Chakkarpongali (Sweet Pongal) and Karapongal Naivedyam recipe

As already promised, I am back with another delicious Naivedyam recipe "Sweet Pongal" and "Karampongal" on account of the second day of Devi Mahanavaratri!! Yesterday I performed Kumkum pooja for "Gowrimatha" and offered sweet Pongal and Karam Pongal as naivedyam. Usually, women start Gowripuja vratam at the time of marriage. Every girl should do this Gowripuja at marriage time for the wellbeing of her life partner. After marriage, here in Andhra Pradesh, every newly wedded girl will start 'Mangalagowri Vratham' on Sravana Masam for five years. They do puja with Kumkum, Haldi and with flowers for Gowrimatha with dedication and offer different naivedyams to please Gowrimatha. After five years they do Udyapan. Every Tuesday and Friday doing kumkumpuja for gowrimatha is good for the happiness and welfare of our family.

 During Dasara festival celebrations second day here we celebrate "Gowrimatha avatar". On second day I made Sweet Pongali,Karam Pongali,Vadapappu and Panakam as nivedan for Gowrimatha. It turned out super yummy and delicious. I wanted to share my naivedyam recipes, so I asked my lovely son's :) help in taking pictures. He has taken each and every pic of naivedyam and decoration and the same was posted in my blog. Let us see the procedure.....

Sweet Pongal

Ingredients : 

1/2 cup Rice                               
1/4 cup Moongdal                         
1/2 cup grated or powdered Jaggery
3-4 table spoons Ghee
1/4 spoon Elachi powder
6-8 broken Cashew nuts
5 Raisins

Procedure :
1. Fry rice and moong dal in a pan on low flame for 3-4 minutes.
2. Wash several times with clean water and cook in a pressure cooker for 3-4 whistles.
3. Once pressure is released completely, remove the lid and mash the cooked rice.
4. Take a heavy-bottomed vessel, add grated jaggery,elachi powder and little water. Let it cook for some time till the jaggery melts. Now thick jaggery syrup forms.
5. Now add this jaggery syrup to the cooked rice mixture and mix well.
5. Heat a small pan with ghee, add cashew nuts, fry till it turns golden colour. Then add raisins, stir fry till it turns swollen. Pour this on cooked sweet Pongal mixture. Mix well.
6. Transfer to a serving bowl and offer to Lord Gowrimatha.
7. Later you can offer this yummy, delicious  prasadam to your 
    family members, friends and neighbours.

Hot Pongal 

Ingredients :
1/2 cup rice
1/4 cup moong dal
5 tablespoon ghee
6-8 broken cashew nuts pieces
15 peppercorns
1/4 tablespoon pepper powder
1/4 tablespoon cumin seeds
1 small piece of ginger
5 green chillies, slit lengthwise
8 curry leaves
a big pinch of asafoetida
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
salt to taste

Procedure :
1. Fry rice and moong dal in a pan for a few seconds. 
2. Wash several times with clean water and cook in a pressure cooker
     for 3-4 whistles.
3. Heat a pan with ghee, add cumin seeds, let them splutter, then add 
    broken cashew nuts, green chillies, fry for a few seconds till cashew nuts become golden colour and chillies become soft. 
4. Then add pepper powder, peppercorns, turmeric powder, curry leaves hing and fries for a few seconds until a nice aroma comes out.
5. Now add cooked rice and the required quantity of salt mix well.
6. Transfer to a serving bowl. Offer this prasadam to Matha Gowri
7. Serve it hot to your loved ones.

Please leave your comments and suggestions.