Pongal

Today is Pongal festival. It marks the start  and the giving of thanks for a bountiful harvest.

When I was growing up, the highlight of the festival was eating sweet pongal cooked by my grandmother and my mother. They would cook it in huge pots and somehow we would finish it up over a couple of days. Back then it was primarily a family event.

Nowadays pongal is celebrated in a huge way in India and in particular Tamil Nadu. Government schools are closed for 4 days for the celebrations with lots of special programming on tv and radio there.

And with the growing importance of pongal celebrations in India and with the arrival of new Indians here, Pongal is becoming a big festival here amongst Indians here especially the Tamils. Light ups in Serangoon Road and celebrations all over the island this week are now common.

Am looking forward to celebrating Pongal with my mother with a wonderful vegetarian meal and sweet pongal later today!!