁ suprītā bhava sarvadā ||தமிழ்
தோ³ரம்ʼ க்³ருʼஹ்ணாமி ஸுப⁴கே³ ஸஹாரித்³ரம் த⁴ராம்யஹம் |
ப⁴ர்து²: ஆயுஸ்² ஸித்³த்⁴யர்த²ம்ʼ ஸுப்ரீதா ப⁴வ ஸர்வதா³ ||
Meaning : Devi, I am tying this nombu saradu around my neck for the longevity of my husband (Father for unmarried girls). Please bless me.
How to finish the pooja
After finishing the pooja, sit in the same place and tie the yellow rope for Goddess Lakshmi and then tie a rope around your neck by yourself and tie the rope for unmarried girls around their wrist. i.e Married women should tie the thread around the neck by themselves or by a oldest sumangali at home and you can tie the thread for unmarried girls around the wrist.
If you wish, you can fall at the feet of your husband and get his blessings. After tying the rope, take one adai along with unmelted butter and eat it. Give the second adai to your husband. Rest of the adai can be distributed to the members of family. This is how Karadaiyan Nonbu is performed in our house. This procedure may differ as per places. Consult the elders about your family practice and do the pooja.
NOTE : The thread you tied around the Lakshmi / Ambal Idol can be removed after few days once its worn out and it should be tied to a plant or dispersed in river water. The thread tied around the women can be tied to the mangal sutra if you wish OR tie it in a plant or branch of a tree. Women who are not able to perform this pooja on Nombu day can do this pooja on the following Tuesday or Friday in Panguni month on the auspicious time of the day.
Click this link for Karadaiyan nombu Sweet adai & salt adai recipes using homemade rice flour in detail with step by step pictures and video.
Tamil brahmin celebration procedure
FRIENDS, IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR ANOTHER TRADITIONAL NOMBU (As per Tamil brahmins) PROCEDURE AS PER VAITHAKASRI MAGAZINE , PLEASE REFER BELOW:
- Put arisi maa kolam ( Rice flour rangoli) in front of Ambal in pooja room.
- Put one nuni vazhai ilai( Banana leaf) per married women / girl baby in the house.
- The edge of the banana leaf should face North.
- On the edge, place betel leaf & nuts, banana and nombu saradu/yellow rope.
- In the middle, keep two adai / kaar arisi adai with butter on it.
- Keep one extra nombu saradu on the banana leaf of the oldest sumangali/ married women. This is for Ambal/ Goddess.
- If the number of leaves is an odd number like 1,3,5 put one leaf extra and make it to even number like 2, 4, 6.
- Put flower garland for ambal photo and do ashtothra archanai, dhoopam, dheepam.
- Ladies and girls should do prokshanam( sprinkle water 3 times around the banana leaf) saying the following lines.
“Urugaadha vennaiyum ore adaiyum naan tharuven,
Oru kaalum ennai vittu en kanavar piriyadhirukka vendum” .
Pray this to Ambal. The oldest sumangali should tie the nombu saradu to ambal Photo. Then she should tie herself around her neck saying the following slokham.
देवनागरी:
दोरं गृह्णामि सुभगे सहारिद्रम् धराम्यहम् |
भर्थु: आयुश् सिद्ध्यर्थं सुप्रीता भव सर्वदा ||
IAST
doraṁ gṛhṇāmi subhage sahāridram dharāmyaham |
bharthu: āyuś siddhyarthaṁ suprītā bhava sarvadā ||
தமிழ்
தோ³ரம்ʼ க்³ருʼஹ்ணாமி ஸுப⁴கே³ ஸஹாரித்³ரம் த⁴ராம்யஹம் |
ப⁴ர்து²: ஆயுஸ்² ஸித்³த்⁴யர்த²ம்ʼ ஸுப்ரீதா ப⁴வ ஸர்வதா³ ||
Meaning : Devi, I am tying this nombu saradu around my neck for the longevity of my husband (Father for unmarried girls). Please bless me.
After saying this slokha, all the other ladies should say the same and tie the rope in front of Ambal photo.
Eat one kaar adai from your respective banana leaf. Other one is for your husband.
There is a saying in Tamil, “Eezhaiyaar notra nombai mozhaiyaar kondu selvaar”.
