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We had a Mud Stove earlier and we used this for making Pongal. The Mud Pot was placed at the center of Kolam with religious three lined marking. Few wooden sticks were placed in the stove for burning. The Mud Pot was placed over the stove. The native simple art work was done to the pot. Sandal and Kungumam dots were made over the pot. Sugarcane and Turmeric leaves were placed over the Kolam.

Required amount of water with soaked skinned green gram / பாசி பருப்பு - 100g was taken in the pot.

Few camphor pills were placed over the wooden sticks to easy catch fire for cooking Pongal. The camphor pills were ignited to start cooking.

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The Color Kolam Powder packets were unpacked to Coconut shells and plastic cups.

A Colorful and wonderful kolam was drawn with these powder at the entrance.

 

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We purchased two bunches of wooden sticks at a Village Medicine Shop / நாட்டு மருந்து கடை. Each bunch was purchased at Rs15.

Color mixed Kolam powder was purchased for Rs5 for small pack and Rs10 for bigger pack.

Banana Bunch was purchased for Rs10, from a banana vendor on the roadside.

Two Coconut was purchased for Rs18 and Rs22 from the nearby market.

Three Plantain leaves / தலை வாழை இலை was bought for Rs20

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Celebrating traditional Pongal in Chennai is not a common thing. We are aware Pongal is celebrated in a modern way with LPG Gas Stove and Stainless Steel Pot. However this year 2015, we decided to celebrate Pongal traditionally. We are aware that we might not be 100% practical, but to try the best possible traditional methods of celebrating Pongal.

A day before Pongal, we purchased a small Mud Pot from nearby market. The Seller Lady demanded fr Rs150 - Rs100 for Pot and Rs30 for the Mud Plate cover. We negotiated for Rs120 Rupees only. She agreed for the price and we took the new pot to our home.

We dipped the new pot in a bucket of water and allowed it to soak. The whole night the pot was soaked and the next day morning it looked brilliant. 

பொங்கல் நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள்