Kendhata / Pongal Kuzhambu - Tanjore/Mayavaram Style - Pongal Special Recipes

Pongal is the traditional South Indian Harvest festival equivalent to Thanksgiving in Western Countries and it is celebrated elaborate and in a grand manner, for four days all over South India. It is celebrated on the First Day of the Tamil Month Thai (10th Month in Tamil Calendar). First day is celebrated as Bhogi where we dispose old worn out house hold materials and buy new ones. Second Day is the Perum Pongal or Soorya Pongal, during which people make Sweet Pongal and White Plain Pongal before Sun in new pots and offer it to Sun God as Sun being the major source of light for crop cultivation. We offer Sugarcane, Pongal and Banana on this day . Third Day is Celebrated as Maatu Pongal which is more for the Cattles and it is celebrated grand in village sides, even though people living in cities miss the chance of seeing such grand celebrations. Fouth Day is end of the Pongal Festival which is called Kaanum Pongal (Kaanum means Reunion), on which day people go and visit relatives houses and have some sort of get togerher in public places like Beach, Park etc.,
Pongal recipes include Sarkarai Pongal made out of New Rice with Milk, Jaggery and White Plain Pongal. Also we make Pongal Kuzhambu with all the veggies that are available during the season as a mark of offering the produce to the Sun God.

Here am sharing one authentic Pongal Kuzhambu Recipe which is a traditional recipe of Thanjavur/ Mayavaram, called as Kendhata. My Mom who hailed from Mayavaram is an expert in making this recipe and this is one recipe which I have always cherished as a child. It has the goodness and flavour of all country vegetables, lentils, tubers,..even they add Amla and Sugarcane Pieces. On Pongal Day night, they used to add water to the White Pongal and keep. The next day morning, they add in lot of fresh curds, chopped shallots and green chillies with salt as needed and prepare creamy curd rice. This Kuzhambu is reheated and made thick (we call it SundaKuzhambu) and served with the cold curd rice. Its heavenly to have this combo. Happy to share this traditional recipe for this Pongal. Thanks to mom for sharing me the recipe.

Happy and Prosperous Pongal to all :)

Aarudhra Darshan - Tiruvaadirai Kali and Thaalagam / 7 Kari Kootu

Aarudhra Darshan is a festival celebrating the ecstatic Cosmic Dance of Lord Shiva (Anandha Thaandavam) in Natarajar Form. It is observed every year during the Tamil month of Margazhi on Thiruvaadirai Nakshatram. Aarudhra signifies the Shiva's dance inside the golden red flame.

This Cosmic Dance of Shiva is a symbolic representation of the continuous cycle of life on this universe ie., Creation to Destruction. Its believed that this dance takes place in each and every particle of the universe which is also a scientifically proven part that Universe is made of particulate matter which in turn is the source of energy (Einstein's Particulate Theory). The scientists have also shown that the movement of an atom is in the form of this Cosmic Dance performed by Lord Shiva. Hence Thirumoolar has also mentioned
"Avanandri Oru Anuvum Asayadhu"

Lord Shiva's Dance Pose is a complete symbolization of the cycle of life...

The Hour Glass Drum in his upper right hand is the symbol of creation which represents the Male and Female Vital Principles..Two Triangles infused..
The Flames of Fire on the left upper hand symbolizes the Destruction as per Hindu Mythology the Universe will be engulfed at the end by Fire.
Hence the two hands are kept at a balance...always there is a balance between creation and destruction..
The Second right hand showing Abhaya Muthra which means protection..
The crossed left leg and the and lower left hand indicates release from the cycle of birth and death..
The hand points the uplifted foot symbolizes Lord Ganesha who is the remover of obstacles..
Dwarf on which the Shiva Dances signifies creation is possible only when weight of the darkness of the universe is overcome and suppressed.
The ring of fire indicates the field of universe in which the dance takes place..
The Lotus Pedestal at the base indicates the universe in consciousness of each person...

On this day, we offer a sweet made of Roasted Rice Flour and Jaggery, Thirvaadirai Kali..which is a part of Hindu tradition. Along with this, a gravy is made with 7 vegetables also called as 7 Kai / 7 Kari Kootu or Thalagam.

My mom makes a very delicious texture of Kali and from her I learnt this recipe...There's a saying about this in Tamil ""Thiruvaadiraiku Oru Vaai Kali" 

Here's the Recipe for both...

This Year Aarudhra Darshan falls on 26th December.. Happy Aarudhra Darshan :)