This year Kanu Pidi is the day after Pongal. Since we are in Coimbatore, we celebrated Kanu Pidi alongwith Rohini, my cousin. Kousalya (my sis-in-law) is also visiting, so it was truly a family get together after many years.
Kanu Pidi and its Significance
Kanu Pidi is celebrated in Tamil Nadu by the womenfolk. It’s prayers for the well being of their brothers. Brothers give/send money to their sisters as their blessings. The spirit is exactly the same as Rakshabandhan in North India.
On this day, womenfolk offer rice balls made of leftover rice to crows and pray for their brothers’ well being. Crows are invoked because of two reasons, they represent our ancestors and a crow never eats alone. It will gather its family before a feast. The Kanu Pidi prayer is “Kakka pidi vechen, Kanu pidi vechen, Kakka koottam kalaiyadha madhiri En koottamum kalaiyama irukkanum”. Loose translation – “I keep these offerings to the crow and pray that we remain close knit as a family, exactly the way the crows are”.
Since am an only child, I prayed for the well being of my cousins, Rajesh and Manish who are adopted by Amma so they are my brothers, my step-brother Kabir, and all of Seshi Maami’s sons. Seshi Maami is Amma’s school friend and neighbour, practically family for 80+ years now. Both the families go back more than 100+ years. Ofcourse didn’t leave out my forever brother Hanuman. It’s because of him that our world goes around. Jai Bajrang Bali 🙏🏿.
The other special thing about Kanu Pidi is that we don’t bathe before the ritual. We take bath and wash our hair after the ritual is completed. Later in the day, a variety of kalanda saatham (rice dishes) are made.
A short video of our Kanu Pidi celebration early in the morning –
Do follow the 90rollsroyces channel on YouTube for more such videos.
Happy Kanu Pidi.
ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः। सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः। सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु। मा कश्चित् दुःख भाग्भवेत्॥ ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥
May all beings be happy, May all beings be healthy, May everyone experience auspicious events and May no one witness sadness. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Do read – Maatu Pongal and Kanu Pidi 2022
#IndianFestivals #HinduTraditions