Good memoir on Pongal; but hotel pongal is nothing but kichadi. Different kinds of Pongal have different kinds of nutrients. Generally pongal has 212 calories with 60% Carbs in 100 gms, which is not good for diabetics generally if taken in high quantities. Fibre is just 9% but healthy food for normal bodies. Sankranti II The best view of a refined article : "Unveiling the Science Behind Indian Rituals of Pongal (Sankranthi)
The festival of Makar Sankranti is celebrated under different names across the country, but it revolves around one central theme — the sun. So, buckle up, my fellow readers, as we explore the rituals behind Makar Sankranti and why they still matter in today’s hustle-bustle. Makar Sankranti isn’t merely a festival; it’s a mosaic of traditions, colors, and connections. As a product designer, exploring the intricate details behind each ritual has heightened my appreciation for the cultural richness embedded in our festivals. Let’s celebrate Makar Sankranti not just as a tradition but as a journey into our shared heritage. During my school days, we used to have a Sankranti vacation spanning 15 days. Yes, the first 15 days of January used to be a lively break. Even though Sankranti officially lasts for 3 days, we extended our celebrations throughout these 15 days. Of course, there was the looming threat of vacation homework, but I would typically tackle that in the final two days of my holidays. I vividly remember counting down each day and planning how to make the most of this extended break. Some days were spent visiting my cousins, while others were dedicated to family gatherings at my grandparents’ homes to celebrate Sankranti. It used to be a truly refreshing break and a fantastic start to the year. Now, I barely get a holiday for Pongal, let alone 15 days of vacation. I don’t even have a holiday on Pongal itself! However, this time, I took a leave explicitly to be with my family and create some memorable moments. What’s more, Pongal fell on a weekend, boosting my enthusiasm to celebrate it with my family. The first thing on my checklist was, understandably, the bus tickets. Last-minute train bookings were nearly impossible, so I focused on securing bus tickets. On regular days, the journey from my place to my hometown costs around 1000/-, but due to the festival season, the ticket prices skyrocketed to 3500/- with taxes! Imagine, the amount I usually spend for a round trip was now just for one way. Look at the economic advantage festivals bring to our nation. Despite this, I managed to arrange my travel and reunite with my family and here you go, i am celebrating it with my family this year! Before we go deeper , Let’s Understand What is “Makar Sankranthi” In India, where 60% of the population is directly or indirectly connected to agriculture, the sun holds tremendous importance. During Makar Sankranti, the sun transits into the northern hemisphere, marking its northward movement. This shift signifies the sun entering the zodiac sign of Capricorn, known as Makar in Hindi, hence the name Makar Sankranti. This festival and its rituals are highly revered in ancient India. It holds immense significance, unlike other festivals, and people tend to follow the traditions without understanding the underlying reasons. For instance, during Makar Sankranti, specific foods such as sesame seeds, jaggery, and khichdi are consumed. The rituals are not just about the taste; they are deeply rooted in the harvesting of winter crops. Interestingly, in North India, the festival is often called “Khichdi,” emphasizing the diversity in the country’s cultural practices. Without understanding its significance, people follow the tradition like a rtual. As we uncover the scientific evidence behind these rituals, it’s essential to question and seek knowledge about our traditions. I am fortunate enough to have grandparents at home,which made me engage in conversations with them to understand our cultural heritage.But don’t worry, i will try to uncover the scientific reasons behind major rituals of sankranthi. Makar Sankranti holds immense significance in India, taking place over three consecutive days on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of January, nearly the same dates each year. Unlike other festivals, it occupies a distinctive and special place in the cultural calendar. 