In our Native place the "Chitthirai Thiruvizha" is celebrated with much fan fare. Especially Chithra Pournami which falls in the month of Chitthirai is considered very auspicious as the "Ther" funtion is held on that day. All the four "Mada" streets around the temple volunteer in making this "Paangam" and "Kanji" on this day and serve the devotees who visit the temple on this day.
The "Thiruvilaku" Pooja will be held in the evening after which all the devotees are served hot kovil Sarkarai pongal and Puliodharai in small "Dhonnais" and in cut plantain leaves. We kids back then used to have a field day and would be so filled up after drinking cups and cups of Paanagam and kanji in the mornings that we skip the lunch in the afternoon and the pongal that would be dripping with ghee is enough to put us off dinner.
During the night, in a big ground next to the temple the screening of old devotional tamil films will be screened giving the feel of today's open air drive in theater. The kids would fall asleep during the course of the movies and we can see the elders carrying the sleepy kids on their shoulders heading home after the screening. The ground would be surrounded by lots of neem trees that you would never feel the heat and humidity.
Times have changed and I miss the old times like anything and feel so frustrated that I cannot turn the clock back. Anyway the memories are there, just mine to cherish for a lifetime.
Paanagam
Youโll Need:
Lemon โ 2
Water โ 4 cups
Grated Jaggery โ 1 cup
Cardamom โ 2 pods (crushed)
Edible camphor / Paccha karpooram โ 1 pinch
Dry ginger powder / Sukku powder โ 2 pinch
Salt โ 1 pinch
Neem flowers - ¼ tsp (optional)
Method:
In a vessel mix the jaggery with water and let it dissolve completely. Pass it through a sieve to filter any impurities. Now squeeze the lemons in this jaggery water. Add the crushed cardamoms, paccha karpooram, dry ginger powder and salt and mix well.
In a vessel mix the jaggery with water and let it dissolve completely. Pass it through a sieve to filter any impurities. Now squeeze the lemons in this jaggery water. Add the crushed cardamoms, paccha karpooram, dry ginger powder and salt and mix well.
Adjust the lemon and the jaggery according to your taste. you can also use sugar instead of jaggery when having this as a drink to quench your thirst.
Health Benefits: Using Jaggery in drinks during the summer time reduces the tiredness and refreshes you within minutes. In fact my Grandma used to make us suck on a a big chunk of jaggery whenever we return home from outside in the hot sun.
This thirst quenching Paanagam is off to my event "Fun N Sun" and to Sukanya's Summer Coolers
jeyashrisuresh
refreshing thrist quencher for the summer.adding edible camphor sounds new and should be flavourful
Saraswathi Iyer
Looks refreshing. nice clicks.
Nandini
Wow! I love this! Looks refreshing and yummy!
Kalpana Sareesh
hv not used camphor n lemon in paanagam thats a sure try .. its damn thirst quenching..
Vimitha Anand
Refreshing drink for the scorching heat...
Nithya
We used to make it for Rama Navami. Love it ๐
Reshmi Mahesh
Refreshing drink....nice write up...
Swathi
Paangam looks awesome. love them.
Suman Singh
What a refreshing drink..Perfect for hot summers and lovely presentation.
Priya
Quite a refreshing drink, feel like finishing that whole sombu..
Sanyukta Gour(Bayes)
Looks absolutely yummy n refreshing
Sanyukta
http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/
Sanyukta Gour(Bayes)
Looks absolutely yummy n refreshing
Sanyukta
http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/
*The Old Geezer
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Shobha
Refreshing drink.
Radhika, plz collect FOOD MAZAA AWARD from my blog.
SravsCulinaryConcepts
so refreshing and very new to me !!
Preety
just perfect
Prathibha
Lovely panagam...nice clicks too
Raji
I had paanagam on the day of ram navami..I can imagine that adding of camphor would have added more flavour to this.
The presentation is beautiful.
?LOVE2COOK?
Hi Radhika..thanks for stopping by at love2cook! ๐
Here I am to your delicious blog...so much to explore.
Abt the lemongrass chicken dish, I made similar dish using soy made chicken for my mum as she's a vegan too. Added some tomatoes.
Chittirai pournami is not new to me...but paanagam is. Loved it ya...thanks for sharing.
Suchi
panagam is my all time fav- yours look gorgeous!
Sharmilee! :)
Yummy and divine looking....
Swarnavalli Suresh
nice presentaion ...btw feel like drinking the entire panagam... glad to follow ur blog...
Prathima Rao
Refreshing!!! And nice & traditional presentation ๐
Prathima Rao
Prats Corner
Zareena
Thanks Radhika for stooping by my blog and commenting.
I heard about panagam but never tried that before. Nice thirst quencher.
S.Menaga
இதுவரை பானகத்தில் பச்சை கற்பூரம் சேர்த்ததில்லை...அது சேர்ப்பதால் இன்னும் சுவையாகவே இருக்கும்.நிச்சயம் செய்து பார்க்கிறேன்...தங்கள் கமெண்ட்டிற்க்கு மிக்க நன்றி!!நிறைய குறிப்புகளை தந்துருக்கீங்க,வாழ்த்துக்கள்.
Now Serving
I have never had it with neem leaves - a new and stomach healthy twist ! Loving it - pity we live in a 'neemless' land !!!
Reva
lovely drink:) truly authentic and lovely writeup... superb
Reva
saffronstreaks
Thnks for your beautiful entry, very new to me and offcourse edible camphor??
loved your presentation with ethnic touch