It was a not an ideal pongal when we ouldn't even see the Sun here in UK...
I missed the மண் பானை( Mud pots),மாகோலம்( decorations made of rice flour),கரும்பு(sugarcane),மஞ்சள் கொத்து(turmeric bunches),கற்பூர வாசனை( camphor)....I missed the race of யார் பானை முதலில் பொங்கும் (For what ever reason my folks used to call the சக்கரை பொங்கல் as my Pot (older son) and வெண் பொங்கல் as my brothers pot.
As a surgeon selfish and horrible really or may be not to fix all those bull gore injured people...
I don't miss the Long wait on மாட்டுபொங்கல் to have dinner as they start feeding the Cows from the house hold whose turn it is to have the previlage to be first that year (it rotates to everyone) and go in door to door fashion feeding the cattle...It used to the practice that you ate only after offering the poojas to the cattle and they were fed....I don't know if the practice exists still.
Kind regards
Sri
If I can stop one heart from breaking,I shall not live in vain; If I can ease one life the aching,Or cool one pain, Or help one fainting robin, Into his nest again, I shall not live in vain. Emily Dickinson