When a girl attains puberty, we should make her seated and offer her milk and banana. The banana should be cut into small pieces, she should take the banana piece first, and then we offer her milk. We can ask the younger boys in our home to hand her the milk and banana. If the elders give then they have to take bath before proceeding with other duties. If there is no one at home, the mother can place the milk and banana near her and ask the daughter to take them on her own.
There is a custom of giving manjal pongal on that day to the girl. Rice and Toor dal are cooked to a Pongal consistency with turmeric, ginger, pepper and cumin.
On the next day, any food made with Ulundu like vadai or rice has to be given.
On the third day, kunukku made of rice and fried in oil and appam should be given.
On the fourth day, she should apply oil on her head (on her own) and do a head bath. If she could not do it on her own, married women can do so. Then she is made to sit on a plank and nalangu should be applied and she shall be given a new set of clothes (pavadai dhavani), jewels and flowers are to be worn. In certain households they have a tradition of warding off evil by holding a lighted lamp from her head to toe.
Then a gift is given from her uncle, which is gift from the girl’s mother’s side and also from her relatives.
Importantly the girl is given puttu (a sweet dish) to eat. Some houses give puttu on the first day and some give it on the fourth day after the bath.
At the end, this can be concluded with manjal neer (turmeric water) and mangala song.