Wednesday 11 January 2023

"Traditional Sankranti Recipes: Pongali, Ariselu, Sunnundalu, Chakkara Pongali and Bellam Kudumulu"

Pongali: Pongali is a traditional sweet dish made from a mixture of rice, moong dal, jaggery, and ghee. It is usually cooked in a clay pot and is a popular dish during the Sankranti festival. To make Pongali, you need to first cook the rice and moong dal together in water until they are tender. Then, add jaggery and ghee and continue cooking until the mixture becomes thick and the jaggery is completely dissolved.

Ariselu: Ariselu is a sweet dish made from rice flour, jaggery, and ghee. It is a popular traditional dish that is often prepared for the Sankranti festival. To make Ariselu, you need to first prepare the rice flour by grinding rice. Then, mix the rice flour with jaggery and ghee, and knead into a dough. Shape the dough into small rounds and deep fry them until golden brown.

Sunnundalu: Sunnundalu is a traditional sweet made from black gram and jaggery. It is a popular dish during the Sankranti festival. To make Sunnundalu, you need to first soak and grind black gram, then mix it with jaggery and make small balls.

Chakkara pongali: Chakkara Pongali is a sweet variation of the Pongali, made with same ingredients but with more amount of jaggery.

Bellam Kudumulu: Bellam Kudumulu is a traditional sweet dish made from rice flour, jaggery and coconut. It is a popular dish during the Sankranti festival. To make Bellam Kudumulu, you need to prepare the rice flour dough, with jaggery and coconut, then shape the dough into small rounds and steam it.

these are the few traditional Sankranti recipes, you could try it in your home to have the taste of Sankranti festival.

"Celebrating Sankranti in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana: Cultural events, village decorations, and family traditions"

Sankranti is a popular festival in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It is typically celebrated in January and marks the start of a new solar cycle.

The festival is celebrated in a variety of ways, but some common celebrations include flying kites, exchanging sweets, and taking dips in holy rivers. Cultural events such as bullock cart races and traditional sports like kite flying, tug of war and various games are conducted, some villages also conduct a traditional bullfight event called ‘Jallikattu’.

Villages during Sankranti season are decorated with Rangolis (colorful designs) and lights. People usually wear new clothes and participate in community events and gatherings.

In many families, parents play an important role in the celebrations by preparing traditional foods and sweets, and by participating in the community events. The festival is also an occasion for family reunions and for visiting friends and relatives.

Sankranti Festival Overview

Introduction to Makar Sankranti
Origins of Makar Sankranti
How Makar Sankranti is celebrated in different regions
Makar Sankranti dress code
Special foods and sweets for Makar Sankranti Spiritual significance and benefits of Makar Sankranti
Makar Sankranti and its relation to farmers Village games during Makar Sankranti.

Makar Sankranti is a Hindu festival that is celebrated in many parts of India and Nepal to mark the transition of the sun into the zodiac sign of Makara (Capricorn). The festival typically falls in the month of January and marks the start of the longer days.

The origins of Makar Sankranti can be traced back to ancient times, with the festival being mentioned in ancient Hindu texts such as the Mahabharata and the Puranas. It is believed to have been a harvest festival, celebrated to mark the end of the winter solstice and the start of the new agricultural season.

The festival is celebrated in various ways across different regions of India. In Gujarat and Maharashtra, for example, it is a major festival and is celebrated with much fanfare, with people taking dips in rivers and lakes and flying kites to mark the occasion. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, it is celebrated as Pongal and in Tamil Nadu, it is celebrated as Thai Pongal, the festival has different name and rituals.

In terms of dress code, people typically wear traditional clothes such as sarees and dhoti-kurta. In some places, people also dress up in bright and colorful clothes to mark the occasion.

Special foods are also prepared to mark Makar Sankranti. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, a dish called Pongal is prepared with rice, lentils, and jaggery. In Gujarat, til-gud laddoo, a sweet made of til (sesame seeds) and gud (jaggery), is a popular dish prepared for the festival. In Maharashtra, sesame laddoos are popular.

Makar Sankranti is also known for its delicious sweets. The most popular sweet dish is Til-Gud Ladoo, made from sesame seeds and jaggery which is prepared in most of the states.

In terms of benefits, Makar Sankranti is believed to have spiritual significance and is said to bring good luck and prosperity. People also believe that taking a dip in rivers and lakes on Makar Sankranti will wash away their sins and purify their souls.

Makar Sankranti is also seen as having a special relationship with farmers, as it marks the end of the cold winter months and the start of the new agricultural season. It is considered as a start of new harvest season. Many farmers offer the first harvest of the season to the gods and goddesses on this day.

In recent years, some village game tournaments also played on this festival in different states for entertainment, like kite flying, bull racing, and tug of war are played by the local people.

All about Pongal festival

Introduction:

Pongal is a four-day harvest festival celebrated in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, as well as in other parts of India where there is a significant Tamil population.
The festival is usually celebrated in January and marks the beginning of the sun's six-month-long journey northward, also known as the Uttarayana.

Origins:

The origins of the Pongal festival can be traced back to ancient times, with evidence suggesting that it was celebrated by the Tamils even before the Common Era.
The festival is steeped in tradition and has significant religious and cultural significance for the people of Tamil Nadu.

Purpose:

The Pongal festival is celebrated to thank the sun god, Lord Surya, for providing the energy needed for agriculture.
The festival also marks the end of the harvest season and the start of a new one.

Schedule:

Pongal typically falls in the middle of January and is celebrated over four days.
The first day is called "Bhogi Pongal," and is dedicated to Lord Indra, the god of rain.
The second day is "Surya Pongal," which is dedicated to Lord Surya.
The third day is "Mattu Pongal," which is dedicated to cows and other domestic animals.
The fourth day is "Kaanum Pongal," which is a day for families to get together and enjoy the fruits of the harvest.

Pongal Games and Venues:

The famous places for Pongal games are mainly in Tamil Nadu and other places like Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry.
Villages, towns, and cities across Tamil Nadu come alive with traditional games, competitions, and cultural programs during the Pongal festival.

Dress Code:

The Pongal dress code is traditional Indian attire, with women typically wearing sarees or half sarees and men wearing veshti (dhoti) and angavastram (upper garment).

Foods and Sweets:

Pongal special foods include dishes made from newly harvested rice, lentils, and sugarcane.
Pongal sweets include sweets such as adhirasam, chakli, and murukku.

Benefits:

The benefits of Pongal festival are many, both culturally and socially.
It is a time for families to come together and celebrate the harvest.
It brings together different communities in a spirit of harmony and goodwill.
It helps to promote the rich cultural heritage of Tamil Nadu.
Pongal is also an opportunity to give thanks for the blessings of the previous year and to look forward to the prosperity and happiness in the new year.

Friday 6 January 2023