Khichdi Chronicles: The Story of Pongal

If there’s one dish that truly captures the spirit of a festival, it’s Pongal.

Not just because of how it tastes - warm, comforting, familiar but because of what it represents. Full pots. Good harvests. Lives that feel nourished, not rushed.

Celebrated across Tamil Nadu during the harvest season, Pongal isn’t just about food. It’s about pausing to acknowledge abundance, the kind that comes from land, labour, and patience.

Why is it called Pongal?

The word Pongal comes from the Tamil word “pongu”, which means to boil over.

And yes, the boiling over is intentional.

When rice and milk spill over the edge of the pot, it’s not a mistake, it’s a wish. A wish that life gives more than expected. In a way, Pongal reminds us that abundance isn’t about excess. It’s about having enough, and then a little more to share.

A dish born in the courtyard

Long before Pongal appeared in temples or cookbooks, it was cooked outdoors, in open courtyards, over firewood, in clay pots.

It was made with newly harvested rice, still connected to the fields it came from. The cooking itself was part of the celebration, bringing together families, neighbours, and communities.

Pongal is deeply tied to Tamil agrarian life. It honours the farmer, the cattle that till the land, the soil that holds the seed, and the natural rhythms that make cultivation possible.

Two versions, one philosophy

Pongal comes in two main forms, each with its own role.

Ven Pongal is savoury, simple, and grounding. It nourishes the body and provides comfort.

Sakkarai Pongal is sweet, rich, and festive. It’s indulgent, celebratory, and meant to spark joy.

Together, they tell us something important: food isn’t just fuel. It’s also a pleasure. A complete meal should strengthen you, and make you smile.

From homes to temples

During the harvest festival, Pongal is offered as Naivedyam to the Gods.

What began as a household ritual slowly moved into temples, where Pongal became prasadam. This shift reinforced its place as both nourishment and offering, food that connects the everyday with the sacred.

Cooking Pongal for the Sun God acknowledges a truth that agrarian cultures have always known: without sunlight, there is no grain. Every meal begins long before the kitchen.

Eating as an act of gratitude

To eat Pongal is to participate in gratitude.

Gratitude for the farmer. For the cattle. For the rain, the sun, and the soil. For the quiet systems that allow food to arrive on our plates.

In a fast-paced world that often forgets where food comes from, Pongal gently reminds us to slow down and say thank you.

From our kitchen to yours

At Indic Roots, we see Pongal as more than a festival dish. It’s a reminder of how food should feel - honest, rooted, and deeply nourishing.

As this harvest festival arrives, we wish you meals that warm you, moments that ground you, and abundance that quietly spills over.

The Indic Roots family wishes you a very Happy Pongal.