This time we celebrated Pongal and Sankranti in our apartment by having a potluck dinner. We invited about 4 families and a couple of friends. Everyone brought something on the occasion of the festival. Why and what is the siginificance of the festival - Pongal, a tamil word means 'to overflow', is a season of harvest and welcoming the spring season. This day marks the official end of the winter when the Sun is traveling northwards towards the Makara or 'Capricorn' (goat) zodiac. Interestingly this is 'only' festival in India that is celebrated based on the Solar calendar unlike all the others that are celebrated according to the Lunar calendar. The prevailing month before this day is called as the 'Dhanur Maasa' and Vaishnavas worship Andaal (Goda) during this month with the Tiruppavai Seva each day. Pongal is prepared - spicy and sweet. The days start to get longer than nights and this time is called the Uttarayana Punyakala that welcomes all the auspicious occasions like marriages and reaping harvests etc., Wishing you all a very happy Pongal and may lord Srimannarayana bless you all.
Date(s): January 14, 2005. Album by Karthik Nagaraj. Photos by All of us. 1 - 17 of 17 Total. 842 Visits.
Friends and Family, Thanks for coming over and making the festival a big success. Please feel free to leave your comments. Thanks once again and enjoy - Karthik Nagaraj, Sun, 16 Jan 2005 12:24PM
enlarge 140KB, 800x600 1 Once all the guests arrived we started the puja by offering flowers and lighting the lamps. Also the prasadam was offered to God first... That is Harish's dad in the picture and yours truly performing the puja.
enlarge 148KB, 800x600 2 In the Puja room - From Right to left - Ashok in deep thought, Somik, Priya, Garima, Harsha and Manish.
enlarge 163KB, 800x600 3 Again from right to left - Harish's mom, Pratibha, Chitra, Anu's mom, Anu and of course Ashok and Somik.
enlarge 123KB, 800x600 4 Peforming the puja...
enlarge 154KB, 800x600 5 A closer look at the sanctum.
enlarge 166KB, 800x600 6 Continuing to look at the sanctum.
enlarge 120KB, 600x800 7 Lord Balaji and Sri Lakshmi with the Sanka, Chakra and Namam.
enlarge 148KB, 800x600 8 Sankranti special - Sugarcane (in kannada it is called 'Kabbu', in Hindi it is called 'Ganna') and Ellu-Vella (It is a tamil word and Kannada word too). Ellu means a mixture of roasted peanuts, roasted dalia, cry cocunut, sugar candy and/or jaggery. As a part of the tradition Priya gave all the ladies betel leaves, betel buts, fruits, sugarcane and Ellu-Vella along with Kunkum and Haldi.
enlarge 147KB, 600x800 9 The menu - Lets start from the extreme end - On the left you can see Spicy Pongal and next to that is the Dahi Vada prepared by Priya and myself. Then in front of it you can see the Carrot pudding prepared by Chitra and Ashok. Next to that is the Coconut creme pie brought by Somik. In the front you can see Puliyogre (tamarind rice) prepared by Anu-Ranga and Anu's mom. Lastly the Sakkara Pongal (sweet pongal) prepared by Harish's mom and family. Well you can also see the chutney that was prepared by Priya and myself. Enjoy the dinner folks...Others who did not come to the party stop salivating over your keyboards...
enlarge 164KB, 800x600 10 Somik, Ashok and Harish's dad starting to eat...
enlarge 126KB, 800x600 11 In the living room people talk and enjoy the food.
enlarge 144KB, 800x600 12 Look at Ranga in this shot - caught in the act!!! :)
enlarge 137KB, 800x600 13 Harsha, Ashok, Harish, his dad and Manish eat as they talk about various different things. Harish tries to take a picture and is found doing so red handed on my camera. :)
enlarge 187KB, 800x600 14 All the girls - Chitra, Pratibha, Priya and Garima.
enlarge 110KB, 800x600 15 The men folk - Ashok, Somik, Harish, Harsha, Harish's dad, myself and Manish.
enlarge 153KB, 800x600 16 Harish and family about ot leave as they had to drive to Tahoe the next day and it was getting late.
enlarge 146KB, 800x600 17 To avoid any more further premutations and combinations of the people we all decided to take a group one. You take a guess who is who. Good night folks and happy pongal and thanks for coming over and making it a big success. Have a wonderful year ahead.
