Why Urad Dal is a Must in Indian Festivals & Traditions

In India, food is not just about nourishment — it is memory, ritual, and devotion. Every festival plate carries centuries of symbolism, and every grain tells a story. Among these, urad dal (black gram) has held a sacred place across communities. From harvest celebrations to ancestral offerings, this humble dal is more than an ingredient — it is a bridge between daily life and the divine.

Pongal: Gratitude in a Bowl

In Tamil Nadu, Pongal marks the harvest season and is offered to the Sun God during thanksgiving. While rice and jaggery dominate the spotlight, urad dal quietly plays a very significant role. In dishes like ven pongal, a comforting mix of rice, urad dal, ghee, pepper, and cumin, the dal adds not just body but symbolism. Its grounding nature makes it ideal for rituals that celebrate abundance, fertility, and community togetherness.

This festival shows us how urad dal in festivals is not about luxury but about humility — taking what is grown on the land and offering it back with reverence.

Sankranti: Sweet Dumplings & Shared Joy

Across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Makar Sankranti brings with it the beloved sweet poornalu (also called boorelu). These golden dumplings are stuffed with urad dal, jaggery, and ghee before being offered as naivedyam in temples and shared among families.

In northern states too, urad dal khichdi is prepared during Sankranti, combining rice and dal as a balanced, symbolic meal. The pairing of rice (carbohydrates) and urad dal (protein) represents the union of energies needed for life’s sustenance.

Thus, urad dal traditions in Sankranti rituals reflect the Indian philosophy of balance — both in diet and in living.

Shraddha: Honoring Ancestors with Simplicity

Few rituals emphasize simplicity as strongly as Shraddha, when families pay homage to their ancestors during Pitru Paksha. Here, urad dal and rice are considered essential offerings in the form of pind daan. Their pairing represents completeness — rice as staple energy, urad dal as strength and nourishment.

In scriptures and oral traditions, black foods like sesame seeds and urad dal are associated with feeding the unseen, bridging the material and spiritual worlds. Including urad dal in Shraddha rites is not about taste, but about respect and continuity — ensuring ancestors are honored with the best of what the earth provides.

This makes urad dal one of the timeless sacred foods of India, binding generations together through ritual.

Temple Foods: From Kitchens to Sanctums

Step into a South Indian temple kitchen, and you will find urad dal at the heart of many offerings. Medu vada, made from ground urad dal batter, is a common prasad in temples during festivals. Its crisp exterior and soft interior are not only delightful but symbolically represent the human journey — toughened by the world, yet soft at heart.

In some temples, white urad dal (dehusked) is preferred for its purity symbolism. It finds its way into prasadam laddus, pongal dishes, and ritual feasts prepared during festivals.

The use of urad dal in temples underscores how urad dal traditions are both spiritual and practical: nutritious enough to feed large communities, yet simple enough to stay true to ritual values.

Why Urad Dal Endures in Sacred Rituals

Nourishment with meaning: High in protein, fiber, iron, and folate, urad dal provides strength for body and spirit.

Symbolism of balance: When paired with rice, it represents harmony — a core value in rituals.

Regional versatility: From Pongal in Tamil Nadu to Shraddha rituals in the North, its presence is pan-Indian.

Accessibility: Being widely cultivated, it embodies the philosophy that sacred food should be humble, not extravagant.

 The Dal That Binds Faith and Food

Festivals in India remind us that food is never just fuel. It is gratitude, remembrance, and devotion. Urad dal in festivals — whether in a steaming bowl of Pongal, a Sankranti sweet, a Shraddha offering, or temple prasadam — connects us to heritage. It is one of the enduring sacred foods of India, carrying tradition from the soil to the soul.

By placing urad dal at the heart of ritual cuisine, our ancestors gave us more than recipes — they reminded us that the simplest foods often hold the deepest meaning.