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
Indira, 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. Kaanum pongal
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. for Mattu Pongal.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment