How to Make a Garland of Soaked Chickpeas

Followers of Hinduism believe that students who desire to excel in education can offer kondakadalai, or chickpea, garlands to Lord Guru Bhagavan. The garlands are draped on statues or pictures of the guru either at a temple or in a home on Thursdays. You can easily make a chickpea, or garbanzo bean, garland and pay your respects to the guru.

Spread out dried chickpeas on a light-colored surface to find and remove debris, small stones and damaged beans. Place 108 chick peas, the number you will need for the garland, in a straight line, and measure the line. Cut a piece of dental floss or cotton thread that is at least twice as long as your measurement. When soaked, the chickpeas grow to twice the size of dried chickpeas.

Place the beans in a strainer, and rinse them thoroughly under cool running water. Put the beans in a bowl or pan, adding two to three cups of water per cup of beans. Put the bowl in the refrigerator and soak the beans overnight or for a minimum of four hours.

Remove any skins that floated to the surface, drain the soaking liquid and then rinse the chickpeas with clean water. Pat the beans dry.

Thread a needle with the floss or thread. Knot one end and start sliding the needle through the chickpeas. When you have used all of your chickpeas, knot the end of the string or floss and cut the thread off. You are ready to make your offering to Lord Guru Bhagavan.