Weekend truths and lies - (prompt)

Weekend-Engagement writing prompts: WEEK 136

This weekend has been really busy because we are celebrating the Tamil festival of Pongal and the transition from 'Dakshinayanam to Uttarayanam'.
Dakshinayanam indicates the period between July 15 to January 14. It is generally regarded as an unfavorable phase and auspicious events are rarely conducted. Come January 14, the transition begins to 'Uttarayanam' and the whole house is cleaned and festivities begin. So, it is a busy time and on the 15th morning, sweet rice is prepared and offered to the Sun as thanks for the good harvest.

I know I am writing about two truths and a lie but then the trick is to read every line and find it out

This festival is celebrated throughout India. Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Bihu, and Poush Sankranti are some of the most known.
I have lived all my life in the state of Kerala, in south India. Sometimes, I wondered why the people of Kerala do not share festivals with the rest of India like Diwali, Dusshera, etc but when it comes to Makar Sankranti, Kerala also celebrates it.

Yesterday, that is on the 14th of January, I cleaned the house and the lamps and also ground rice to a paste and drew 'kolams'. Today, on the 15th of January morning, I placed a banana leaf and kept on it the harvested turmeric and lit incense sticks. I also offered bananas and coconut as an offering. It is known as the Bhogi Pongal and is an offering to the God of rains - Indra.

After making the usual rice and curries, I prepared the 'sweet rice' that is usual for the Pongal festival. The 'Sakkarai Pongal'. It is basically cooking raw rice and adding crushed jaggery and mixing well along with ghee and cardamom and also adding coconut pieces to garnish it. This sweet is offered to the Sun god. This is known as Thai Pongal or Surya Pongal.

Tomorrow, we celebrate the Mattu Pongal( the cows are worshipped), and the day after, we offer rice and other offerings to the crow called Kaanum Pongal.

Pongal is a harvest festival and the people are in the mood to usher in the happy times and wear new clothes and also prepare a lot of sweets. Community members get together and have fun.

There was a bit of controversy in the years before when the 'Jalli kettu' had been stopped but after a lot of protests has been reinstated with amendments. It is bull against man, a sport similar to the one in Spain. Some people are still against this violent sport but the majority support it in Tamil Nadu. It is not practiced in any other state.

If you plan to travel to Kerala, now is the time because of the lack of rain and the pleasant climate that is not too harsh towards foreigners. Pongal is also the time when the Tamil movie industry releases movies and makes huge amounts of money from the box office. The textile and the gold and silver industries also benefit in this season.

I hope you get to visit India and enjoy such festivals.

Image - sayee

The two truths and the lie are hidden in the lines and I know it is difficult to find them. So, I will give hints.

Truths include facts about my place of living and the festivity preparations. You have to find where I lied and it may be linked to a dish.