Happy Pongal

Wishing a very Happy Pongal to all my blog readers and well wishers....Enjoy!

The 3 days we enjoy a festive spread. For Bhogi we prepare Venn Pongal and Poli...of course other items too....but these are must along with a sumptuous meal consisting of MoreKuyambu, Vegetable, Pachadi, Vada etc etc. Actually on Bhogi, we have the custom of burning the old stuff in the house...it is like warding of evil and ringing in good things..

On the day of Sankranthi also we prepare an elaborate meal with the main one being Chakkarai Pongal (with the gosham of Pongalo Pongalo and damaroos)....and also follows with Sambhar, Raw Banana. Rasam, Vadai,...etc etc....After the chakkarai Pongal is made we draw kolam in our backyard and it is shown (thalisamithal/neivedyam) to Sun God takes place before we partake it.

The 3rd day is even more interesting we call it kanu where we go to our terrace or backyard draw kolams and place fresh manjal kiuyangu leaves, vetrilipai pakku, sugarcane bits and place small balls of red rice (basically left over plain rice from Pongal day mixed with kumkumam) and small balls of yellow rice (left over rice from pongal day mixed with turmeric), curd rice and ofcourse chakkarai pongal. We do this for the well being of our brothers ....just like rakhi. I know the kanu day is unique to a very small population in Tamil Nadu. It might sound funny but this is what we say while placing kanu pidi "kaka pidi vechen kanu pidi vechen kakakum kuruvikuum kalyanam"...like rakhi we get bakshish from our brothers .....On Kanu we make only mixed rice like Puliyodharai, Sambhar Rice, Curd Rice, Vadam, Chips etc...Yum right....I am missing all of it...right from the karumbu (sugarcane ) to chakkarai pongal...will try to get the same spirit here too inspite of the snow and gloomy weather!