So on the whole day, avoid buttermilk. Next day morning, give 2 kaar adais to cow (Pasu maadu) if possible. This was done by Savithri to rescue her husband Sathyavaan from Yaman.
Thanks Vaithikasri for the information. We have the yearly subscription.
www.vaithikasri.com
I hope beginners would find this post useful for performing this pooja. Have a blessed day !
Thanks for visiting this page.
Excellent girl! Thanks for writing such an elaborate post on this Poojai!
Thank you :)
Asusal chitra, great work,clear presentation!!!,keep it up!!!thanks..
Asusal chitra, great work,clear presentation!!!,keep it up!!!thanks..
Thank u so much Ramya :)
Dedication of ur work is amazing, especially timing also u mentioned clearly for us. Superb 👍🏻
Thanks a lot Sankar saranya :)
Hello Chitra,
You have explained it really well. I live in USA and as per Central Standard Time the pooja has to be done between 11:48 PM to 12:48 AM. Is it ok to do the pooja at 12:00 AM or should I do it next day before sunrise? I am ok doing the pooja at anytime but just want to make sure if we can do pooja at 12:00 AM? I am living out of a hotel here, I will do the pooja and offer naivedyam to a pocket photo of goddess. since I am staying out of a hotel, I might have to take out the thread immediately from goddess. Is it acceptable? .Could you please help me out? Thanks again for the wonderful post.
Hi, Thanks You can do the pooja before sunrise in your place or 6am whichever is earlier. After tying the thread to the goddess, remove it and tie for yourself. No need to make a thread for you separately. There is no hard or fast rule in our celebration.Doing the pooja whole heartedly matters the most :)
Good job CHITRA. Very detailed post. Useful to all. Keep it up. One more suggestion – You can list out items to be purchased / kept ready both for pooja & neiyediam (ingredients required) in the same post in addition to the link.
Thanks.I have shared them as ingredients list above. In that both neivedyam and pooja items are given :)
Hi Chitra, Im Nithiya Sudhakar. I have a doubt in this nonbu. I have been observing this fasting for past 2 years after getting married.last year October my husband paternal grandmom died.So my family members suggested me not to observe… Do comment on this. Is it ok?? Also what if pregnant ladies or breastfeeding ladies can observe this. Similarly can i do varalakshmi vratam this year..
Yes till this october u should not celebrate any festivals.usually people dont celebrate any for 1 year.Pregnant and breastfeeding ladies, old people are given exceptions from fasting.They can just do the pooja without fasting.This year if varalakshmi vratam falls within october, you cannot observe it.If not you can do the pooja.Hope this helps :) Thanks.
Hi,
Our family wore yellow thread(thaali) not in chain so shall I change my yellow thread on karadian nombu or shouldn't change on that day??
Iam not sure about this. I will ask my MIL and msg u soon. Thanks
Sinduraj, Thaali yellow thread is generally changesd on maasi magam day. It was over on 11 march-17. check this link if you want to read. https://www.ishtadevata.com/blog/maasi-month-significance.html.
Thank you Shalini VijayKumar :)
Hi, there is no practice of doing this pooja in our family. However, I would like to observe this. can I do or it should be done only if u have been doing it in ur family??
Anyone can do this pooja. If you are interested, please go ahead :)
Thanks.In this post you have mentioned that Women who are not able to perform this pooja on Nombu day can do this pooja on the following Tuesday or Friday in Panguni month. In this case, what is the time to do pooja and the time for tying the yellow thread.
You can do at the auspicious time of the day. Avoid Rahu kalam and Yama Kandam. If you are doing before 6 AM, you don't have to look for timings.
Hi sis really appreciate your thoughts on sharing this.. 1st time going to do this pooja. Starting early in the morning we should observe fast till the stated time? And at home I'm the only one going to do this so 1 thread enough or must be 2 including goddess? Pls advise
Hi sis appreciate your thoughts on sharing this. First time going to do this pooja. Starting early in the morning we should observe fast till the stated time? I'm the only one going to do this pooja so should I tie 1 thread or 2 including the Goddess? Kindly advise
Yes, you can observe fasting. But have some fruits, milk or juice. No need to be in empty stomach. Yes, you should keep 2 threads. One for u and one for Goddess.
Very well written and easy to follow especially for a person like me who is from a different cultural background but married to an Iyer.
