01-13-2005, 09:37 PM
Came via email:
<b>PONGAL </b>
The festival of Pongal falls in the month of January after the winter solistice and as such this Pongal festival marks the favourable course of the Sun. It is a three-day festival and the fourth day is a day for outdoors and excursions.
"May the pot of prosperity boil over
May the Pongal that we cook,
the fragrance of turmeric
the taste of sugarcane, ginger and honey
Bring the joy of Pongal into our homes
May the blessings of the Sun God flood our lives.
With many other verses like this, the people of Tamil Nadu greet the great festival of Pongal celebrated all over the South as Makara Sankranti. In Tamil Nadu it has an additional significance as Pongal welcomes the occasion of the incoming harvest. In North India, it is known as Sankaranthi.
The first day is celebrated as the BHOGI PONGAL and is usually meant for domestic activities and of being together with the family members. This first day is celebrated in honour 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.
An interesting story is told that Indra, being worshipped by all on this day, became proud and arrogant Lord Krishna to teach him a lesson asked his shepherd friends to worship Mount Govardhan instead of Indra on Bhogi Pongal day. Terribly enraged, Indra sent forth the seven clouds to bring forth thunder, lightning and heavy rains to cause deluge to destroy the shepherds. But Lord Krishna lifted up the Govardhan mountain under which the shepherds and their cattle got full shelter. Then Indra begged Krishna's forgiveness and once more Lord Krishna allowed Bhogi celebrations to continue in honour of Indra. There is a beautiful carving at Mahabalipuram showing Krishna lifting Govardhan.
On this day before sunrise a huge bonfire is lit in front of the houses and all the useless household things are thrown into the fire. The burning of all that is old is symbolic of the starting of a fresh new year. The bonfire is kept burning throughout the night while boys beat little drums known by the name "Bhogi Kottus".
On the Bhogi day, it is the occasion to take an oil bath before sunrise for the girls and women and worship the family deities, especially Sun. The family cleans up the whole house, getting rid of all the useless things by throwing them into a bonfire that is lit before sunrise. This symbolizes a new beginning by getting rid of the old. Boys beat their little drums called Bhogi Kottus. The girls draw the most colorful Kolams( Rangoli) and decorate them with dungballs called gobillu. Then they dance around the kolam with intricate steps. In villages yellow pumpkin flowers are set out in cow-dung balls in the middle of the designs. The harvest of rice, turmeric and sugarcane is brought in and kept ready for the next day's festivities.
The second day of Pongal is known as SURYA PONGAL or THAI PONGAL and is dedicated to the Sun God. On this day the granaries are full, sun shines brightly, trees are in full bloom, bird-songs resound in the air and hearts overflow with happiness that get translated into colourful and joyous celebrations. A plank is placed on the ground and Kolam designs are drawn on its sides. In the centre of the plank is drawn a large figure of the Sun God with his effulgent rays. The "Puja" of the Sun God starts after the auspicious moment of the birth of the new month THAI. Prayers are rendered to the Sun God to seek his benedictions.
The word `Pongal' literally has two connotations. Firstly it is the name of the special dish cooked on this day and secondly the word "Ponga" means "boil". So the word 'Pongal' means that which is overflowing. The preparation of this special dish needs a new mud-pot called Pongapani on which artistic designs are drawn. The village fair where these pots of different shapes and designs are sold is truly an aesthetic treat for the eyes to behold as also the specially set up colourful sugarcane market. While the `Puja' is being performed, the neck of the Pongapani is tied with fresh turmeric and fresh ginger saplings with tender green leaves. The green leaves are symbolic of prosperity, the turmeric of auspiciousness, ginger for the spice of life. The special dish called "Sarkkarai Pongal" is cooked in this mud-pot. After the rituals of puja are over "Sarkkarai Pongal" with sticks of sugarcane is offered to the Sun god as a thanksgiving for the plentiful harvest. Sugarcane that is offered is symbolic for sweetness and happiness in life. It is said that on this day Lord Sundareshwar in the Madurai temple performed a miracle and breathed life into a stone elephant that could eat sugarcane. The carving of this event is in Meenakshi temple. From this month of THAI starts the marriage season in Tamil Nadu.
The THIRD day is MATTU PONGAL which is the festival of cattle. To the village people cow, the giver of milk and the bull which draws the plough in the fields are very valuable and therefore the farmers honour their dumb friends by celebrating it as a day of thanks-giving to them. The cattle are washed, their horns are painted and covered with shining metal caps. Multi-coloured beads, tinkling bells, sheafs of corn and flower garlands are tied around their necks. They are fed with pongal and taken to the village centres. 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. Big commotion is seen when the game "Manji Virattu" starts in which groups of young men chase the running bulls.
In some places "Jallikattu" is arranged. It is a bull-fight in which money bags are tied to the horns of ferocious bulls and unarmed young men are asked to wrest them from the bull's horns. On the Mattu Pongal day Lord Ganesh and Goddess Parvati are worshipped and Pongal is offered to them in the `puja'.
This day is also known by the name of Kaanum Pongal when coloured balls of cooked rice are placed in the open air by girls for the birds and crows to eat. With each ball of rice that the sister makes she prays for her brother's happiness and the brothers and sisters wherever they may be remember each other. This festival is reminiscent of Raksha Bandhan. In some places Kaanum Pongal is celebrated on the fourth day, the day after Mattu Pongal.
Community dinners are also held when rich and poor, the landlord and the peasant, the old and the young, women and children all dine together forgetting the distinction of caste or class. All share in the spirit of fonhomic.
In Kerala âMakara Vilakkuâ festival is celebrated on Makara Sankranthi day at Sabarimala temple. It is the most important festival at Sabarimala temple. It is a seven-day festival commencing on the day of Makara Sankranthi, the day on which the sun is in summer solstice. It was on this auspicious day, the idol of Dharma Sastha was enshrined in the temple. The annual celebration of Makara Vilakku is commemorative of this sacred event. Thousands and thousands of devotees go to Sabarimala during this time to witness the peerless phenomenon, the appearance of 'Makarajyothi " a spectacular scene which leaves an indelible impression in the hearts of the devotees. On seeing this celestial splendor, in the midst of the spontaneous cries of 'Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa' from millions of throats, one experiences a rare feeling of ecstasy and a unique sense of accomplishment.
Pongal is a festival when God is praised with a simple faith and sincerity. Old vices are all washed out and all that is good is welcomed in this New year. This festival is of all living things, of man, his beast and his crop and of the birds that fly in the sky making man look up to the heaven in joy and thankfulness to God for everything that He gives to man specially peace and happiness and the feeling of brotherhood.
Wish you all a very happy Pongal.
<b>PONGAL </b>
The festival of Pongal falls in the month of January after the winter solistice and as such this Pongal festival marks the favourable course of the Sun. It is a three-day festival and the fourth day is a day for outdoors and excursions.
"May the pot of prosperity boil over
May the Pongal that we cook,
the fragrance of turmeric
the taste of sugarcane, ginger and honey
Bring the joy of Pongal into our homes
May the blessings of the Sun God flood our lives.
With many other verses like this, the people of Tamil Nadu greet the great festival of Pongal celebrated all over the South as Makara Sankranti. In Tamil Nadu it has an additional significance as Pongal welcomes the occasion of the incoming harvest. In North India, it is known as Sankaranthi.
The first day is celebrated as the BHOGI PONGAL and is usually meant for domestic activities and of being together with the family members. This first day is celebrated in honour 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.
An interesting story is told that Indra, being worshipped by all on this day, became proud and arrogant Lord Krishna to teach him a lesson asked his shepherd friends to worship Mount Govardhan instead of Indra on Bhogi Pongal day. Terribly enraged, Indra sent forth the seven clouds to bring forth thunder, lightning and heavy rains to cause deluge to destroy the shepherds. But Lord Krishna lifted up the Govardhan mountain under which the shepherds and their cattle got full shelter. Then Indra begged Krishna's forgiveness and once more Lord Krishna allowed Bhogi celebrations to continue in honour of Indra. There is a beautiful carving at Mahabalipuram showing Krishna lifting Govardhan.
On this day before sunrise a huge bonfire is lit in front of the houses and all the useless household things are thrown into the fire. The burning of all that is old is symbolic of the starting of a fresh new year. The bonfire is kept burning throughout the night while boys beat little drums known by the name "Bhogi Kottus".
On the Bhogi day, it is the occasion to take an oil bath before sunrise for the girls and women and worship the family deities, especially Sun. The family cleans up the whole house, getting rid of all the useless things by throwing them into a bonfire that is lit before sunrise. This symbolizes a new beginning by getting rid of the old. Boys beat their little drums called Bhogi Kottus. The girls draw the most colorful Kolams( Rangoli) and decorate them with dungballs called gobillu. Then they dance around the kolam with intricate steps. In villages yellow pumpkin flowers are set out in cow-dung balls in the middle of the designs. The harvest of rice, turmeric and sugarcane is brought in and kept ready for the next day's festivities.
