Hanumanth Jayanthi | Milagu Vadai | Anjeneyar Vadai

Hanumanth Jayanthi is celebrated twice a year. Once in the month of Marghazhi (Dec-Jan), the day is celebrated to mark the first time Hanuman met Rama, the second time to celebrate the birth of the Lord, usually falls on the 15th day of the month Chitirai. This time it is April 8th this year - 2020.

Hanuman is the monkey god and the son of the god of wind. He is known for his extraordinary daring feats, strength and loyalty to Lord Ram. Lord Hanuman stands for pure devotion, complete surrender and absence of self ego or the lower self. He is the incarnation of Lord Shiva, and was said to be born after 12 years of prayers to Lord Shiva by his parents - Anjana and Kesari.
His exploits are well narrated in the great hindu scripture - Ramayanam.

It is said by chanting his moola mantra - 'Om Hanumathe Namah' gives us the power to overcome obstacles and problems in one's life. It is also a very powerful mantra for success.

Vada malai is often offered to Lord Hanuman in the temples. It is a garland made of milagu vadai.
Below is the recipe of the Hanuman Vadai, as I offered it to him on the auspicious day of Hanuamth Jayanthi.

Makes 25-30
Ingredients Required:
Urad Dhal - 1 cup
Rice Flour - 1 tsp
Pepper Corn - 2 tsp
Salt - to taste
Oil - for deep frying

How to make:

1. Soak the urad dhal in water for 30 minutes
2. Drain the water and grind to a coarse paste in a blender, without adding water.
3. You can sprinkle water in intervals, but limit to a tsp in total.
4. Add pepper corns and salt.
5. Pulse for a couple of times to crush the pepper corns.
6. Take it out in a mixing bowl and add the rice flour and 1 tsp of hot oil. Mix well.
7. Make equal shaped balls and set aside.

How to shape:

1. Keep a cup of water and oil.
2. Take a ziploc bag and apply a few drops of oil to grease the surface
3. Place a ball of dough on the ziploc.
4. Wet your fingers with water.
5. Gently press the dough with your fingers to make a flat circle. Make it as thin as possible.
6. Make a hole in between using your finger.
7. Gently peel the vadai and drop in oil.
8. Repeat this for all the dough.

How to fry:

1. Heat oil for deep frying in a heavy bottom pan.
2. Check the temperature of the oil by dropping a pinch of dough to the oil. If it rises up to the top immediately then tit is ready to fry.
3. Drop the vada to the oil and fry till golden brown on both the sides. Flip when needed. 
4. Remove the vada from the oil when the oil bubbles die.
5. Drain the oil by placing them on paper towel and store in air tight container when cool.

How to offer to Lord Hanuman:

Take a string and make a garland by stringing through the holes of the vada.
Offer the garland to the Hanuman deity.