Festive Relishes : Sankranti - Aish

MAKARA SANKRANTI / PONGAL

On Sankranti, the Sun God as Surya Deva is worshipped and people wear new clothes, pray to God make offerings of traditional food.
They decorate their homes with flowers and by making beautiful Rangolis welcome the Supreme.
In the Tamil language, the word Pongal means "overflowing," signifying abundance and prosperity.

As per the Drik Panchang, Numerous rituals are followed during Sankranti. These rituals vary from state to state and within a state region to region.

• Ritualistic bonfire a day before Makar Sankranti.

• Worshipping Surya Deva, the Sun God.

• Holy dip in sacred water bodies.

• Making Pongal and distributing it as Prasad in Tamil Nadu.

• Performing charity by giving alms to the needy.

• Flying kites especially in Gujarat.

• Worshipping live stocks.

• Preparing sweets made of sesame and jaggery.

• Taking oil bath mostly in South India.

Talking about the Sweets, Pongal / Sankranti is mainly celebrated to cherish and relish the Sweet Pongal [(Sweetened Rice and Dal dish) "Chakkarai Pongal" in Tamil] with our dear ones. Let's taste this delicious dish :

Relishing Recipe 5 :

Chakkarai Pongal

Pongal mainly depicts "Pongu" (Overflow) in Tamil. People pray for Happiness, Prosperity, Good Health and peace to Overflow in abundance when the Sweet Pongal is made.

People make Sweet Pongal either by Cooker or by a Vessel. In Tamil Nadu, People use "Ponga Paanai" (Clay Pot or Brass Pot).

☆ Take 1/2 cup of Split Yellow Gram (Moong dal in Hindi ; Paasi Parupu in Tamil) and dry fry it.

☆ Then along with 1 cup of Rice, wash them and keep aside.

☆ In a Vessel, Boil 1/2 litre Milk, then add the rice along with moong dal in it. Keep it in low flame and stir it occasionally.

☆ Meanwhile, take 1 cup of jaggery, cut to small bits and boil with minimal water, then filter it and keep aside.

☆ Once the rice and dal are well cooked, add the filtered jaggery water and stir well.

☆ Top it with Elaichi, fried cashews, raisins and ghee.

Pongal's delicious customary Sweet Pongal is ready to taste. Yummy and lovable dish by all, this Sweet Pongal is made as any day sweet to relish!

Relishing Recipe 6 :

Avial

Our folks did follow the tradition in preparing this mouth watering dish "Avial", a delicious blend of mixed veggies in coconut and yogurt, on this auspicious day.

A very healthy South Indian dish which could be made on any day, as it contains varieties of vegetables rich in nutrition.

¤ Cut and boil any variety of Vegetables like Carrot, Beans, Potato, Pumpkin, Ash Gourd, Green Peas etc.

¤ Blend 3/4 cup of coconut, 1 tablespoon of Cumin (Jeera), 1 green chilly and 2 tablespoons of rice soaked in water for 30 minutes and make a paste.

¤ Add 2 tablespoons of sour curd to the paste and mix well. Let this be added to the boiling Veggies along with salt.

Tip : According to the spice required, you can add the green chilly while blending or add a green chilly split in the middle while boiling.

¤ Top it with 1 tablespoon of Coconut oil and here, the traditional mouth - watering Avial is ready.

MAATU PONGAL in Tamil Nadu / KANUMA in Andhra Pradesh and Telengana

Celebrated on the third day of Sankranti, Kanuma or Maatu Pongal is a pompous festival for farmers as it is the day for praying and expressing gratitude to their cattle.
This festival is dedicated to cows, bulls and other animals that are part of agrarian economy.

On this day, in most of the homes, people prepare Chitra Annam (Variety Rices) like Lemon Rice, Coconut Rice, Tamarind Rice and Curd Rice.

Traditionally folks say that these varieties of rices are made as it would be simple and quick to prepare after having enormous delicious feasts on the previous days.

Traditions adequate,
Culinaries we create,
Varieties on plates,
Delicious to taste!