Namma Gramam Tin: Reliving our village traditions this Pongal with millet and karupatti sweets

Pongal is not just a festival; it is a feeling that carries the warmth of the sun and the freshly harvested grains, the quiet comfort of village life. It lives in mornings that begin before sunrise, in kolams drawn patiently at the doorstep, in cows adorned with bells and flowers and in kitchens that slowly come alive with the comforting aroma of jaggery, ghee and roasted grains.

At the heart of these celebrations were always sweets made with care, shared generously and remembered long after the festival ended.

When festive sweets take centre stage, Nithya Amirtham’s Namma Gramam Tin brings this joy of tradition alive, blending wholesome millets and earthy karupatti to recreate the true flavours of Pongal, just the way our ammamma once did.

The taste of pongal from our village kitchens

In village homes, Pongal sweets were never about excess sweetness or richness. They were about balance, using what the land offered, respecting the season and cooking slowly with patience. Millets like ragi, along with traditional grains, formed the base of many festive treats, while karupatti added depth and warmth to every bite.

Paired together, these ingredients created sweets that were nourishing, flavourful and deeply satisfying perfect for celebrating the harvest.

The Namma Gramam Tin honours this wisdom. Each sweet is crafted to carry that familiar mann vaasam, where every ingredient has a purpose and every flavour tells a story of village life.

Millets and Karupatti: A festive harmony

Long before millets became a modern-day trend, they were an inseparable part of Tamil kitchens. During Pongal, millets were transformed into Festive Sweets that were both hearty and celebratory. Ragi, in particular, was cherished for its nourishing qualities and comforting taste.

Karupatti, or palm jaggery, is the heart of traditional sweetness. Its deep, caramel-like flavour brought character to Pongal sweets, balancing indulgence without overpowering the palate. Together, millets and karupatti created a harmony that felt wholesome yet festive.

What’s inside the Namma Gramam Tin

Each tin is thoughtfully curated to reflect the richness of a traditional Pongal spread:

Karupatti Mysurpa – Soft, rich and slow-cooked, infused with deep caramel notes

Ragi Laddus – Wholesome and comforting, made with millet goodness

Tirunelveli Halwa – A timeless classic, glossy, indulgent and full of festive nostalgia

Sattur Karupatti Mittai – Chewy, rustic and packed with traditional sweetness

Ragi Mixture – A balanced savoury-sweet snack that completes the festive experience

Together, these sweets bring back memories of opening festive tins at home, where every piece was meant to be shared with family and neighbours.

A tin full of nostalgia

Opening the Namma Gramam Tin feels like opening a piece of the past. It reminds us of sitting on the thinnai, exchanging our Traditional Sweets with neighbours, listening to elders talk about harvests and rains and enjoying quiet moments with a cup of filter coffee.

The tin reflects simplicity, purity and tradition, staying close to its roots while fitting seamlessly into today’s celebrations.

Bringing pongal home, wherever you are

Whether you’re celebrating Pongal in your hometown or miles away, the Namma Gramam Tin brings that familiar warmth home. It is a gentle reminder that traditions don’t fade; they live on through taste, memory and the love with which the Authentic Sweets and Savouries are prepared.

This Pongal, celebrate the harvest the way our ancestors did with gratitude, simplicity and sweets that honour the land.