Pongal is a popular harvest festival of Tamil Nadu. It is celebrated on 14th of
January every year, coinciding with the Lohri of Punjab, Bhogali Bihu of Assam
and Makar Sankranti of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Pongal is mainly celebrated for
giving thanks to nature, for a bountiful harvest. This four-day festival is
celebrated in the season when rice (and other cereals), sugar-cane and turmeric
are harvested. Pongal marks the beginning of Thai, a month of hope and joy,
considered auspicious for marriages. As a part of Pongal celebrations,
entanceways to the houses are decorated with beautiful Kolams (patterns made
with rice flour), to feed the insects and gain their blessings for the
household. New clothes are bought and sweets and delicacies are prepared. Bull
fights, bird fights and community dinners are also arranged on this day.
Pongal Celebrations
The First Day
The first day of Pongal is devoted to Lord Indra, who is the supreme ruler of
clouds that give rain. People pay homage to Lord Indra for the abundance of
harvest and prosperity to the land. There is a custom of throwing useless
household articles into a fire, made of wood and cow-dung cakes. Girls are seen
dancing around the bonfire and singing songs in praise of the God.
The Second Day
On the second day of Pongal, a puja is performed. Rice is boiled in milk,
outdoors - in an earthenware pot, and is symbolically offered to the Sun God,
along with other oblations. On this day, husband and wife dispose off elegant
ritual utensils, specially used for the puja. There is a ritual of tying
turmeric plant around the pot in which the rice will be boiled. The offerings
include coconut and bananas in a dish, with two sticks of sugar-cane in
background.
The Third Day
It is also known as Mattu Pongal, the day when cattle are worshipped. The cattle
are decorated with multi-colored beads, tinkling bells, sheaves of corn and
flower garlands. They are fed with Pongal and taken to the village center, where
the young men race each other's cattle. It makes the atmosphere more festive and
full of fun. Later on, aarti is performed.
The Fourth Day
The final day of Pongal celebration is known as Knau or Kannum Pongal. On this
day, a turmeric leaf is washed and kept on ground. The left over of sweet Pongal
and Venn Pongal, ordinary rice as well as rice colored red and yellow, betel
leaves, betel nuts, two pieces of sugarcane, turmeric leaves, and plantains are
placed on it. All the women assemble in the courtyard and pray for the
prosperity of their brother. An aarti is performed with turmeric water,
limestone and rice and the items are sprinkled on the kolam in front of the
house. |
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