A typical traditional Pongal celebration has a number of
rituals attached to it. The preparations for the festival are quite elaborate.
The place where the Pongal puja is to be performed is cleaned and smeared with
dung, a day prior to the festival. The place chosen for this purpose usually
happens to be in the courtyard or an open terrace. Kolams (ground patterns made
out of rice flour) 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. The kolam also bears sociological significance and is even today
religiously performed daily as a threshold ceremony before dawn in traditional
Tamil homes. The Sankranti Rath (chariot) is a typical Pongal kolam. The ropes
of the rath are supposed to be kept open till on the next day they are “joined”
from house to house to symbolize a collective desire to realize an
uninterrupted cosmic cycle. 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.
Legends
Like many other Indian festivals, Pongal also has a few
interesting legends attached to it signifying the importance it holds. The most
popular legend is the one connected to the first day of the Pongal celebration
when the Rain God, Bhogi or Indra is worshiped. According to the legend, on
this day 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.
Another
legend is associated with the third day of Pongal celebration, also known as
Mattu Pongal. According to it, 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.
Celebrations
As
the January chill sets in, the joy of Pongal resounds the air. Pongal is
celebrated on January 14th every year and is also one of the longest
celebrations in the Tamil calendar, spread over four days.
The
festival of Pongal is held dear particularly by the farming community as it
marks the end of harvesting season. The markets start receiving stacks of
sugarcanes, turmeric saplings and a horde of farm produces. The run-up to
Pongal is as exciting as celebrating the occasion that is believed to ring in
prosperity.
Pongal
is celebrated for four days and the celebrations on the first day of the Tamil
month Thai and continues for the three 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.
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 colors, and garlands of
flowers placed around their necks. Pongal is associated with cleaning and
burning of rubbish, symbolizing the destruction of evil.
All
the four days of Pongal have there own individual significance. On the first
day, delicious preparations are made and homes are washed and decorated.
Doorways are painted with vermilion and sandalwood paste with colourful
garlands of leaves and flowers decorating the outside of almost every home. On
this day ‘Bhogi’ or the Rain God is worshipped.
Rituals Followed
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 center 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.
The Tempting Recipes
Sweet
rice, known as “Pongal”, is cooked in a new earthenware pot at the same place
where puja is to be performed. Fresh turmeric and ginger are tied around this
pot. Then a delicious concoction of rice, Moong Dal, jaggery and milk are
boiled in the pot on an open fire. This Pongal, according to ritual, is allowed
to boil and spill out of the pot. Pongal, once ready, is offered to God first,
on a new banana leaf along with other traditional delicacies like Vadas,
Payasam, etc. Besides this, sugarcane, grain, sweet potatoes, etc are also
offered to the Sun God.
Pongal Processions
A
procession is taken out from the Kandaswamy (also spelt as Kandaswami) Temple
in Chennai. In Madurai, Tanjore and Tiruchirapalli, where Pongal is known as
Jellikattu, bundles of money are tied to the horns of bulls, and villagers try
and wrest the bundles from them. Community meals are made from the freshly
gathered harvest and enjoyed by the entire village.
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