The second day of Pongal is known as SURYA PONGAL or THAI PONGAL and is dedicated to the Sun God. On this day the granaries are full, sun shines brightly, trees are in full bloom, bird-songs resound in the air and hearts overflow with happiness that get translated into colourful and joyous celebrations. A plank is placed on the ground and Kolam designs are drawn on its sides. In the centre of the plank is drawn a large figure of the Sun God with his effulgent rays. The "Puja" of the Sun God starts after the auspicious moment of the birth of the new month THAI. Prayers are rendered to the Sun God to seek his benedictions.
The word `Pongal' literally has two connotations. Firstly it is the name of the special dish cooked on this day and secondly the word "Ponga" means "boil". So the word 'Pongal' means that which is overflowing. The preparation of this special dish needs a new mud-pot called Pongapani on which artistic designs are drawn. The village fair where these pots of different shapes and designs are sold is truly an aesthetic treat for the eyes to behold as also the specially set up colourful sugarcane market. While the `Puja' is being performed, the neck of the Pongapani is tied with fresh turmeric and fresh ginger saplings with tender green leaves. The green leaves are symbolic of prosperity, the turmeric of auspiciousness, ginger for the spice of life. The special dish called "Sarkkarai Pongal" is cooked in this mud-pot. After the rituals of puja are over "Sarkkarai Pongal" with sticks of sugarcane is offered to the Sun god as a thanksgiving for the plentiful harvest. Sugarcane that is offered is symbolic for sweetness and happiness in life. It is said that on this day Lord Sundareshwar in the Madurai temple performed a miracle and breathed life into a stone elephant that could eat sugarcane. The carving of this event is in Meenakshi temple. From this month of THAI starts the marriage season in Tamil Nadu.
The THIRD day is MATTU PONGAL which is the festival of cattle. To the village people cow, the giver of milk and the bull which draws the plough in the fields are very valuable and therefore the farmers honour their dumb friends by celebrating it as a day of thanks-giving to them. The cattle are washed, their horns are painted and covered with shining metal caps. Multi-coloured beads, tinkling bells, sheafs of corn and flower garlands are tied around their necks. They are fed with pongal and taken to the village centres. 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. Big commotion is seen when the game "Manji Virattu" starts in which groups of young men chase the running bulls.
In some places "Jallikattu" is arranged. It is a bull-fight in which money bags are tied to the horns of ferocious bulls and unarmed young men are asked to wrest them from the bull's horns. On the Mattu Pongal day Lord Ganesh and Goddess Parvati are worshipped and Pongal is offered to them in the `puja'.
This day is also known by the name of Kaanum Pongal when coloured balls of cooked rice are placed in the open air by girls for the birds and crows to eat. With each ball of rice that the sister makes she prays for her brother's happiness and the brothers and sisters wherever they may be remember each other. This festival is reminiscent of Raksha Bandhan. In some places Kaanum Pongal is celebrated on the fourth day, the day after Mattu Pongal.
Community dinners are also held when rich and poor, the landlord and the peasant, the old and the young, women and children all dine together forgetting the distinction of caste or class. All share in the spirit of fonhomic.
In Kerala âMakara Vilakkuâ festival is celebrated on Makara Sankranthi day at Sabarimala temple. It is the most important festival at Sabarimala temple. It is a seven-day festival commencing on the day of Makara Sankranthi, the day on which the sun is in summer solstice. It was on this auspicious day, the idol of Dharma Sastha was enshrined in the temple. The annual celebration of Makara Vilakku is commemorative of this sacred event. Thousands and thousands of devotees go to Sabarimala during this time to witness the peerless phenomenon, the appearance of 'Makarajyothi " a spectacular scene which leaves an indelible impression in the hearts of the devotees. On seeing this celestial splendor, in the midst of the spontaneous cries of 'Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa' from millions of throats, one experiences a rare feeling of ecstasy and a unique sense of accomplishment.
Pongal is a festival when God is praised with a simple faith and sincerity. Old vices are all washed out and all that is good is welcomed in this New year. This festival is of all living things, of man, his beast and his crop and of the birds that fly in the sky making man look up to the heaven in joy and thankfulness to God for everything that He gives to man specially peace and happiness and the feeling of brotherhood.
Wish you all a very happy Pongal.