By Ujjainee Roy
January 10, 2023
Image Credit: Unsplash
Sakkarai Pongal is a sweet Pongal usually made with moong dal, golden raisins, jaggery syrup, and edible camphor (or pacha karpooram). Sweet Pongal is a key part of almost every menu for Pongal Thirunaal which usually falls on January 14 or 15.
Image Credit: Shutterstock
The name 'Sakkarai Pongal' is derived from two Tamil words, "Sakkarai," meaning sugar, and "Pongal," which essentially defines the process of boiling over.
Image Credit: Unsplash
The sight of the Pongal ‘boiling over’ is considered a symbol of the Goddess Pongal's (Uma, Parvati) blessing of abundance, which explains its significance in agrarian communities
Image Credit: Unsplash
Sakkara Pongal is a gesture of gratitude to the Sun God for a bountiful harvest, symbolizing the essential role of the sun in agriculture.
Image Credit: Unsplash
The dish is prepared using newly harvested rice, symbolizing abundance, prosperity, and the agricultural bounty of the season. Sakkarai Pongal is an integral part of Pongal celebrations, marking the culmination of the four-day festival dedicated to honoring the Sun God
Image Credit: Unsplash
The symbolic importance of Sakkarai Pongal extends beyond its association with the Pongal festival. It is often offered as a prasadam in temples during various religious ceremonies and festivals.
Image Credit: Unsplash
The ingredients used in Sakkarai Pongal also hold cultural and symbolic importance. Rice represents sustenance and prosperity. Lentils symbolize growth. Ghee, made from clarified butter, is a symbol of purity and divine energy.
Image Credit: Unsplash
Sakkarai Pongal is usually cooked not with sugar but with sugarcane juice. The melting of the jaggery is quite key to its recipe especially when it’s served as a ‘naivedhyam’ or offering to Lord Vishnu.
Image Credit: Unsplash