Monday, January 19, 2015

Our Pongal

The last we celebrated Pongal in our traditional way i.e. cooking in firewood stove, was five years back, on the terrace of our native home in Adyar. Surrounded by close family members, we settled for a firewood stove, enclosed in bricks, and placing a new mud pot atop and calling Pongalo Pongal as the Pongal (boiled rice/milk) overflows the pot, it was quite delight as we ever so directly celebrated the festival under sunlight. Pongal is a festival celebrated esp. to thanksgiving the sun for it’s entice source of energy and other natural elements for helping farmers in good harvesting. Not only farmers, Pongal is believed to bring auspicious to everyone, the way Pongal boils over the pot.

Pongal Kolam
Mom's Pongal Kolam, - in front of the gateway
Shifted to an individual house in 2013, I planned to celebrate the festival in more traditional flavor, bringing my dear ones into another cheerful enclosure of firewood, mud pot and sugarcanes. But nothing worked out and I couldn't make anything as I wished, as I myself suffered with the fracture in my femur. This year, still living in an individual house with enough space to make firewood stove, we went ahead to celebrate the festival, in our personal interest, as it was not possible to recreate a then moment.  I think personally, Pongal is a social festival and it should be celebrated by all together. Not only Pongal, but I think every festival is celebrated to bring togetherness and sharing.

Follows our Pongal Pot: 
Our Pongal Pot 

Pongal Pot - Yet to flow 

Pongal Pot - Overflowing

16 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

what a neat tradition. may your cup runneth over with blessings!

L. D. said...

It looks like a rewarding tradition. The cooking over a fire and waiting for the heat to get to be so intense that all boils over. I have not heard of this holiday of yours before. Thanks for sharing it.

Pooja Mittal said...

happy pongal , i have heard pongal meal is super yummy
good to know you celebrated nicely with wooden stove
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EG CameraGirl said...

Pongol sounds like a fun festival!

Indrani said...

Nice captures of the whole process.
Hope you had a funfilled one. :)

Shreya at Jumbodium said...

Very nice snaps. Too good. Thank u for the share.

Anonymous said...

I really like your mum's design.

Ramakrishnan said...

Nice kolam and Ponga panai !

Destination Infinity said...

The Kolam has been done well. I think we have never celebrated pongal with a traditional pot and wood stove like this!

Destination Infinity

Optimistic Existentialist said...

I would love to see this process in person someday!! Have a great day, Jeevan!

Unknown said...

How neat. Looks like a fun event.

GreenComotion said...

Happy Pongal, Jeevan!
Hope you got to see some beautiful cattle with painted horns.
Peace :)

Uppal said...

Thanks a lot for the narrative underlying the auspicious festival.Now i know the traditions associated with this gala festival of South.

Sandhya said...

Beautiful kolam and pongal paanai too! I can see you enjoyed the festival!

Happy pongal and be happy always, Jeevan!

Meoww said...

Belated Pongal wishes Jeevan! Looks like you had a great Pongal. I love your traditional Pongal preparations! Lovely shots

Twilight Man said...

This festival is meaningful and interesting! I like the colourful kolam.