Avalu (ఆవాలు) is the Telugu word for mustard seeds. Tella avalu (తెల్ల ఆవాలు) are white mustard seeds – pale yellow-cream seeds, called safed or peeli sarson in Hindi and sarshapa (gaura sarshapa) in Sanskrit puja texts. The dark seeds used for popu (tempering) in the kitchen are ordinary avalu.
Where tella avalu are used
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Homam – offered in the fire in several homams; our Chandi Homam kit includes 50 g.
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Upanayanam – part of the samagri; our Upanayanam kit includes 50 g (100 g in the Sri Vaishnava kit).
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Shanti and raksha rites – in some traditions sprinkled during griha or vastu shanti, as the purohit directs.
How much do you need?
| Occasion |
Usual quantity |
| Chandi Homam |
about 50 g |
| Upanayanam |
50–100 g |
| Other homams |
as your purohit lists – 50 g covers most |
| Several functions in the year |
250 g – 1 kg |
Quantities follow our own homam and Upanayanam kits. Store in an airtight jar; mustard seeds keep for many months.
Questions families ask
What is avalu in English?
Mustard seeds. Tella avalu are white (yellow) mustard seeds; the dark seeds used for tempering are ordinary avalu.
What are mustard seeds called in Telugu?
Avalu (ఆవాలు). White mustard is tella avalu.
Can I use kitchen mustard instead of tella avalu in a homam?
Many purohits specifically ask for white mustard (sarshapa). If your list says tella avalu or white mustard, use these.
Goes well with
Nalla nuvvulu (black sesame) · Havanam powder · Samidhalu · Chandi homam kit
Delivery: shipped across India, ₹100 flat delivery per order. Returns are accepted if an item arrives damaged, defective or wrong.
Buying for a whole puja? Send your samagri list on WhatsApp (+91 81210 07481) and we pack it together, or pick a ready puja samagri kit. For the Telugu, English and Hindi name of every item, see Telugu Pooja Samagri Names.
