Venpongal & Kadalaiparuppu sundal- Navarathiri - Day 7 Prasadham | Gayathiri's Cookbook

Navrathiri is a nine days festival dedicated to goddess Durga.During these 9 nights and 10 days, goddess Durga is worshipped in 9 different forms.Numerous rituals are followed during Navratri. These rituals vary from state to state and within a state region to region.During Navratri, various dolls are collected and displayed in multiple steps for public viewing. The displaying of dolls during "Golu festival" is so popular that it is also known as doll festival.

In South India, apart from public display of dolls, 9 days of Navratri are divided into three equal numbers of days. Goddess Durga as Kali is worshipped during the first 3 days of Navratri. After Goddess Durga, for next 3 days Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity is worshipped. During the last 3 day of Navratri Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of learning and knowledge is worshipped.
Each day of the festival stands for an auspicious colour, which is dedicated to all the avatars of the Goddess.
Prasadham;
Venpongal &Kadalaiparuppu sundal


Ingredients for venpongal:
Rice- 1/4 cup
Moongdal- 2 tbsp
Salt-1/2 tsp
Black pepper-1/2 tsp
Jeera- 1/2 tsp
Cashews-6
Curry leaves- For garnishing
Ghee- 2 tsp

Directions:
1. Pressure cook 1/4 cup rice and 2 tbsp moongdal with 1.5 cups water for upto 4 whistles.Mash it well when it is hot.
2.Add 1/2 tsp salt and mix it well.
3. Grind 1/2 tsp black pepper seeds and 1/2 tsp jeera to a coarse powder(You can put it as whole).
4. Fry pepper and jeera powder in 2 tsp ghee and add it to the pongal.Then fry some cashews and curry leaves in ghee and add it.
Mix everything well.
Pongal is ready!!

Ingredients for Kadalaiparuppu sundal:
Channadal- 1/2 cup
Salt- 1/2 tsp
Oil- 2 tsp
Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp
Red chillies- 2
Curryleaves- For garnishing
Shredded coconut- 2 tbsp
Directions:
1. Soak 1/2 cup channadal in water for 30 minutes.Cook channadal with salt until they are soft but not mushy.Strain the water and keep it aside.
2.Heat 2 tsp oil. Add 1/2 tsp mustard seeds, 2 red chillies, 2 tbsp shredded coconut and curry leaves. Saute for 2 minutes. Then add the cooked dal. Mix it well and then switch off the heat.
Kadalaiparuppu sundal is ready!!




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