Pongal ( Makara
Sankaranthi ) Festival is around the corner and it is time to
send in our best wishes in advance.
Ungal
ellorukkum engaluduya ullam kanindha anbududaya
munkoottiya pongal vazhthukkal
***V*A*N*A*K*A*M***
Pongal Festival
Pongal
is a four day long harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu, a
southern state of India. For as long as people have been planting and
gathering food, there has been some form of Harvest Festival. Pongal,
one of the most important popular Hindu festivals of the year. This
four-day festival of thanksgiving to nature takes its name from the
Tamil word meaning "to boil" and is held in the month of Thai
(January-February) during the season when rice and other cereals,
sugar-cane, and turmeric (an essential ingredient in Tamil cooking) are
harvested.
 
Mid-January is an important time in the Tamil
calendar. The harvest festival, Pongal, falls typically on the 14th or
the 15th of January and is the quintessential `Tamil Festival'. Pongal
is a harvest festival, a traditional occasion for giving thanks to
nature, for celebrating the life cycles that give us grain. Tamilians
say `Thai pirandhaal vazhi pirakkum', and believe that knotty family
problems will be solved with the advent of the Tamil month Thai that
begins on Pongal day. This is traditionally the month of weddings. This
is not a surprise in a largely agricultural community -- the riches
gained from a good harvest form the economic basis for expensive family
occasions like weddings.
The First Day
This
first day is celebrated as Bhogi festival in honor of Lord Indra, the
supreme ruler of clouds that give rains. Homage is paid to Lord Indra
for the abundance of harvest, thereby bringing plenty and prosperity to
the land. Another ritual observed on this day is Bhogi Mantalu, when
useless household articles are thrown into a fire made of wood and
cow-dung cakes. Girls dance around the bonfire, singing songs in praise
of the gods, the spring and the harvest. The significance of the
bonfire, in which is burnt the agricultural wastes and firewood is to
keep warm during the last lap of winter.
The Second Day
On
the second day of Pongal, the puja or act of ceremonial worship is
performed when rice is boiled in milk outdoors in a earthenware pot and
is then symbolically offered to the sun-god along with other oblations.
All people wear traditional dress and markings, and their is an
interesting ritual where husband and wife dispose off elegant ritual
utensils specially used for the puja. In the village, the Pongal
ceremony is carried out more simply but with the same devotion. In
accordance with the appointed ritual a turmeric plant is tied around
the pot in which the rice will be boiled. The offerings include the two
sticks of sugar-cane in background and coconut and bananas in the dish.
A common feature of the puja, in addition to the offerings, is the
kolam, the auspicious design which is traditionally traced in white
lime powder before the house in the early morning after bathing.
The Third Day
The
third day is known as Mattu Pongal, the day of Pongal for cows.
Multi-colored beads, tinkling bells, sheaves of corn and flower
garlands are tied around the neck of the cattle and then are worshiped.
They are fed with Pongal and taken to the village centers.. The
resounding of their bells attract the villagers as the young men race
each other's cattle. The entire atmosphere becomes festive and full of
fun and revelry. Arati is performed on them, so as to ward off the evil
eye. According to a legend, once Shiva asked his bull, Basava, to go to
the earth and ask the mortals to have an oil massage and bath every day
and to eat once a month. Inadvertently, Basava announced that everyone
should eat daily and have an oil bath once a month. This mistake
enraged Shiva who then cursed Basava, banishing him to live on the
earth forever. He would have to plough the fields and help people
produce more food. Thus the association of this day with cattle.
The Fourth Day
The
Fourth day is known as Knau or Kannum Pongal day. On this day, a
turmeric leaf is washed and is then placed on the ground. On this leaf
are placed, the left overs 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. In Tamil Nadu
women perform this ritual before bathing in the morning. All the women,
young and old, of the house assemble in the courtyard. The rice is
placed in the centre of the leaf, while the women ask that the house
and family of their brothers should prosper. Arati is performed for the
brothers with turmeric water, limestone and rice, and this water is
sprinkled on the kolam in front of the house. |
Traditions & Customs
Inspite
of immense urbanization, the traditions and customs attached to the
harvest festival of Pongal has not diminished. Though the nature of
these tradition and customs has changed, the glitter of this festival
has not dimmed. The fast changing times notwithstanding, certain things
do not change. The way we celebrate the festivals, for instance. The
festival of Pongal captures the quintessence of south Indian culture in
all its entirety and traditional practices and customs continue to hold
their own even today.
