Festivals in Chettinad

Pongal Celebration

                 For Pongal, Aachi's has lot of work to do. Usually they do Maa kolam on the vessels, 10 days before Pongal, in our native they chose Vaikunda Ekathesi to do Maa kolam on vessels as they have lot of free time on that day as they have to cook only tiffin not meals. Those vessels we use to  prepare pongal on auspicious day. We will keep seperate vessel called Vellakku idura chatti, in that will keep Pongal vegetables like Brinjal, Avarai kai, Sakkaraivalli kizhangu, Pana kizhangu, Coconut, Banana's, Vethalai paaku, Karumbu, Silver Pillayar and Vellaku inside this vessel. For this vessel to will do Maa kolam too. And the stove which we prepare Pongal, will be washed and decorated with Maa kolam too. We use Iron stove which uses woods in a authentic style.

This is Naduveetu kolam which will be drawn in all our occasions and this will be drawn where we do prayer. Naduveettu kolam using Kolakootu (explained later in this page) will be drawn for special occasions like Marriages, Pongal, Pillayar Nonbu. In the marriages  the lamp (Slate Vizhaku) is placed in the center of the Naduveetu kolam. 

 Vessels are decorated with Maa kolam along with Turmeric powder(so natural color)

          Once Pongal is cooked in a Iron stove, will serve it to the god with Vellakku idura Chatti on top of the NaduVeetu kolam

 Vellakku idura chatti

                                         

                  

Following dishes are cooked on Pongal Occassion, here is the Pongal Feast Menu:

Sakkarai pongal

Ven Pongal, Paruppu masiyal with Ghee, Appallam

Porial Items:

1. Sakkaraivalli kizhangu

2. Vazhaikai

3. Avaraikai

Kuzhambu Items:

1. Karunai kizhangu kuzhambu

2. Parangikai kuzhambu

3. Kathirikai / Other Pongal veggies Sambar

4. Pilakai Sodhi

                                                                   Pongal Feast Menu

                                                                  Maattu Pongal

Keeping Pongal:

1. As I said before, we usually keep two Pongals on auspicious day, one is Venn Pongal and another one is Sakkarai Pongal in two vessels at the same time.

2. Pic shows Ven Pongal which I have kept on Maattu Pongal day, just one on that day.

                                                        Manjal Kothu

This Manjal Kothu is very special as I have grown it in pot for Pongal occassion. :-)

                                                           Kottan

Once Raw rice is washed, will be drained using this Kottan on Pongal.

                                                      Kola Kootu

Aachi's are very smart, they make these pellets while they are leisure, so that they make use of it during celebration like Pongal, Marriages, Pillayar Nonbu to draw kola like "#Naduveetukolam". Here is the procedure to make the mixture(kolakootu) which is used for drawing kolam on the floor. This is also called "#Kolakootu". First the pellets have to be made. They are made by rice. Take the raw rice (Pachai arisi). Grind the pre-soaked rice finely until you get a fine texture called "Kolamavukku Araikaradhu" using Mixie or Grinder. Take the mixture and shaped as pellets. Usually they make round or triangle called "#Pillayar pola pidikaradhu". Consistency of mixture is important to make shapes. Don't make it too watery. Dry the pellets in Sun shade for atleast few days. Now Kola kootu is ready for use. Store it in Air tight container. Whenever u need maa kolam, take few pellets in a cup, mix it with water not very thin, make it thick mixture, using soft white cloth to draw kolam, hold the cloth in your hand by dipping into the mixture, in such a way that your ring finger is in a dominating position. 

Naduveettukolam using this Kolakootu will be drawn for special occasions like Marriages, Pongal, Pillayar Nonbu. In the marriages the lamp (Slate Vizhaku) is place in the center of the kolam.