Thank you. Glad it helps you :)
Hello Chitra, Thanks for the detailed post. Could you please let me know the time to tie the thread in US. I am confused about the timings as people here mention that it is between 8:00 AM to 8:20 AM EST.
Please check this link : http://www.drikpanchang.com/festivals/karadaiyan-nombu/karadaiyan-nombu-date-time.html?year=2017
You can give the city name and year to know the pooja date. For Newark, New Jersy – The timing is : Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham = 07:14 to 08:15
Fast Duration = 1 Hour 1 Min
Manjal Saradu Muhurtham = 08:15
I will mention this point in my post as well. Thanks !
Thank you so much for this useful explanation very neatly written and clear :)
Thank you :)
Thanks a lot. Appreciate your efforts.
Thank you
Hi Chitra, thanks a lot for sharing about nombu procedure…it really helped me to arrange in a perfect manner as this is my 1st time….Thanks again :)
Glad to know. Thank you so much 😊
Can I do the pooja on menstrual days? Please reply
Nooooooooooooooooooooooo
Hi, in 2019, the timings you have given for US are for march 14th evening right?
Hi, on that website link it shows for 14th march and not for 15th. can you confirm which to go by for sunnyvale california. everytime i put details it gives me timing for 14th march only
Yes you are right. For US, its on 14th march only.
For Sunnyvale, California : March – 14th
Karadaiyan Nombu Vratham = 07:25 to 17:25
Fast Duration = 10 Hours 0 Mins
Manjal Saradu Muhurtham = 17:25
I have updated this point in the post as well. Thanks for the query.
Hi Sowmya, Its on 14th March only. Please check drikpanchang.com for proper timings and date for your place.
I got little bit late for tie nobum what to do it was 5.44
That's ok. Carry on.
Hi am from Malaysia, according to the timings given only one hour of fasting is required ?
Yes, as per Drikpanchang its just 1 hour.
Hi mam. Is the fasting time starts from today morning to tomorrow or from tomorrow. When to break the fast? I have confusion in that. Kindly help
Just fast on the day of pooja. Iam going to follow that :)
Day of pooja meaning fast only tomorrow?
Hi, as per the panchangam timings we should fast for 24hrs (one day) i.e from 14th morning 6 am to 15th morning 5:30 am. You can consume fruits, milk, fruits juice, tender coconut water. Do not drink buttermilk. If you are not able to take liquid diet during fasting, you can consume tiffin items like idli, rice upma, javvarisi upma, kanji, chapathi with no onion no garlic side dishes. Avoid taking meals during fasting.I am having tiffin items today.
You can break the fast by eating an adai after pooja tomorrow morning at 5:30 am. Hope I have cleared your doubt.
Hi for India we start fasting from today morning to tomorrow morning?
Hi, yes as per the panchangam timings we should fast for 24hrs (one day) i.e from 14th morning 6 am to 15th morning 5:30 am. You can consume fruits, milk, fruits juice, tender coconut water. Do not drink buttermilk. If you are not able to take liquid diet during fasting, you can consume tiffin items like idli, rice upma, javvarisi upma, kanji, chapathi with no onion no garlic side dishes. Avoid taking meals during fasting.
Hi mam,if we r in India from when should we fast n when should we break the fast,please give the timings and date properly,what can we have to eat during fast kindly suggest
Hi, yes as per the panchangam timings we should fast for 24hrs (one day) i.e from 14th morning 6 am to 15th morning 5:30 am. You can consume fruits, milk, fruits juice, tender coconut water. Do not drink buttermilk. If you are not able to take liquid diet during fasting, you can consume tiffin items like idli, rice upma, javvarisi upma, kanji, chapathi with no onion no garlic side dishes. Avoid taking meals during fasting.
Hi mam,plz confirm the fasting timings and date,from when to when,kindly suggest what kinds of food we can consume during fasting
Hi, yes as per the panchangam timings we should fast for 24hrs (one day) i.e from 14th morning 6 am to 15th morning 5:30 am. You can consume fruits, milk, fruits juice, tender coconut water. Do not drink buttermilk. If you are not able to take liquid diet during fasting, you can consume tiffin items like idli, rice upma, javvarisi upma, kanji, chapathi with no onion no garlic side dishes. Avoid taking meals during fasting.
I got late for time what to do help me
That's ok. Tie the rope. Avoid rahu kalam and yama kandam.