PONGAL
FESTIVAL
INTRODUCTION
The harvest festival of Tamil Nadu marks the withdrawal
of the southeast monsoons and happy days of reaping of the
harvest. Basically a rural festival, it is celebrated in
the month of Thai (that falls in January) for four days.
The month of Thai is supposed to be very auspicious for
every kind of activity. The Sun is worshipped for his rays
are responsible for the life on earth. It is the biggest
harvest festival, spread over four days. 'Bhogi' is celebrated
on January 13, 'Pongal' on January 14, 'Mattu Pongal' on
January 15, and 'Thiruvalluvar Day' on January 16. Thiruvalluvar
has done a great contribution to Tamil literature with 'Thirukkural'.
There are 1,330 verses in this work and they talk about
all aspects of life.
In fact, the name of the festival is derived from Pongal,
a rice pudding made from freshly harvested rice, milk and
jaggery. The first day, "Bhogi Pongal", is a day
for the family. "Surya Pongal", the second day,
is dedicated to the worship of Surya, the Sun God. The third
day of Pongal, "Mattu Pongal", is for the worship
of the cattle. Cattle are bathed, their horns polished and
painted in bright colours, and garlands of flowers placed
around their necks. Pongal is associated with cleaning and
burning of rubbish, symbolizing the destruction of evil.
LEGEND BEHIND THE CELEBRATIONS
There are few interesting legends behind the Pongal celebrations.
The most popular among them related to the celebrations
of the first day of the Pongal festival goes like this -
Lord Krishna lifted the Govardhan Mountain on his little
finger to shelter his people and save them from being washed
away by the rains and floods.
According to another the third day of Pongal is celebrated
because Lord Shiva once asked Nandi, his bull, to go to
earth and deliver his message to the people - to have an
oil bath every day and food once a month. But Nandi got
it all mixed up when he delivered the message, and told
the people that Shiva asked them to have an oil bath once
a month and eat every day. Shiva was displeased, and told
Nandi that since the people would now need to grow more
grain, Nandi would have to remain on earth and help them
plough the fields.
Mattu Pongal is also called "Kanu Pongal", and
women pray for the welfare of their brothers. This is similar
to the festivals of Raksha Bandhan and Bhai Dooj celebrated
in some states of North India.
DESCRIPTION
The festival lasts for about a week. Bhogi, the first day
of Pongal starts by getting rid of old clothes by setting
them on fire. This act of burning the old shows a method
of destruction of evil and all that is bad and beginning
the new with everything afresh. The second day is the most
significant day of the festival. This day is the first day
of the Tamil month of Thai. The second day is also known
as Veetu Pongal the rituals involved on this day is boiling
rice with fresh milk and jaggery. New pots are used to boil
the rice. It is then garnished with brown sugar, cashew
nuts and raisins.
The blowing of the conch shell is a significant part of
the ritual. This welcomes the New Year and announces prosperity
and good fortune. Devotees greet each other by exchanging
gifts and sweets.
The third day of the festival, Maattu Pongal is a ritual
offering appreciation to the cattle as the cattle aids the
farmers in the field and are hence play a significant part
in the harvesting of crops. A game known as Jallikattu or
taming the wild bull is a special attraction of the day.
The fourth and final day of the Pongal festival is known
as Kaanum Festival. Decorating the house with kolam is a
part of the day’s ritual.
A typical traditional Pongal celebration has a number of
rituals attached to it. The place where the Pongal Puja
is to be conducted is cleaned and smeared with dung, a day
prior to the festival. People generally choose an open courtyard
for this purpose.
'Kolams' (Rangoli) generally drawn with rice flour are
special to the occasion. The idea behind using rice flour
is that the insects would feed on it and bless the household.
At the centre of it a lump of cow dung holds a five-petal
pumpkin flower, which is regarded as a symbol of fertility
and an offering of love to the presiding deity. In a similar
way the houses are also cleaned, painted and decorated.
Kolams (Rangoli) are made in the front yards of the houses
and new clothes for the whole family are bought to mark
the festivities. Even the cattle are gaily caparisoned with
beads, bells and flowers-their horns painted and capped
with gleaming metals.
TIME TO CELEBRATE
The Pongal Festival usually takes place between January
12 and 15 of every year. The festival is celebrated between
the last four days of the Tamil month of Maargazhi and the
third day of Thai.
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