HUNDREDS of years ago, there was a king in South India and his name was Bhoja Raja. He was such a good king. He was both brave and wise!

He had a great army and kept his war skills sharp! He captured many small neighboring nations in his time and expanded his kingdom. However, he couldn’t succeed in capturing a nearby big kingdom! It was his dream!

Many of attempts has already gone failure! The each time he and his army marched towards that big city, all his soldiers were beaten up, until finally they were driven into flight! At last, his army as entirely scattered, and Bhoja Raja was himself forced to flee out off the country! He went hid in the forest. The life in the woods…lonely mountain was harsh and dangerous. But, he managed to survive with his skills and wisdom.

On one stormy rainy day, Bhoja Raja was very hungry! He didn’t get a chance to forage in the woods, because of rain! He felt really hungry. When the rain stopped, he went out in search of food. In that thick dark winter night…he saw a thin steady beam of light in distance. He kept walking towards it.

As he walked…he saw a small thatched hut with lantern flickering! He was not sure, who might live in this forest! Since, he was terribly hungry. He gathered his courage and gently knocked the door. There was a old lady standing behind the door. The old lady was kind enough to welcome him to her humble adobe and she offered him dinner. She had made a dish called PONGAL -  Rice and Lentils based mushy dish. She presented it to the King (she doesn’t know that he is king) with great love.

And, our Raja was very hungry already! So, as soon as he saw this pipping hot comfort meal, Bhoja kept in fingers right in the middle of the food and got his fingers burnt, instantly! The old lady smiled and said: “You’re such a fool like our Bhoja Raja”. Now, the king got bit offended by this comment!

But, he couldn’t reveal that he is that king! With a weak smile, he asked her, what does that mean? The wise lady said that, the king is so stupid and always in a hurry to capture that big Kingdom! He doesn’t any use strategy, just like you! “Why don’t you start eating this pongal from the sides, the food gets colder(or warm enough) on the sides first! As you finish eating it, the center of the meal should be good enough to touch (bearable warm)”. As she explained how to eat Pongal, Bhoja Raja slowly realized his own mistakes. The each time, when he attacked that big city and got burned out! Now, he understood the strategy to capture that particular nation! 

After this incident, he gathered his army back and went on a battle after battle…at the fringes of the big kingdom. He captured one village after another; Slowly his army got bigger and bigger and he was finally able to capture the city, capital and the whole kingdom at the end. And, thus he expanded his kingdom and led a good life.

Note & Moral: This Indian Folklore is much similar to the popular -  King Bruce Story of Scotland; where he gets an idea, after seeing a spider’s number of attempts to ‘Never Give Up’! But, in our story…the moral is not about ‘Number of Attempts; using right strategy’.

Recipe For Pongal:   Pongal