Meena's Taste Mantra

Bhogi Pandigai | First Day of Harvest Festival

This year Bhogi Pandigai is being celebrated on 14th January 2015, Wednesday.

Bhogi Pandigai is the first day of the Harvest festival, wherein Lord Indra - the Rain God is worshipped for good rains to ensure a very good harvest. This will in turn bring in prosperity and abundance.

Kolam - designs on the floor are made with a white paste of newly harvested rice with the red outlines drawn with Kaavi. Colors are filled to make it more attractive.

On this day, people clear out all the unwanted items in their homes and burn them as a bon-fire after sun set. Young girls do a traditional dance around this holy bon-fire, singing traditional songs.

Fresh harvest of the season like rice, sugarcane and turmeric is brought from the farms for use the next day in the Puja that is celebrated as Thai Pongal - Second day of Harvest Festival.

On Bhogi Pandigai special food is prepared as offering for Lord Indra. The entire day is very festive with friends and relatives coming together, cooking traditional meals and sharing and enjoying it with one another.

For Naivedhyam as Prasad the following are prepared:

Kadalaparuppu Boli

The lunch is a traditional fare with payasam, paruppu vadai, nai appam, sambar, rasam, thaiyr pachadi, kootu, podthuval, urgai, appalam, paruppu, homemade ghee, steamed rice and elaichi kela. Each item is served on a plaintain leaf and offerred to God first before being served to family and friends. SouthIndian Lunch Option 1.

SouthIndian Lunch Option 1

About C R Meena

(c) 2014 - 2016, Meena's Taste Mantra is the result of my ardent desire to share my recipes, with all who appreciate and celebrate food. These recipes are as a result of 60 years of cooking experience, influenced by tradition and exposure to various concepts, new recipes/ingredients and a passion for cooking - adapting to healthier alternatives.