13th January — Day 1- Bhogi The festivities commenced with the preparation of Sankranti foods. My mom and I collaborated to make a sweet called “Arisalu,” crafted from rice flour and jaggery. The process was intense, focusing on proportions and details. Thankfully, with my mom’s expertise, we achieved a delicious and satisfying outcome. And its not just Arisalu, there are lot more sweets which we tend to prepare during the festivals, as these sweets were made at home with love and warmth, they are not harmful for your body, they provide perfect protien unlike outside junk food. So if you see, the foods which are prepared are stored for longterm use and these sweets acts as a catalyst to bring bond between neighbours, friends and family. I remember mom packing various sweets together into packets and used to send me and my brother across the neighbourhood to share the sweets, this bonded us together and formed a community. The 1st day is called Bhogi and it is dedicated to deep clean the house. Bhogi kicks off with a traditional bonfire, typically set up in front of the house. This bonfire ritual involves gathering various unused items, predominantly wooden articles, and arranging them together to be burnt. As the flames dance and flicker, a collective gathering forms around the fire. During this communal moment, prayers are offered to invoke the divine, seeking the removal of all negative energies and undesirable elements from our lives. It’s a symbolic act of purification and renewal, creating a shared space where the community comes together to embrace positivity and let go of the past. Bhogi was not a simple ritual; it was a holistic experience. Discarded items, from old clothes to worn-out utensils, weren’t cast away randomly; they found a place in a designated farewell corner. This corner wasn’t just a pile of discarded items; it was a visual metaphor for closure. It seemed as if the objects themselves participated in a collective goodbye, grateful for their service. Further for deep cleaning, We even used a mixture of cow dung and water to clean front courtyard and the surrounding. This unique blend not only reduced dust but also acted as a protective spray, fending off mosquitoes and harmful bacteria. Afterward, my brother and I ventured out to shop for kites and rangoli supplies, including colors and other essentials. Meanwhile, my mom and I engaged in selecting the most suitable rangoli designs for our house, considering factors like our skills, available time, and resources. Once we made our choice, we enthusiastically embarked on the process of creating vibrant rangolis. Rangolis play a pivotal role in festivals, particularly during Sankranti. It’s not just about creating intricate designs; it involves incorporating various elements that add a unique touch to the artwork. The Rangoli Metaphor: Imagine crafting a rangoli with flour — it’s like sketching mobile wireframes during the prototyping phase. The precision and attention to detail matter, just like in the initial stages of designing. Now, when it comes to choosing colors for the rangoli, it’s almost like working on high-fidelity screens. Each hue is selected thoughtfully, contributing to the overall visual appeal. As the final touch, we elevate our rangoli to a mockup level by embellishing it with flowers and gobbema. This not only adds a three-dimensional aspect but also enhances the aesthetic charm. But here’s where it gets interesting — adding wheat grains, rice, etc. This isn’t just about symbolizing the harvest season, although that’s significant. It’s also about extending an invitation to our feathered friends. Placing rice or wheat grains on the rangoli becomes an act of kindness, providing a little feast for the birds. So as me and my mom started creating rangoli’s i wrote “Happy Pongal” in Telugu, and my mom crafted a beautiful rangoli that we adorned with colors and flower petals. The creation of rangolis turned out to be the highlight of the day. Observing the vibrant patterns taking form at the entrance, I realized these weren’t just designs; they were symbols. Each curve and line held significance — prosperity, positivity, and the promise of a new beginning. In the hands of my artistic family, rangolis became a language, telling a story of abundance and optimism. As the day unfolded, Bhogi became a story of renewal, gratitude, and the promise of a visually appealing start to the Sankranti festival. 14th January — Day 2 — Makara Sankranthi The central focus was, undoubtedly, the Sankranti dishes. The kitchen became a melting pot of flavors, with my family weaving culinary magic. Pongal, a dish made with newly harvested rice, lentils, and an array of spices, took center stage. It wasn’t just about the taste; it was about capturing the essence of the harvest season on our plates. Once the feast was prepared, the family gathered for the Pongal puja. The sound of traditional prayers echoed through the house as we sought blessings for prosperity and well-being. This was an opportunity to capture the spiritual ambiance — the soft glow of lamps, the fragrance of incense, and the unity of family in prayer. Let’s talk about the best part of this festival — kite flying. The act of flying kites is not merely about harvesting; it serves as an excuse for people to step out of their homes after the long winters. It becomes an activity that fosters positive connections within the community. Different varieties of kites are crafted and available in the market. When all these kites take to the sky, they collectively paint a vibrant and colorful spectacle. 