This four day festival is celebrated for thanking nature for a bountiful harvest.As a part of Pongal celebrations, traditional recipes are prepared in every household. Sarkkarai Pongal, Ven Pongal sambar and vadai are some of the special dishes for the occasion.Here we give you some of the traditional recipes if you would like to try them out.

Sarkkarai Pongal is a simple and delicious dish. Here we have an easy to make recipe for you:

Ingredients:
• 2 litres Milk
• 1½ cups Rice
• 1/4 cup Moong dal
• 10-15 Cashew Nuts
• 1½ cup grated Jaggery
• Handful of Kishmish
• 1 tsp Cardamom Powder
• 2 tbsp Ghee

Method:
• Pour milk in a pot and place it on fire.
• When the milk starts boiling add rice and dal. As soon as the rice and dal are cooked, add jaggery and ghee.
• Cook on medium fire for some time and then put in the cashew nuts and cardamom powder.
• Now add the Kishmish.
• Bring to a boil.


You could also try out this easy recipe for Ven Pongal:

Ingredients:
• Rice - 1 cup (uncooked)
• Spilt Green gram dal- 1/2 cup
• Salt - to taste
• Ghee - 2 to 3 teaspoons
• Water - to cook Pongal

For seasoning:
• Cashew nuts - 10 -12
• Red chilies - 2
• Asafetida - 1/4 teaspoon
• Cumin seeds - 2 teaspoon
• Peppercorns - 1 ½ teaspoon
• Curry leaves - a sprig

Method:
• Roast the dal in a little ghee, remove from heat.
• Cook rice and dal together with salt in a pressure cooker with 4 cups of water for 4 whistles.
• For seasoning, heat ghee in a pan. Add Cashew nuts and fry till it turns into light brown. Then add red chilies, cumin seeds, peppercorns, asafetida and curry leaves, fry for a minute.
• Add this seasoning to the cooked Pongal and mix.
Generally, Ven pongal is served with coconut chutney, sambar and vadai.

Enjoy your Pongal feast !