Sankranti- is derived from "Sat" and "Kranthi" means "Good movement", the movement of course refers to that of the sun from one rashi to another. It is also celebration of the harvested crops and goes by different names in various parts of India, among them Sankranthi in Karnataka, Pongal in Tamilnadu and Bihu in Assam. The festival of harvest and joy, called Pongal in Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh, Sankranti in Karnataka and Maharashtra, Sankrant in Gujarat, Sakarat in Madhya Pradesh, Lohiri in Punjab that marks the departure of winter, Khichiri in Uttar Pradesh and Bihu in Assam is celebrated in mid-January. In Kerala, it marks the end of the Anushtahan for Lord Ayyappa devotees. It is the time when uttarayan sets in implying the beginning of sun's journey towards north. Ellu-Bella Mixture(Sesame Seeds-Jaggery) In Karnataka, people prepare the Ellu-jaggery mix and distribute it among neighbours, relatives and friends. It will be accompained by a fruit, a piece of sugarcane as well. Ingredients: Nylon sesame seeds - 3/4 cup. Peanuts - 3 cups. Dalia dal - 2 cups. Copra - 2 cups. Jaggery - 2 cups. Sugar - 5-6 Teaspoons. Sugar coated cumin seeds - 1 cup (Jeerige peppermint). Preparation: Warm up peanut seeds in a broad based bowl on the medium flame in such a way that its fried but not so roasted as to lose color. Let them cool and then peal them. Heat a broad based bowl on a high flame for about 5 minutes, remove it from the flame and just stir roast sesame seeds in it in such a way that it just sputters in it and it also doesn't change the colour as such. Peal the copra and cut into small square pieces of 1/2?. Chop jaggery into 1/2? pieces. Dry it in the sun for about 2-3 hours. Mix dry roasted `n' pealed peanuts from step 1, sesame seeds from step 2, chopped copra and jaggery from step 3 , dalia dal, sugar coated cumin and sugar into a mixing bowl and is as shown in the image below. This is the Ellu-Bella/Sesame-jaggery mixture. Khara Pongal Ingredients: 1 Cup Rice. Half cup Moong dal . 4 Cups Water. Cashew nuts -5 to 6. 1 tsp Cumin seeds. 1/2 tsp Pepper powder. 3 to 4 tbsp Ghee. 1/2 tsp grated Ginger- a small piece cut finely. Salt to taste. Preparation: First take the cashews in a microwave safe bowl and add a tsp of ghee and set it on microwave high for half a minute. Transfer to another container and in the microwave safe bowl, add the washed raw rice and moong dal along with 4 cups of water. Spread a little ghee on it so as to prevent spilling. Set the Microwave to high for 10 minutes. Remove it and check if the rice is cooked well, else cook it for another 3 to 4 minutes.it depends on the quantity and quality of rice used. Mix it well along with salt as per taste, the roasted cashews, finely cut ginger, pepper and jeera. Microwave it on high for another minute. Allow 3 minutes standing time. Transfer to serving bowl and serve with ghee, coconut chutney or sambhar. Sweet Pongal/Sakkare Pongal Ingredients: 1 litre Milk . 1 and half cups Rice . Half cup Moong Dal . 10 no. Cashewnuts . 10 no. Almonds . 20 no. Kishmis . Pinch of Nutrieg Powder . 1 and half cup Jaggery (grated) or 1 and half cup sugar . 1/4 teaspoon Saffron (crushed) . 1 teaspoon Cardamom powder . 2 tablespoons ghee . Preparation: Chop almonds and cashewnuts. Clean kishmis. Pour and Boil milk in the earthen pot/ vessel and place it on fire. When the milk starts boiling add washed rice and dal. As soon as the rice and dal are cooked to softness, add jaggery and ghee. Add little water if necessary. Let cook on medium fire for some time and take a small kadai with ghee, roast almond, cashewnut bits, kishmis saffron, nutmeg and cardamom powders in ghee and then add to the pot of Pongal. Bring to one or two good boils. Serve when it is fresh and hot. HAPPY SANKRANTHI / PONGAL Archived recipe's.. Summer-Specials Gojju-Specials Beetroot-Specials HAMARA BHARAT MAHAN Cauliflower cheese Grilled corn and tomato salad Stuffed Peppers Recipes From Karnataka Modified For Heart Health II-Using Steel cut Oats Recipes From Karnataka Modified For Heart Health I-Using Rolled Oats