The spirit is alive and Pongal is still
treated as a time to discard the old and welcome the new. The new crop
that is harvested is cooked and offered to the Almighty. Celebrated for
four days, the various traditions and customs of this harvest festival
are:
Bhogi Pongal
The
first day of Pongal known as 'Bhogi Pongal' is a day for family
gathering and is dedicated to Lord Indra, the king of the deities and
God of the Clouds and Rains. Offerings are made to him to please him so
that he blesses us for the plentiful harvest. It is also the beginning
of the New Year according to the Malayalam calendar and before sunrise,
a huge bonfire of useless things in home is lit that is kept burning
throughout the night. All the time, boys beat little buffalo-hide drums
known as 'Bhogi Kottus'. The houses are then cleaned till they shine
and are decorated with Kolams painted using rice four. There are yellow
pumpkin flowers are set in cow-dung balls in the middle of these
designs.
Surya Pongal
The
second day of Pongal known as 'Surya Pongal' is dedicated to the Sun
God. The granaries are kept full on this day and Sun God with his rays
are painted on a plank as he is worshiped with the birth of the new
auspicious month of Thai. Since the word 'Ponga' means 'to boil'
representing plentiful and excess yield, a special dish is cooked on
this day in a new mud-pot that comes in innovative shapes and have
artistic designs on them called 'Pongapani'. The special dish is called
'Sarkkarai Pongal' and is offered to Sun God with sugarcane sticks. It
is said that Lord Sundareshwar performed a miracle on this day in the
Madurai temple and breathed life into a stone elephant who ate
sugarcanes. One can see the depiction of the event in the Meenakshi
temple.
 
Mattu Pongal
The
third day known as 'Mattu Pongal' is dedicated to the cattle as
cowherds and shepherds pay thanks to their cows and bulls, paint their
horns and cover them with shining metal caps. They are fed 'Pongal' and
tinkling bells are tied around their neck. Cattle races are conducted
and in the game called 'Manji Virattu' groups of young men chase
running bulls. Bull fights called 'Jallikattu' are also arranged at
some places where young men have to take the money bags tied to the
horns of ferocious bulls single-handedly and without the use of arms.
Lord Ganesha and Goddess Parvati are also worshiped on this day. At
some other places, this day is celebrated as Kanu Pongal when girls
feed colored balls of cooked rice to the birds and crows and pray for
their brothers' happiness and that they always remember them.
Kaanum Pongal
The
fourth day is termed as Kaanum Pongal. On this day, people travel to
see other family members. On this day, the younger members of the
family pay homage to the elders, and the elders thank them by giving
token money. Another thing many do is leave food out on banana leaves
for birds to take. Many South Indian people will take the first bit of
rice cooked in any given day and set it outside for the crows to take,
so this is not necessarily a habit only for Pongal. |
What is Pongal?
Pongal
is the only festival of Hindu that follows a solar calendar and is
celebrated on the fourteenth of January every year. Pongal has
astronomical significance: it marks the beginning of Uttarayana
, the Sun's movement northward for a six month period. In Hinduism,
Uttarayana is considered auspicious, as opposed to Dakshinaayana, or
the southern movement of the sun. All important events are scheduled
during this period. Makara Sankranthi refers to the event of the Sun entering the zodiac sign of Makara or Capricorn.
In
Hindu temples bells, drums, clarinets and conch shells herald the
joyous occasion of Pongal. To symbolize a bountiful harvest, rice is
cooked in new pots until they boil over. Some of the rituals performed
in the temple include the preparation of rice, the chanting of prayers
and the offering of vegetables, sugar cane and spices to the gods.
