short note about pongal
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Pongal is a harvest festival - the Tamil
equivalent of Thanksgiving. In an agriculture based civilization
the harvest plays an important part. The farmer cultivating his land
depends on cattle, timely rain and the Sun. Once a year, he expresses
his gratitude to these during the harvest festival. With the end of the
wet month of Margazhi (mid December to mid January) the new Tamil month
of Thai heralds a series of festivals. The first day of this
month is a festival day known as "Pongal Day". Pongal
means the "boiling over" of milk and rice during the
month of Thai.
According to the calendar based on the solar system the year is divided into two halves following the apparent movement of the Sun northwards and Southwards. The farmer is termed Uttarayanam and the latter is Dakshinayanam. On the first day of the Thai, the Sun leaves the zodiac sign of Sagittarius and enters that of capricorn, the latter is known as Makaram. The event thus is celebrated as Pongal.
The four day celebration of Pongal Marks a period of plenty, peace and happiness. There is a Tamil saying that "Thai peranthal Vali Perakum". That paraphrased means with the dawn of the month of Thai, there will be peace, happiness, prosperity, brightness and harmony in the life of everyone. It is held to honor the Sun, for a bountiful harvest. Families gather to rejoice and share their joy and their harvests with others. The Sun is offered a "Pongal" of rice and milk.
Preparations for this festival start early and the first thing that is always found in Hindu homes before the start of Pongal is the 'kolam'. This is a form of decoration for the Hindus' homes. This decorative pattern is made with rice flour & is usually drawn on the floor outside the door. The kolams serve as a symbol of welcoming guests to the entrance of the house. At the center of the Kolam is a lump of cow-dung, which holds a five-petaled pumpkin flower-a symbol of fertility and an offering of love to the presiding deity.
The houses are cleaned and decorated to prepare for Pongal. For the festival, the Hindus buy new clothes and the ladies of the households would prepare sweetmeats. There is also a belief in the Hindus that the harvest festival will bring great wealth and goodness to their homes. All the four days of Pongal have their own significance as separate deities are worshiped each day.
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 honor of Lord Indra, the supreme ruler of clouds that give rains. The second day is known as 'Pongal' the most important day of the entire festival, where prayers are offered to the Sun. On this day, the Sun is given great importance and hence the day is called Surya Pongal.
The third day is known as Mattu Pongal, the day of Pongal for cows. The cattle are washed, their horns are painted and covered with shining metal caps. Kanu Pongal, which falls on the same day as Maatu Pongal, is celebrated by sisters for the welfare of their brothers. This festival is reminiscent of Raksha Bandhan and Bhai Dooj of North India.
Significance of Pongal
Bhogi Pongal
The first day of pongal is also known as Bhogi and is celebrated on the last day of the month of Margazhi. On this auspicious day people embellish their houses with paints and buy new vessels to mark a new beginning. On this day people also paint the horns of buffaloes and oxen in some regions in south India. In northern states like Punjab, this day is known as Lohri and in Assam the day is celebrated as Magh Bihu, the day on which the harvests are collected.
Perum
The second day of the festival known as, Perum Pongal holds the greatest significance. On this day people take early bath and offer prayers to the sun god, Surya and seek his blessing for adequate harvest of the rest of the year and thus this day is also known as Surya Pongal. On this day women decorate the central courtyard of their homes with beautiful kolams, done with rice flour and bordered with red clay.
Mattu Pongal
The third day of the festival is called Mattu Pongal. The cows are bathed and decorated with vermilion and garlands, and aartis are performed. This day is also marked for the bullfight known as, ‘manji-virattu’ which is organized in certain parts of south India. In some parts this day is celebrated as ‘Kannu Pongal’, the day on which women offer prayers for god health and long life of their brothers. Grand banquets and family gathering are organized on this day. Apart from this, traditional dances such as kummi and kolattam are also performed on this day.
According to the calendar based on the solar system the year is divided into two halves following the apparent movement of the Sun northwards and Southwards. The farmer is termed Uttarayanam and the latter is Dakshinayanam. On the first day of the Thai, the Sun leaves the zodiac sign of Sagittarius and enters that of capricorn, the latter is known as Makaram. The event thus is celebrated as Pongal.
