Kiri Amma Dana

When a Sri Lankan pregnant mother reaches her due dates, she/ her family member settles a "Panduru." (Panduru- a purified coin is tied in a piece of clean cloth in the name of the goddess "Paththini"- a Hindu goddess, expecting her blessings.) When the baby is 3 months old or so they prepare offerings for the goddess as a thanks giving for protecting the mother & the baby from delivery up to the moment. This offering is called "Kiri Amma Dana." Kiri= Milk Amma= Mother Dana= Offering This means offerings for mothers having their own children. Milk (Kiri) means these mothers breastfed their children with milk. How Kiri Amma Dana is done? This offering is given to 7 mothers (or multiples of 7). A mother who, 1. Gave birth to one/ more children & if all of her children are living 2. Not a widow 3. Has an appealing character is eligible to accept the offerings in Kiri Amma Dana. The offerings per head include, 1. 7 pieces of milk rice 2. 7 pieces of oil cake 3. 7 fruits of banana 4. 7 pieces of milk dodol ( prepared using coconut milk & sugar.) 5. A gift ( clothes, money, or anything) Kiri Dodol & Milk rice are compulsary food items in this activity. Any sweet preferred can be offered additionally. The function begins before sun rises, at about 5.30 a.m. The Kiri Ammas ( selected mothers ) reach the home where the function takes place, singing special words. They are welcomed respectfully by washing their feet. They enter into the house & sit on the places set on the floor. There they sing for the goddess & bless mother & the baby. Finally offerings are given. Coconut milk Coconut milk represents breastmilk in this function. Main foods offered at this function, Milk rice and Milk Dodol are prepared from Coconut milk. How to arrange? 1. You should select a date & invite the mothers. There are groups in villages who participate for these Kiri Amma Danas. You can find one member of such group and invite her offering a bunch of betel placed on a plate. Place a leaf of dried tobacco and a sliced arecanut additionally . 2. Before the function clean your house. Wash the room where all activities take place with water mixed with a bit of Turmeric powder. 3. Prepare all foods going to be offered. Milk rice & milk dodol should be prepared few hours before the function. 4. Prepare seats for the mothers. All seats should be on floor. Place a cushions on the floor & cover them with a white cloth. 5. Place a table in front of the prepared seats & cover it with a white cloth. Offerings for the Goddess should be placed on this table. Light an Oil lamps for the Goddess before the function getting started. 6. Place a bowl of water at the main door of the house as the feet of the mothers should be washed by a family member. When the mothers arrive welcome them by washing their feet. Then they will be seated and begin their chanting. After that place a banana leaf in front of each mother and place the offerings, foods and gifts. Finally they would wrap and take away the offerings with them. Before leave they bless all gathered with the wicks of lit oil lamps. They leave quenching those wicks by dipping them in water bowl placed at the entrance. Customs associated with Kiri Amma Dana 1. All offerings should be kept in containers counting 7 for each container. When they are offered to mothers this maximizes the participation of all relatives and family members. One can carry one container and offer the contents to mothers, sitting on the floor. 2. The mothers who are leaving the house when the function is over should not talk to each other or turn back until they enter into their own houses. This custom avoid discussing shortcomings of the function & gossips of family members where the function has been done. Milk Rice- The Recipe Ingredients: 3 cups of White Rice 5 cups of water First cream of 1 Coconut Salt to taste Method: Clean and wash the rice. Put the rice in a pan and add 5 cups of water. Place the pan on a hearth and bring the water to boil. Then cover the pan and cook the rice under low heat. When the rice is cooked mix the salt with the coconut milk and add to the rice on hearth. Stir and cook for a few more minutes. Serve the hot rice on to a plate and flatten it using flat spoon or spatula. Cut into squares of 1" size. Kiri Dodol- The Recipe Ingredients: 250g of Flour 1/4 ts of ground Cinnamon 250ml of thick Coconut Milk 225g of Jaggery 50g of Cashew nuts Method: Sieve the flour into a bowl. Add the Cinnamon and salt to the flour and mix well in. Gradually add the palm sugar and coconut milk and mix thoroughly. Place mixture in a pan and cook over a medium heat, stirring all the time until it thickens. Chop the Chew nuts. Add the Cashew nuts, mix well, then turn into a flat, buttered dish. Smooth the surface and when cool cut into diamond shaped pieces. Source:http://www.squidoo.com/kiri-amma-dana