~:C.C.4.U:~ Wish You A Very Happy Thai "Pongal

 

 

* Wish You A Very Happy Thai "Pongal"

 

 

 

The word "Pongal", in both Telugu and Tamil, signifies the boiling over of the rice in the cooking pot. Though little is known about the origin of Pongal, it is known to a Dravidian harvest festival that has survived for ages. Pongal also marks the beginning of a New Year and is the day to praise and thank God with full devotion, faith and sincerity. The festival covers all living beings, including humans, cattle and birds and crops. Falling just after the winter solstice and a bountiful harvest, Pongal marks the season of celebration and joyous activities and is celebrated continuously for four days.

 

LEGEND OF MOUNT GOVARDHAN - 

The first legend is associated with the first day of the festival i.e. Bhogi Ponga. It is related to Lord Indra, the God of Clouds and Rains, and Lord Krishna. The honor given by people to Lord Indra made him proud and arrogant. He started considering himself as the most powerful of all beings. When Lord Krishna came to know about this, he thought of teaching Indra a lesson. He convinced his cowherd friends to worship Mt. Govardhan rather than Lord Indra. This angered Lord Indra and he sent the clouds to generate non-stop thunder, lightning, heavy rains and flood the land where Krishna lived. 

 

 Lord Krishna had other plans in mind and he lifted up the Govardhan Mountain on his little finger, to protect village people and their cattle. The rains continued for three days. At last, Indra realized his mistake and divine power of the young boy. He promised humility and begged Krishna 's forgiveness. Since then, Krishna allowed Bhogi (first day of Pongal) celebrations in honor of Indra. Since then, the festival of Pongal came into being. In other words, this day gave the starting point to the Pongal celebration and the festival got another name of Indran, from this legendary story

 

LEGEND OF LORD SHIVA - 

Another legend is associated with Mattu Pongal (the third day of Pongal). It involves Lord Shiva and his mount, Nandi the bull. It is said that once Shiva ordered Nandi to go to the Earth and deliver his message to the people that they should take oil bath every day and eat food once a month. However, the dozing Nandi could not hear the message right and told the people to eat everyday and take oil bath once a month. Shiva was furious, as due to Nandi's mistake, there will be lack of grains on earth. Now, Nandi would have to remain on earth to help humans plough the fields. Since then, 'Mattu Pongal' came to be dedicated to cattle and other domestic animals.

 

 

Pongal is a four-day harvest festival of Tamil Nadu, celebrated with gusto and fervor, by the Tamil in the state. All the four days of the festival (from 13th of January to 16th of January) are thoroughly enjoyed by the people. The festival is dedicated to Mother Nature, as farmers thank her for blessing them with bountiful crop. Each day of the four-day festival bears significance in one way or the other. Extensive Pongal rituals are performed by people. In the following lines, we have given information on the four days of Pongal.  

FOUR DAYS OF "PONGAL" CELEBRATIONS - 

Day One - Bhogi - 14th January, 2012

 The celebrations of Pongal festival start with Bhogi/Bogi, which usually falls on 13th of January. One day prior to Bhogi, the households are clean, so that the premises become pious for the celebrations. People wake up early in the morning, take bath and make beautiful designs of kolam at the verandah of their home. On this day, people worship Sun God and agricultural equipments that are used to cut the crop. Thereafter, they would use the equipments to cut their paddy crop, which would ready to harvest. On Bhogi, people throw unwanted and old materials into fire, which symbolizes the end of old things and the beginning of the new.  

Day Two - Surya Pongal - 15th January, 2012

 The second day is the main day of Pongal festival and is celebrated as Surya Pongal. On this day, people wake up early in the morning, take bath and worship Sun God. Women would draw beautiful kolam at the entrance of their house. New rice, which was harvested in the previous day, is cooked on Surya Pongal. A new clay pot is used for the purpose. The rice is cooked with milk and jaggery, over the stove, in an open area.  

 The Pongal thus made is offered to Sun God. The rice-milk-jaggery mixture is allowed to boil well, until the rice falls. This is termed as Pongal. When the boiled Pongal overflows the pot, people would say loudly 'Pongalo Pongal'! After the Pongal is offered to Sun God, people would relish on several Pongal dishes that are prepared especially for the day and then greet each other, wishing a very happy Pongal.  

Day Three - Mattu Pongal - 16th January, 2012

 Mattu Pongal is the third day of the festival. This day is dedicated to farm animals including cow and ox, because they help the farmers to raise a crop and harvest it, successfully. On Mattu Pongal, the farm animals are bathed and then adorned in a beautiful way. Their horns are often painted and garland is wrapped around the horns. After applying tilak on the forehead of the cattle, people would offer Pongal to the animal. The farmers often take their farm animals for a round in the entire village.  

