Sakkarai Pongal | Chakkara Pongal Recipe | Bellam Paramannam | Ayuda Pooja Celebrations!

Living in Tamil Nadu for over two decades, I realise we are more inclined in observing customs followed locally than in Andhra from where my parents came. However, after marriage I find that it's great in many ways that your spouse comes from another state, bringing in customs and traditions along. In that way I get to celebrate festivals in both ways.

In my previous company, we had holiday for both Ayudha Pooja and Vijayadasami. So the day before Ayudha Pooja, we used to have elaborate celebrations, followed by the pooja performed in the afternoon. Once pooja is done, it's customary that we do not disturb the systems/objects, which meant we get the time off after that. We found that part most interesting as we end up chatting and fooling around. On the day of the festival we celebrate at home.

Ayudha Pooja celebrations are always celebrated with much enthusiasm and joy at home. We clean and decorate the vehicles with flowers, Kunkum and Sandan. We keep lemon under each type of the vehicle and then once the archana is given, we had to run over it. It used to be fun when the lemon are not run over correctly, and slips. It's even more fun trying to catch the running lemon.

One of the customary neivedyams will be of puffed rice mixed with jaggary and fried gram mixture. Along with this, for the lunch it is always an elaborate feast that's done. For this year's pooja, I prepare Bellam Paramannam or Chakkara Pongal.