PONGAL

PONGAL

One of the most important harvest festivals is Pongal which is celebrated in Tamil Nadu, and in many places across in India. It is also known as Thai Pongal, Thai here refers to the tenth month in the calendar of Tamil, on the other hand, Pongal connotes overflow or boiling. Pongal is also the name of the sweetened dish of rice boiled in milk and jaggery which is consumed on that particular day during this festive time. This festival is also celebrated as a thanksgiving ceremony. It is one of the important Hindu festivals which falls at the same time as Lori.

When is Pongal?

This festival is celebrated four days which falls in the Tamil month of Thai that is mid of January when crops like sugarcane, rice, turmeric is harvested. According to some sources it has been said in 2020, Pongal will take places from mid of January 14-17. It is worshipped to Sun God that leads to a good harvest nature and agriculture. There are three days of Pongal festival celebrated which is known as Bhogi Pongal, Surya Pongal, and Maattu Pongal. It is said this festival brings the end of winter.

What rituals are performed during the pongal?

There are many things which take place during this festive season. Firstly, the homes should be neat and clean. People try to decorate their homes, paint them. Lord Indra is worshipped on the first day the rain God for providing enough rain farmers also worship and pray.

On the next day the main Pongal day, which is the second day which is known as Surya Pongal. On this day, God Sun is worshipped and offers them prayers and seek blessing for a prosperous harvest.

The third day which is known as Mattu Pongal, is for the farm animals cow, cattle. Well, they are given a bath and decorated for the occasion. Communities arrange a carnival such as celebrations in the streets. Cows owners line their cows in front of a temple for the blessings.

On the fourth festive day, which is known as Kanya Pongal where the birds are worshipped. Rice is prepared for the birds to eat them. Therefore, people do visit their relative place to greet them and seek their blessing and also thank family and friends for their support during the harvest. It is also known as joyful day and family get together day.

What is Pongal?

Pongal is a huge harvest festival which is celebrated in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in India. Well, the word Pongal in Tamil means to boil and is celebrated as thanksgiving every year’s harvest. On the other hand, this festive comes with cleaned and decorated houses which indicates to get rid of negativity. Well, rangoli take place in every homes, street and everywhere full of colours. Which is fascinating on its people take oil baths on that particular day. It is celebrated in a unique style with much enthusiasm.

Pongal dish

The Pongal festival fantastic dish is the is freshly made by harvested rice, and made by preparing boil milk and raw jaggery which is made by sugar cane. Therefore, in this sweetened dish, some other ingredients are also added such as raisins, green gram, some cashew nuts, cardamom, coconut, ghee {from cow milk}. People try to prepare a sweet dish, but they also try to prepare other versions as well. Well, women take their cooking pots Infront of their home or near the temple just to cook together socially or village or open spaces. This dish is prepared for Sun God, Surya to worship and to offer the gratitude and the cooking is done in sunlight as well that indicates for lord SURYA.

Many people are invited, such as friends and relatives, to greet on Pongal day. This coking is done in the clay pot, which is beautifully garland with colourful flowers, tied with turmeric root or artwork which is known as Kolam. Well, the food which is prepared first is offered to God and Goddess and then cows, and then to relatives and close one such as friends. Moreover, temples organize free kitchen for the women and who all have gathered. This tradition is means to build the bond stronger as the sweet dish is distributed as the prasad in the temple.

Bhogi Pongal

The very first festival begins on the day called Bhogi Pongal, on this particular day people clean the houses, paint them and decorate them with a festive look which makes the house more colourful and joyful with Kolams which is prepared of rice flour and red mud. Moreover, you will find cow dung cakes; pumpkin flowers are also used for decorations. People discard old belongings such as old clothes, and other stuff is burnt in the fire. And people assemble and lit a bonfire to burn the heaps of discards. Moreover, people dress up neat and clean with new clothes and the horns of oxen and buffaloes are painted in villages. On the first day of Pongal, the prayers are offered to the Lord Indra the God of rains with thanks and hope to have shower in the year. People place money into a mixture and try to pour over children, so that they could collect the money and sweet fruits

Surya Pongal

Surya Pongal is the second festive day of the Pongal it is dedicated to the God Surya the God of Sunlight. Men offer prayers to the Sun with the namaskaram way and worship God. Well, it is also known as Tai the first day of the Tamil calendar month. This day is celebrated with the Pongal dish with friends and relatives. Well, the dish is prepared in a traditional way it is cooked in a clay pot in an open area with the view of Sun which is necessary because on this day the dish is offered to God Sun. Hence, the pot is decorated by flower, garland, or tying turmeric plant. It is also seen near the cooking place tall sugar cane stalks are placed as a tradition.

The traditional dish is prepared by boiling milk, and jaggery harvested rice grains in a pot. When the dish begins to overflow out of the vessel and other shouts with joy Pongal. Which means may this rice get boil over. On the other hand, it refers or symbolism of grater fortunes in the year ahead. Many women sing Kuruvai trills which is known as a traditional song while the dish is getting prepared. Firstly, it is offered to God Surya and Lord Ganesh and Goddesses after that cows and then the relatives and friends.

Most of the houses of Tamilians are decorate with banana and mango leaves at the entrance of the home, corridors with the flowers to make it look more festive and colourful. Women design it with geometric patterns or drawing it with coloured rice flour which is known as Kolam’s. In the ground, the large images are drawn of the lord Sun God for worship.

Mattu Pongal

On this day Mattu Pongal is celebrated which comes after Surya Pongal. Well, mattu refers to cattle, cow, bullock it is dedicated to them, which is an inevitable part of the agricultural society. Therefore, Tamil Hindus worship them a lot because it is known as a source of wealth such as cow provides us with milk or dairy products, fertilizer, and transportation as well. On this particular day Mattu Pongal, cattle are decorated and celebrated with flowers, painted horns, garlands, and they are worshipped. People offered them with special meals, bananas, a mixture of Venn Pongal, jaggery, honey, and many more fruits.

On the other hands, these traditions are done very spiritually such as cow and oxen are given a bath to them nicely people decorated with ornaments to their cows with turmeric water and oil. People apply tilak on them as Kumkum offered to their foreheads, paint their horns beautifully. They also thank them for the help with the harvest to their cattle. They are offered the Festive Dish Pongal that was cooked especially for worship.

Other than that Pongal include community sports and games which includes cattle race. It is a major festival where you can get to see Bullfights and cattle race which is organized on this particular day as a festive spirit.

Kanum Pongal

Kanum Pongal is also known as Kanya Pongal, it is on the fourth day of the festival. This gives the end od the marks of the Pongal festivals of the year. Well, in this festival the word Kanum means to meet with the close ones or the relatives. There are many families hold a reunion on this day which makes them build a more strong connection with them. Therefore, villagers on the rural area cut the fresh sugar cane to consume and offer to one another during a social gathering.

On this day, the youngster goes out to meet with seniors and greet them and pay them respect and seek blessings. The local communities organize an event to build more connection and bond to make the strong. Families, neighbour and friends visit to greet each other; on the other hand, elders give blessing to the children and provide some pocket money as a gift.

Mattu Pongal brings lots of fun by women and young girls. Well, on this day sisters pray and wish good luck for their brothers such as health and well-being and long life. On the other hand, brothers gift some unique things to their married sisters. Moreover, girls place a turmeric plant outside of their home and try to feed the leftover Pongal dish from Surya Pongal to the crows.