The four day celebration of Pongal Marks a period of plenty, peace and happiness. There is a Tamil saying that "Thai peranthal Vali Perakum". That paraphrased means with the dawn of the month of Thai, there will be peace, happiness, prosperity, brightness and harmony in the life of everyone. It is held to honor the Sun, for a bountiful harvest. Families gather to rejoice and share their joy and their harvests with others. The Sun is offered a "Pongal" of rice and milk.
Preparations for this festival start early and the first thing that is always found in Hindu homes before the start of Pongal is the 'kolam'. This is a form of decoration for the Hindus' homes. This decorative pattern is made with rice flour & is usually drawn on the floor outside the door. The kolams serve as a symbol of welcoming guests to the entrance of the house. At the center of the Kolam is a lump of cow-dung, which holds a five-petaled pumpkin flower-a symbol of fertility and an offering of love to the presiding deity.
The houses are cleaned and decorated to prepare for Pongal. For the festival, the Hindus buy new clothes and the ladies of the households would prepare sweetmeats. There is also a belief in the Hindus that the harvest festival will bring great wealth and goodness to their homes. All the four days of Pongal have their own significance as separate deities are worshiped each day.
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 honor of Lord Indra, the supreme ruler of clouds that give rains. The second day is known as 'Pongal' the most important day of the entire festival, where prayers are offered to the Sun. On this day, the Sun is given great importance and hence the day is called Surya Pongal.
The third day is known as Mattu Pongal, the day of Pongal for cows. The cattle are washed, their horns are painted and covered with shining metal caps. Kanu Pongal, which falls on the same day as Maatu Pongal, is celebrated by sisters for the welfare of their brothers. This festival is reminiscent of Raksha Bandhan and Bhai Dooj of North India.
Significance of Pongal
Bhogi Pongal
The first day of pongal is also known as Bhogi and is celebrated on the last day of the month of Margazhi. On this auspicious day people embellish their houses with paints and buy new vessels to mark a new beginning. On this day people also paint the horns of buffaloes and oxen in some regions in south India. In northern states like Punjab, this day is known as Lohri and in Assam the day is celebrated as Magh Bihu, the day on which the harvests are collected.
Perum
The second day of the festival known as, Perum Pongal holds the greatest significance. On this day people take early bath and offer prayers to the sun god, Surya and seek his blessing for adequate harvest of the rest of the year and thus this day is also known as Surya Pongal. On this day women decorate the central courtyard of their homes with beautiful kolams, done with rice flour and bordered with red clay.
Mattu Pongal
The third day of the festival is called Mattu Pongal. The cows are bathed and decorated with vermilion and garlands, and aartis are performed. This day is also marked for the bullfight known as, ‘manji-virattu’ which is organized in certain parts of south India. In some parts this day is celebrated as ‘Kannu Pongal’, the day on which women offer prayers for god health and long life of their brothers. Grand banquets and family gathering are organized on this day. Apart from this, traditional dances such as kummi and kolattam are also performed on this day.
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Pongal - the Harvest Festival
Pongal is a Tamil harvest festival. It is same as Thanksgiving Day. In an agriculture based civilization, harvest plays an important role. The farmer cultivating the land depends on his cattle, timely rain and the Sun. Once a year, he expresses his gratitude to everything which symbolizes the harvest celebration. With the end of the wet month of Margazhi (mid December to mid January) the new Tamil month of Thai heralds a series of festivals. The first day of this month is a festival day known as "Pongal Day". Pongal means the "boiling over" of milk and rice during the month of Thai. .....
Pongal is a Tamil harvest festival. It is same as Thanksgiving Day. In an agriculture based civilization, harvest plays an important role. The farmer cultivating the land depends on his cattle, timely rain and the Sun. Once a year, he expresses his gratitude to everything which symbolizes the harvest celebration. With the end of the wet month of Margazhi (mid December to mid January) the new Tamil month of Thai heralds a series of festivals. The first day of this month is a festival day known as "Pongal Day". Pongal means the "boiling over" of milk and rice during the month of Thai. .....
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