Hello Friends, Today’s post is all about the most popular Tamil festival, Thai Pongal celebration at home (also known as Makara Sankranti in other parts of India) along with
Pongal recipes link. I have shared the details about Pongal Festival/Makar Sankranti and its pooja procedures of our home along with pictures of our last year celebration. It is purely of Tamil nadu style and it may vary as per your custom and tradition. So this post would be more of essays with images. Please excuse me. I hope this post would help beginners and newly wedded girls to start their Thai pongal festival celebration on their own.
Pongal (Thai pongal/Surya pongal) is a harvest festival of Tamilnadu, South India. It is one of the most important and popular Hindu festivals. This four-day long harvest festival of Tamil Nadu, Pongal is all about thanksgiving to nature and takes its name from the Tamil word Pongal means "boiling over" and is held in the month of Thai (January-February). 'Pongal' literally means overflowing and is named so because of the tradition of cooking the new rice in pots until they overflow, which is a symbol of abundance and prosperity.
Pongal is usually celebrated from January 13 to 16 every year.
In 2019, Pongal takes place from January 14-17. The main festivities occur on January 15. This festival marks a period of plenty, peace and happiness. On the first day known as Bhogi, people clean their homes thoroughly and in the evening, all unwanted goods are lit in a bonfire. The second day is Perum Pongal, the most important. It is also called Surya Pongal because people worship Surya, the Sun God and his consorts.Women decorate the central courtyard of their homes with
beautiful kolams (Visit my in-laws blog for kolam ideas), done with rice flour and bordered with red clay.Traditionally they cook pongal in clay pots on stoves made of stones and offer Sun God along with Freshly grown seasonal vegetables,sugar cane,legumes and pulses. The third day , Mattu Pongal is meant to offer thanks to the cows and buffaloes, as they are used to plough the lands. Jallikattu, a violent taming the bull contest, marks this day. On the last day, Kanum Pongal, people go out to picnic packing Varieties of rice.The festival of Pongal is mainly associated with the rural people. People wish each other on this day. Pongal wishes are exchanged between family and friends, and there are celebrations within the family.
Click this kolam picture to view pongal kolam designs from my in-laws blog :)
Disclaimer : I have shared the procedures based on our tradition. Please take this as a reference, consult the elders of your family and do the pooja as per your practice. Beginners can follow this if you don’t have any specific procedure at home.
.As the chef says,the masala used in this recipe can be used to make Bharwa Shimla mirchi, Bharwan Karela and even stuffed tindora.And this stuffed bhindi fry would be a great side dish for roti/chapathi , simple Veg pulao or any paratha. But i loved to have it as a snack
.Lets see how to cook bharwa bhindi recipe with step by step pictures.
Avarekalu Huli Recipe - Gravy for rice adding field beans 
Spicy,soft dosa made of bottle gourd. 
Eggless Chocolate cake recipe - Moist,soft and spongy 
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Red rice idli,dosa recipe - Healthy breakfast ideas 
.I will try to update this picture with momos soon.Now lets see how to make spicy dipping sauce/chutney for momos.
.I was extremely happy to see the ghee dripping Kesari bath just the way it is served in hotels.Actually i wanted to serve in a banana leaf but i couldn’t get it.So i clicked it by keeping it in a banana leaf plate.Soon I will make Chow chow bath and post it with a good picture
