The fourth day of the
three-day Pongal celebrations is called Kaanum Pongal. In few places this day is also known as Karinaal or Thiruvalluvar Day. It is dedicated to the sun god,
Surya and has its roots in ancient Brahminical tradition. Since Pongal is a
rural, agrarian based festival that celebrates the harvests, the sun is a vital
part of the proceedings. This is because the Sun is the symbol of life on
Earth. Without the Sun, crops cannot sprout and grow. Without the Sun, harvests
will not be plentiful.
The fourth and the last
day of Pongal is known as Kanumu. Kaanum Pongal means seeing Pongal as this day
marks as the sightseeing day. On this day, people dress up gaily, families go
for picnic and visit relatives and make a tour of the town or the city they
reside. It is a day for the outdoors and most people throng out of home in the
evening, making for a sea of humanity. This is a day to spend time and
entertainment outside.
Kaanum is also the Tamil
version of brother's day. On this day, the women folk offer different kinds of
rice to birds and pray for the well-being of their brothers. This ritual is
called "Kanu". Sisters visit their brothers and inquire about their
welfare. Women eat the previous day's food and pray for their brother's
prosperity and health.
Being the last day of
Pongal, the farmer's rest and celebrate this day in high spirit. People worship
their ancestors and venerate their elders. It is the time for relaxing after
the 3 days of festivities. People go out along with family and friends and have
a nice day of outing. In the villages, the shop owners or employers of firms
give benevolent gifts to their employees as a token of gratitude for their good
work all through the year.
SURYA PUJA
On Kaanum Pongal, elaborate powdered chalk designs
of the sun god, Surya are drawn. As soon as the auspicious month of Thai is
underway, Surya is worshiped. Sheaves of sugarcane dot the prayer area. Freshly
cooked food including the typical sweet dish 'Sarkarai pongal' is first offered
to Surya. Sugarcane that is offered is symbolic for sweetness and happiness in
life. Sugarcane stalks and coconut- both auspicious symbols of plenty- are also
offered to the Gods in propitiation of a plentiful harvest in the forthcoming
year.
CUSTOMS
& RITUAL
This day is very similar to Rakhsa Bandhan and Bhai
Dhuj in that it is predominantly a festival where women offer prayers for the
wellbeing of their brothers. The 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.
CELEBRATION
On this day, people travel to see other family
members and 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 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. Some also go to temple to
worship and thank god for all good things that are bestowed on them.
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