Devotees then consume the offerings to exonerate themselves of past
sins.
Pongal
signals the end of the traditional farming season, giving farmers a
break from their monotonous routine. Farmers also perform puja to some
crops, signaling the end of the traditional farming season. It also
sets the pace for a series of festivals to follow in a calendar year.
In fact, four festivals are celebrated in Tamil Nadu for four
consecutive days in that week. 'Bogi' is celebrated on January 13,
'Pongal' on Jan 14, 'Maattuppongal' on Jan 15, and 'Thiruvalluvar Day' on Jan 16.
The
festival is celebrated for four days. On, the first day, Bhogi, the old
clothes and materials are thrown away and fired, marking the beginning
of a new life. The second day, the Pongal day, is celebrated by boiling
fresh milk early in the morning and allowing it to boil over the vessel
- a tradition that is the literal translation for Pongal. People also
prepare savories and sweets, visit each other's homes, and exchange
greetings. The third day, Mattu Pongal, is meant to offer thanks to the
cows and buffaloes, as they are used to plough the lands. On the last
day, Kanum Pongal, people go out to picnic.
A festival called Jalli katthu
is held in Madurai , Tiruchirapalli and Tanjavur,all in Tamil Nadu, on
this day. Bundles of money are tied to the horns of Pongal ferocious
bulls which the villagers try to retrieve. Everyone joins in the
community meal, at which the food is made of the freshly harvested
grain. This day is named and celebrated as Tamiliar Thirunal in a fitting manner through out Tamil Nadu.
Thus,
the harvest festival of Pongal symbolizes the veneration of the first
fruit. The crop is harvested only after a certain time of the year, and
cutting the crop before that time is strictly prohibited. Even though
Pongal was originally a festival for the farming community, today it is
celebrated by all. In south India, all three days of Pongal are
considered important. However, those south Indians who have settled in
the north usually celebrate only the second day. Coinciding with Makara Sankranti and Lohri of the north, it is also called Pongal
Sankranti.
Meaning & Significance
Thai Pongal is an occasion for family re-unions and get-together.
Old enmities, personal animosities and rivalries are forgotten. Estrangements are healed and reconciliation effected.
Indeed,
Thai Pongal is a festival of freedom, peace, unity and compassion
crystallized in the last hymn on unity in the Indian spiritual text the
Rig Veda. Thus, love and peace are the central theme of Thai Pongal.
MAY THIS PONGAL BRING SUCCESS,PROSPERITY AND HAPPINESS IN OUR LIFE
Wishing you more Prosperity, Happiness
,
Sound Health and Peace of Mind
on this
Auspicious Pongal ( Makara Sankaranthi )
Day.
HAPPY MAKARSANKRATI
!*!~* Makar Sankranti In Various Parts Of
India*~!*!
The great diversity
of Indian religious beliefs is projected throughthe various festivals
that are celebrated in our country. They arise from the innate desire
of man to seek diversion from humdrum activities and they help in
symbolising, reflecting and enriching social life in a specific
cultural setting.
The festival of Makar Sankrant traditionally coincides with the beginning of the Sun"s northward journey (theUTTARAYAN) when it enters the sign of Makar (theCAPRICORN). It
falls on the 14th of January every year according to the Solar
Calendar. This day has a very special significance because the day and
night on Makar Sankrant are of exactly of equal hours. This day is
celebrated as a festival right from the times of the Aryans and is
looked upon as the most auspicious day by the Hindus.
The
evidence of this festival being lucky is found in our great epic
Mahabharat wherein it is told that the great warrior-hero, Bhishma
Pitamah even after being wounded and lying on the bed of arrows,
lingered on till Uttarayan set in, to breathe his last. It is believed
that the person who dies on this auspicious day of Sankrant escapes the
cycle of birth and re-birth and that his soul mingles with the Almighty.