15th January-Day 3- Kanuma Kanuma is often associated with the worship of cattle, particularly cows and bulls. People clean and decorate their cattle, applying a special paste of turmeric and other auspicious substances. This is a gesture of gratitude towards these animals, as they play a crucial role in agriculture. Because of the urbanisation, we cannot find cows often in cities, but there are events which happens accross the cities which specifically focuses on the cattle sports. In some regions, traditional sports involving cattle are organized. This may include bull races, where decorated and well-trained bulls participate in races, showcasing the strength and agility of these animals. Rangolis are made all 3 days of the festivals but the motifs and patterns varies and differ from each day, On Kanuma, The rangolis may have specific motifs related to cattle, crops, and other symbols. Kanuma is a day for feasting, especially on non-vegetarian dishes. We tend to explore the rich culinary traditions associated with Sankranti. Overall, Kanuma adds a vibrant and celebratory touch to the Makar Sankranti festival, focusing on expressing gratitude towards nature, animals, and fostering a sense of community and abundance. Considering all this, think about the rituals in your family, While many traditions are fading away, some are making a significant impact. Before ignoring any tradition, question it once and try to understand it. Though different states have different names for this festival…. Makar Sankranti-Uttar Pradesh and Bihar Uttarayan- Gujarat Pongal-Tamil Nadu Sankranti- Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka. Makaravilakku- Kerala Magh Bihu-Assam But If you are lucky and have grandparents at home, please talk to them, try to understand our culture and how this festival is celebrated, and share your thoughts here with me. Remember, modernization doesn’t mean abandoning our roots; it’s about evolving while preserving our cultural essence. KR IRS 251224 ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Gopala Krishnan <[email protected]> Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2024 at 10:30 Subject: [iyer123] TODAY’S “PONGAL” STORY To: <[email protected]> TODAY’S “PONGAL” STORY Dear friends, Pongal celebrations are coming shortly within weeks. After started living in Tamilnadu on account of my posting to Tamilnadu circle, I too started celebrating Pongal after my marriage. While in Kerala, in central Kerala it was not celebrated in large scale, though on the day of Pongal, it was prepared in home, next day morning, crows were fed in turmeric leaves, and pongal was fed adding little turmeric by us Brahmins. It was called Kakkapoti. Pongal appeared to me on those days like rice added with dhal, pepper and salt. When Electronic exchanges were started in India, designed by Mr. Sampitroda and produced by ITI, I was one among the three, send for training, from Tamilnadu circle to Bangalore. The training center was opposite to Reserve Bank of India, Bangalore. Our hostel, a rented building was about 3 KMs away. Note- I am proud to say the first small electronic exchange was installed by me in a town near Arakkonam. By the time we come to city restaurants for tiffin, mostly the available food item was Pongal. The pongal in Bangalore tasted good and different from what was prepared in the Kerala home. After coming from Bangalore finishing the training, I asked my wife, why we can’t have pongal tiffin next day. She was stumbled for a moment and asked- Pongal? I told my liking to pongal after having it for weeks in Bangalore… Today, the regular Christian shop close to us from where we got quality iddali batter was closed and I suggested, we may have Pongal. Along with my daughter on vacation arrived, Pongal was prepared my wife adding sufficient and more ginger, pepper, ghee, and minimum salt. Fresh coconut was purchased for preparing chutni as side item. After relishing hot pongal with chutney, I could not remain, making out this posting with nostalgic memories. Gopalakrishnan 25-12-2024 -- To go to your groups page on the web, login to your gmail account and then click on https://groups.google.com/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "iyer123" group. 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