Bhogi festival - Makar Sankranti recipes Pongal recipes
Pongal festival or Makar Sankranti festival has astronomical significance in India. It marks the movement of the Sun god towards north and is known as 'Uttarayana' (the first six months of the Hindu calendar.Celebration of Makar sankranti - Pongal
According to Hindu customs and traditions, it is inauspicious to wear black on festivals. However, Makar Sankranti is an exception.
In many regions in Maharashtra, people wear black colored dress on Makar Sankranti day. Since it is winter, black colored clothes are worn on sankranti day to keep the body warm.
A lot of importance is given to til (sesame seeds) due to the same reason.
Sesame seeds (Til) are used to fight the cold in winter, as sesame contains healthy oils. These customs were decided by the ancient Hindus keeping in mind the virtues of using certain foods during a particular season.
Friends, relatives and neighbors exchange good will by exchanging Til Gul on the day and say “til gud ghya, god god bola” meaning , “let there be only friendship and good feelings between us”.
In Karnataka, on 'Sankranti' day, cows and bullocks are decorated and fed 'Pongal'- a sweet preparation of rice and moong dal.
Another major highlight on the day is kite flying. During the season, colorful kites fill the skies in many parts of India.
Sankranti or pongal festival is celebrated as harvest festival, 'Indian Thanks giving festival'. Newly harvested rice, moong dal (split mung bean) is used in cooking on that day. Fresh turmeric, rice, sugarcane is used in cooking as well as in worshiping the god.
People visit places like Ganga Sagar and Prayag and other holy rivers to take a dip in the river and pray to Lord Sun.
The day before sankranti /pongal is known as bhogi festival. Both bhogi and sankranti festival has its own special menu comprising of the seasonal ingredients. These ingredients keep the body warm in winter.
A rice dish known as khara pongal/huggi/khichadi is prepared with rice and moong dal. A savory/spicy version is prepared in the southern as well as northern states. In south, sweet pongal is prepared with sugar or jaggery which is yummy.
Celebration of Bhogi festrival
Bhogi is the last day of dhanurmaasa. Fresh harvest of rice, turmeric and sugarcane is brought in from the field as preparation for the following day.
Bogi festival or Bhogi is the first day of Pongal and is celebrated in honor of Lord Indra, "the God of Clouds and Rains" for giving prosperity. On Bhogi day some daana(donation) is given to a needy family. These provisions include rice, moong dal, ghee, oil. Milk, dahi and vegetables etc. Through this daana (donation), everything that you use for cooking on bhogi day is shared with another family.
In Maharashtra and north karnataka, Indian winter vegetables such as carrots, fresh green chana(harbhara), brinjals, beans are used to make ‘bhogibhaji’, a mixed vegetable curry on bhogi day.
In Maharashtra this mixed vegetable is also known as 'Lekurvali'. It is served with bajrabhakri (pearl millet flat bread). Bajra helps to keep the body warm in winter.
Bhogi menu
Bajra Bhakri - Bajra Roti
Moong dal khichadi - Khichadi khichari rice and beans dish rice and lentil dish
Bhogi bhaji - a mixed vegetable curry.
Makar Sankranti menu
In the southern Indian states,
Sweet pongal
Khara pongal - Venn pongal - Apart from that other varieties of rice dishes are also prepared.
Curd Rice
Tilgul poli - is made in Maharashtra and north Karnataka.
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