Uduppi Pongal

Have you ever tasted the ghee shining Venpongal at Uduppi hotel of PON.Puduppatti, Ponnamaravathi? If not please visit the hotel as early as possible and experience the pleasure of having it. The hotel is in Pudukkottai district of Tamilnadu, India.

When I was studying in Valampuri Vaduganathan High School (now higher secondary school), I used to prepare throughout the night under the street lamps for examinations. One day, in the early morning, at about 5 O’ clock, I visited Uduppi hotel for a cup of strong coffee. At that time I saw my teacher Mr. Ananthanarayanan taking Pongal as his breakfast with great enjoyment and satisfaction. Not only he but also many regular customers were enjoying the delicious dish with coconut chutney and sambar. Parcel specialist of those days Mr. Perumal was busy in packing several Pongal.

On returning from Uduppi hotel, I enquired my father Mr. M. Natarajan Achari (Tinsmith) about the craving for eating Pongal at Uduppi hotel. He replied that he also used to take Pongal everyday early in the morning not at 5 O’ clock but after 6 O’clock. The next day I got the chance of having Uduppi Pongal. It was a wonderful experience for the taste buds of my tongue. The dish was enriched with ghee, cashew nuts, black peppers etc, with good aroma and completely satisfied me in all respects.

Form then onwards, Uduppi Pongal occupied a portion of my tiffin box, till I completed my B.Sc., degree in chemistry at V.S.Sivalingam Chettiar Government Arts College Pulankurichi.

It is the ability of this hotel to maintain the same standard of Pongal till today.

__ N. Arumugham