Pongal’s Flavours: Taking The Sweet With The Savoury
Image Credit: As you savour these dishes, remember the rich folklore and mythology they carry with them, connecting the past and present in every bite.

PONGAL, one of Tamil Nadu’s most cherished festivals, is a celebration of abundance, gratitude, and togetherness. At its heart lies the preparation of Pongal—a dish that takes two forms: the sweet Sakkarai Pongal and the savoury Ven Pongal. Both are steeped in tradition and rich with symbolic meaning. But did you know these dishes also echo themes from Tamil folklore and mythology? Let’s explore.

Part 1: Sweet vs. Savoury Pongal

Sakkarai Pongal (Sweet Pongal)

Ingredients: Rice, moong dal (split yellow lentils), jaggery, ghee, cardamom, cashews, and raisins.

Preparation: Rice and roasted lentils are cooked until tender. Jaggery syrup is then added for sweetness, and the dish is garnished with ghee-fried cashews and raisins, enhancing its rich flavour and aroma.

Cultural Significance: Sweet Pongal is the festival’s star offering to Surya, the Sun God, symbolising gratitude for a bountiful harvest and invoking blessings for prosperity. The act of allowing the pot to boil over during its preparation is considered auspicious, representing abundance and overflow of prosperity.

Mythology: According to Tamil lore, Sakkarai Pongal is believed to have been prepared as an offering by Nappinnai, a consort of Lord Krishna, during harvest celebrations. The golden hue of the dish is often compared to the rays of the sun, symbolising divine blessings.

Ven Pongal (Savoury Pongal)

Ingredients: Rice, moong dal, black pepper, cumin, curry leaves, ginger, and ghee.

Preparation: The rice and dal are cooked together until creamy. A tempering of ghee, black pepper, cumin, curry leaves, and ginger is added, imparting a robust and aromatic flavour to the dish.

Cultural Significance: Ven Pongal embodies the festival’s practical side—a dish that nourishes and sustains. Its warming spices are ideal for Tamil Nadu’s cooler January mornings, providing comfort and warmth during the harvest season.

Mythology: Savoury Pongal is often linked to the goddess Annapoorani, the deity of food and nourishment. Offerings of Ven Pongal are believed to ensure health and abundance in the household, invoking the goddess's blessings for sustenance.

Part 2: The Festival Food Lore Quiz

Test your knowledge of Tamil Nadu’s Pongal traditions with this interactive quiz. Scroll down for answers!

1. What does the overflowing of milk during Pongal symbolise?

  1. Fertility
  2. Prosperity
  3. Unity
  4. Luck

2. Which ingredient in Sakkarai Pongal symbolises sweetness in relationships?

  1. Jaggery
  2. Coconut milk
  3. Cashews
  4. Raisins

3. Which god is honoured during Pongal?

  1. Agni
  2. Indra
  3. Surya
  4. Varuna

4. Which spice in Ven Pongal is known for its warming properties?

  1. Black pepper
  2. Cardamom
  3. Ginger
  4. Cumin

5. What does the goddess Annapoorani symbolise?

  1. Abundance of food
  2. Success in farming
  3. Good health
  4. Harmony in families

Answers:

B) Prosperity

A) Jaggery

C) Surya

A) Black pepper

A) Abundance of food

Thai Pongal in Tamil Nadu is not just a festival of food but a celebration of life, myth, and gratitude. Sweet and savoury Pongal dishes reflect the duality of life—joy and sustenance, indulgence and simplicity. As you savour these dishes, remember the rich folklore and mythology they carry with them, connecting the past and present in every bite. Happy Pongal!