Pongal is the Hindu harvesting festival of India and is known by different names all over the country. It is celebrated over 4 days in the Tamil month Thai of the Tamil Solar calendar in dedication to the Sun God as a way of saying Thanks for the growth and harvest of the crops.
Pongal is the name of the festival and also the name of the dish that is prepared this day and means - to boil and overflow represents the dish that is cooked with rice, jaggery and milk which boils and overflows the pot. Traditionally it is cooked in earthen pots using open fire with logs and cooked under the sun, outdoors and offered to gods. Festivity also includes elaborate kolams - artwork on the floor using colored rice flours, decorating the cows and worshipping them, offering prayers in temples and getting blessings from elders.
Bhogi Pongal:
This is the first day of the 4-day festival and also marks the last day of the Marghazi month. This day is celebrated by discarding old stuff and cleaning the house. As a kid I remember we used to raise bon fires in front of our house and burning away the old things. We also celebrated this day every year in our village temple in Vadakkupattu and the event is called Bhogi Utsavam. This utsavam is still celebrated now in the temple. Prayers are offered to the god and after that elaborate prasadam would served to all the people attending the event usually is - sundal, puliyodarai, sakkarai pongal, pongal, kovil dosa and thayir sadam.
Thai Pongal:
This is the most important day of the Pongal festival and marks the day 1 of the Thai month. Sakkarai pongal and Ven Pongal are offered to god, thanking for last year and praying for the years to come. Traditonally as mentioned above the pongal is cooked in the open under the sun in clay pots. The verse 'Pongalo Pongal' is said the moment the rice boils over the pot. Now a days it is made in a pressure cooker for ease. a piece of whole turmeric is tied to the vessel with a yellow thread and then the pongal is cooked.
We ensure that we make use of all the vegetables in the cooking during the days of the Pongal since it is the festival of Harvest. I remember when I was a kid, my family used to make variety of chips during the pongal time.
Kanu Pongal | Mattu Pongal
This is the 3rd day of the festival where Kanu Pidi is kept by girls and ladies praying the welfare of their brothers. A fresh turmeric leaf is placed in an open area and small balls of colored rice is kept on the leaf. This rice is usually leftover from the previous day, mixed with turmeric powder for yellow color, along with sakkarai pongal, ven pongal and plain rice. This is usually kept for the birds to feed on. Brothers also pay special tribute and give gifts for their sisters.
Mattu Pongal is celebrated in the villages by decorating the cows and bulls and worshipping them.
Usually mixed variety rice is prepared on this day:
Kaanum Pongal
This is the last day of Pongal festival and as the name means, it is when we visit elders to get their blessings. There are many social events organized on this day to strengthen the bonds.
Other Recipes for Pandigai Thaligai:
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