Pongal: Two Types, Traditional Dish, and Significance Explained

• Pongal is a major harvest festival in South India, especially Tamil Nadu, symbolizing gratitude to the Sun God and nature.
• The festival's traditional dish, 'Pongal', gives the celebration its name and is crucial to its observance.
• The dish is made from rice and moong dal, cooked in an open pot until it boils over, signifying prosperity.
• There are two main types: Sakkarai Pongal (sweet, made with jaggery, milk, rice, moong dal, offered as Prasad) and Venn Pongal (savory, made with ghee, black pepper, cumin, ginger, curry leaves, served with chutney and sambar).
• Preparing Pongal in the courtyard strengthens family bonds and signifies gratitude for the new harvest.

Why It Matters: Pongal, a South Indian harvest festival, celebrates gratitude with two traditional dishes: sweet Sakkarai and savory Venn Pongal.