India
is a land of diverse culture, and we have heard that line to death. We also
know along with the different cultures come numerous festivals spreading across
the calendar. Before we're done celebrating one, another comes right around the
corner.
Likewise,
just as we got over Lohri, Pongal has arrived. But in North India, some of us
might not know about this festivity that is wrapped around few amazing
traditions.
If
you're one of them, here's all you need to know about Pongal celebrations,
which is being observed right now in southern India, especially Tamil Nadu, and
in many places across India:
What
is Pongal?
Pongal
is a four-day-long harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu, which falls in
the month of Thai (that is, the January-February season) when crops like rice,
sugarcane, turmeric etc. are harvested.
The
term 'pongal' in Tamil means "to boil", and this
festival is celebrated as a thanksgiving ceremony for the year's
harvest. Pongal, one of the important Hindu festivals, falls around
the same time as Lohri every year, which is around mid-January.
Pongal also happens to be the
name of a dish consumed during this festive time, which is sweetened
rice boiled with lentils.
The first day of Pongal - The Bhogi festival
The
Bhogi festival is celebrated in honour of Lord Indra, the god of rain, and the
lord of lords. The ritual of Bhogi Mantalu is also observed
this day, during which useless items of the household are tossed into a bonfire
traditionally made of cow dung cakes and wood.
What
is Pongal?
Pongal
is a four-day-long harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu, which falls in
the month of Thai (that is, the January-February season) when crops like rice,
sugarcane, turmeric etc. are harvested.
The
term 'pongal' in Tamil means "to boil", and this
festival is celebrated as a thanksgiving ceremony for the year's
harvest. Pongal, one of the important Hindu festivals, falls around
the same time as Lohri every year, which is around mid-January.
Pongal also happens to be the
name of a dish consumed during this festive time, which is sweetened
rice boiled with lentils.
The first day of Pongal - The Bhogi festival
The
Bhogi festival is celebrated in honour of Lord Indra, the god of rain, and the
lord of lords. The ritual of Bhogi Mantalu is also observed
this day, during which useless items of the household are tossed into a bonfire
traditionally made of cow dung cakes and wood.
The
second day - Thai Pongal
This
day, a special ritual is performed where rice and milk are boiled together in
an earthen pot - to which a turmeric plant is tied - out in the open as an
offering to the sun god. Along with this, sticks of sugarcane, coconuts and
bananas are also offered.
Another
important aspect of this day is the kolam, the traditional
design hand-drawn at the entrance of houses with lime powder. This auspicious
drawing must be done early in the morning and only after a bath.
The
third day - Mattu Pongal
Mattu
Pongal is the day celebrated in the name of cows. The cattle are
adorned with bells, sheaves of corn and garlands and worshipped.
Legend
has it that Lord Shiva had once sent his bull, Basava, to earth
with a message for the mortals, asking them to have an oil massage and bath
daily, and to eat once a month. Basava, however, mistakenly announced Shiva has
asked people to eat daily and have an oil bath once a month.
Enraged,
Shiva banished Basava to the earth forever, cursing he would have to plough the
fields to help people produce more food. Hence, the association of this day to
cattle.
The
fourth day - Kaanum Pongal
Kaanum
(or Kanu) Pongal marks the last day of Pongal. On this day, a ritual is
performed where the leftover sweet Pongal and other food are set out in
the courtyard on a washed turmeric leaf, along with betel leaves, betel nuts
and sugar cane.
Women of the household
carry out this ritual in the name of their brothers, asking for their
prosperity.
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