The word pongal literally means "to boil over" and it refers both to the festival but also the dish that is boiled with lentils and rice. For the festival, two types of pongal, a rice and lentil dish, are typically served. Ven pongal (khara pongal) is the savory version and sakkarai pongal the sweet version. You can get the recipes and learn about more dishes served during the holiday here.