Day Four - Kaanum Pongal - 17th January, 2012

 The fourth and the last day of Pongal is known as Kaanum Pongal. In some parts of Tamil Nadu, Kaanum Pongal is also known as Karinaal. Sun God is worshipped on the day and people offer food along with Sarkarai Pongal. Sugarcane is offered to the deity as well as exchange among people to symbolize sweetness and joy in life. Kaanum Pongal is the time for people to pay visits to their loved ones and faraway acquaintances. Pongal songs and folk dances are performed by people, on Kaanum Pongal. 

FOLK DANCES ON "PONGAL"  

Karagaattam

Karagam is a folk dance of Tamil Nadu. It is basically a rural dance which is done along with music either individually or in a pair of two. It is basically a performance of balancing a pot on the head. It is of two types- Aatta Karagam and the other 'Sakthi Karagam'. 

Kummi

Kummi is one of the most popular dances that are performed on the occasion of Pongal. It is also one of the most ancient dances of Tamil Nadu and it is said that it evolved as a dance form even before music. It is a group dance in which women stand in a circle and dance clapping their hands rhythmically to lifting songs. 

Mayil Attam 

This is also one interesting kind of dance performed by the girls of the state on auspicious occasions. In this dance, the dancer is supposedly dressed as a peacock, with peacock feathers and a sparkling head-dress complete with a beak.  

Oyil Kummi

Oyil Kummi is an ancient folk dance form of the state. It is very popular in Trichi, Salem , Dharmapuri, Coimbatore and Periyar districts. This dance is performed exclusively by men without any musical instruments except the ankle-bells. This is popularly performed during all the temple festivals.  

Kali Attam 

Kali Attam is a folk dance of Tamil Nadu that is performed by both men and women during auspicious days, weddings and joyous festivals like Pongal. Kali literally means joy or fun and games and the dance of Kali Attam is very much a reflection of its name. It is performed along with a stick and is very much an exhibition of quickness and alertness. 

Puli Attam

Puli Attam is another Tamilk folk dance that is performed on temple festivals and auspicious occasions like Pongal. This is an entertaining dance form with the main dancer dressed like a lion. 

HISTORY AND ORIGIN OF "PONGAL" FESTIVAL - 

 The origin of Pongal can be traced back to Sangam Age, a period extending from 200 BC to 300 AD. The festival was celebrated as Thai Niradal. During the period, unmarried girls prayed for agricultural prosperity of the country and for the purpose, they observed penance during the Tamil month of Margazhi, corresponding (December-January). All through the month, they abstained themselves from the consumption of milk and milk products. They didn't oil their hair throughout the month. The use of harsh words was strictly refrained by them. Ceremonial bath in the early morning was part of the ritual of the penance.  

 The unmarried women worshipped Goddess Katyayani, one of the nine forms of Ma Durga. They carved image of the deity out of sand. The women broke their fast on the first day of the month of Thai (January-February). It was believed that the fast would bring abundant wealth, prosperity and bountiful crop for the year ahead. Tamil literature has mentioned the celebration of the festival of Thai Niradal and the observance of the penance, known as Pavai Nonbu. Both the festival and the penance were vividly described in Andal's Tiruppavai and Manickavachakar's Tiruvembavai. Chola King Kiluttunga used to present lands to the Veeraraghava temple at Tiruvallur, especially for the celebration of Pongal. 

RECIPE - SWEET PONGAL 

Pongal, a harvest festival with major significance South India , is celebrated by preparing a wide variety of traditional recipes. Sweet Pongal is one of the popular dishes that mark their presence on Pongal. The dish sweetens the celebration and sets on the festive mood. Pongal is an occasion to indulge in celebrations and merry making. If you want to celebrate it along with delicious food, then just have a look recipe of sweet Pongal given below, detailing the ingredients as well as the method of preparation for it. 

Sweet Pongal Recipe - 

INGREDIENTS - 

2 cup Basmati Rice

1/4 liter Milk

1½ cup Arhar Dal

50 gm Jaggery

12-15 pieces Roasted Cashew Nuts or Fried Raisins

12-15 pieces Almonds

1/2 tsp Cardamom (dried and grounded)

1 tsp Ghee 

1 pinch Edible Camphor  

PREPARATION METHOD - 

In a deep pan, boil the milk. Add rice and dal and turn it on low flame after Cleaning and washing them thoroughly.

Stir in the Jaggery until it dissolves. When the rice and dal are cooked, add raisins and nuts, grounded cardamom and edible camphor keep while stirring continuously. 

Pour ghee before taking off the fire. Serve it hot or cold as desired. 

 "Pot Rice to Sun 

 God Sugarcane to cow and ox 

 And milk to friends and family

 have a happy pongal and aTimes New Roman prosperous year ahead"

 

"As you joyfully celebrate the festival of Pongal and welcome the harvest season, this greeting is being sent your way, to wish you everything, that the occasion is meant to bring. Have a Happy Pongal.

 

Aum shrim hrim klim glaum gam ganapataye vara varada sarva janamme vashamanaya svaha

 

 

 

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