This
festival is celebrated differently in different parts of the country
yet the use of til that is sesame is found everywhere. Til or sesame
seed contain lot of oil and they therefore have a quality of softness
in them. Therefore, firstly the use of til in sweets is good for health
and secondly being soft their exchange means exchange of love and
tender feelings.
In Maharashtra on
the Sankranti day people exchange multi-coloured tilguds made from til
(sesame seeds) and sugar and til-laddus made from til and jaggery.
Til-polis are offered for lunch and these are specialities of
Maharashtra. Maharashtrian women are proud of their excellence in
preparing these delicacies. While exchanging tilguls as tokens of
goodwill people greet each other saying - "til-gul ghya, god god bola" meaning
"accept these tilguls and speak sweet words". The under-lying thought
in the exchange of tilguls is to forget the past ill-feelings and
hostilities and resolve to speak sweetly and remain friends. This is a
special day for the women in Maharashtra when married women are invited
for a get-together called "Haldi-Kumkoo" and given gifts of any utensil, which the woman of the house purchases on that day.
In Gujarat Sankrant
is observed more or less in the same manner as in Maharashtra but with
a difference that in Gujarat there is a custom of giving gifts to
relatives. The elders in the family give gifts to the younger members
of the family. The Gujarati Pundits on this auspicious day grant
scholarships to students for higher studies in astrology and
philosophy. This festival thus help the maintenance of social
relationships within the family, caste and community. In Punjab where
December and January are the coldest months of the year huge bonfires
are lit on the eve of Sankrant and which is celebrated as "LOHARI". Sweets,
sugarcane and rice are thrown in the bonfires, around which friends and
relatives gather together. Thefollowing day, which is Sankrant is
celebrated as MAGHI. The
Punjabi"s dance their famous Bhangra dance till they get exhausted.
Then they sit down and eat the samptions food that is specially
prepared for the occasion. In Bundelkhand and Madhya Pradesh this festival of Sankrant is known by the name "SUKARAT" or"SAKARAT" and is celebrated with great pomp merriment accompanied by lot
of sweets.
In South Sankrant is known by the name of "PONGAL",
which takes its name from the surging of rice boiled in a pot of milk,
and this festival has more significance than even Diwali. It is very
popular particularly amongst farmers. Rice and pulses cooked together
in ghee and milk is offered to the family deity after the ritual
worship. In essence in the South this Sankrant is a "Puja" (worship) for the Sun God.
In Uttar Pradesh, Sankrant
is called"KICHERI".Having
bath on this day is regarded as most important. A mass of humanity can
be seenbathing in the Sangam at Prayagraj where the rivers Ganga,
Jamuna and Saraswathi flow together. At the confluence of these holy
rivers every year Kumbh Mela is held for full one month. In Bengal every
year a Mela is held at Ganga Sagar where the river Ganga is believed to
have dived into the nether region and vivified the ashes of the sixty
thousand ancestors of King Bhagirath. This mela is attended by a large
number of pilgrims from East India. The
tribals in our country start their New Year from the day of Sankrant by
lighting bonfires, dancing and eating their particular dishes sitting
together.The Bhuya tribals of Orissa have their Maghyatra in which
small home-made articles are put for sale.
There is also a fair in the Western Ghats at a place called Shabari Mala, where
the temple of the Community Goddess is decorated with dazzling lights.
The Goddess is worshipped by touchables and un-touchables both and the
"bhog" to the Goddess is cooked in the touchables and un-touchables
both. These tribals participate in the Mela and enjoy all together as
if they belong to one single family. May be therefore, the experts pine
that this festival of Makar Sankrant comes to us from those olden times
when the caste system did not exist in India as it emphasises or
communal harmony. Thus
we see that this festival occupies a significant place in the cultural
history of our country and symbolises the victory of ORDER over CHAOS
and of Love over Hate.
Hi,
Til gud ghya, god god bola
Wish you all a very
happy and prosperous MAKARSANKRATI
SMILE WITH
RAMNATH,JAYAM,PATTI
SOUMYA&KAMAL
ASHWIN&MANALI&KIMAYA
|
