Pongal Wishes

Each day in Pongal we thank the following :

Suriya(Sun) Pongal - Thanks to SUN

Thanks givning to SUN, Who is responsible for making the good harvest. Sweet Food is made from new grain in open ground and it is dedicated to sun as a sign of thanks giving. Picture 2.

Mattu(COW) Pongal- Thank giving to COW

Thanks giving to COW/BULL which made the harvest happen by helping farmer. They are bathed with water, colourfully decorated, Delicious dishes is made from new crops and given to them with respect . All will get blessings from COW/BULL. This is uniqueness of Hindu/Tamil culture which emphasis that we should give respect to all creatures. Pictire 3, 4

Kanum Pongal(Farmers Day)- Thanks giving to farmers
This day is to thank farmers who made the harvest with their hardwork. They are one who is sustaining the world by giving us food grains.

General Greetings.

Suriya Pongal, Thank giving to SUN

Thanks giving to COW- Giving Food to eat with respect.

Colourfully decorated COW, It is worshipped by all.

What is Pongal?
Pongal is the only festival of Hindu that follows a solar calendar and is celebrated on the fourteenth of January every year. Pongal has astronomical significance: it marks the beginning of Uttarayana, the Sun's movement northward for a six month period. In Hinduism, Uttarayana is considered auspicious, as opposed to Dakshinaayana, or the southern movement of the sun. All important events are scheduled during this period. Makara Sankranthi refers to the event of the Sun entering the zodiac sign of Makara or Capricorn.

In Hindu temples bells, drums, clarinets and conch shells herald the joyous occasion of Pongal. To symbolize a bountiful harvest, rice is cooked in new pots until they boil over. Some of the rituals performed in the temple include the preparation of rice, the chanting of prayers and the offering of vegetables, sugar cane and spices to the gods. Devotees then consume the offerings to exonerate themselves of past sins.

Pongal signals the end of the traditional farming season, giving farmers a break from their monotonous routine. Farmers also perform puja to some crops, signaling the end of the traditional farming season. It also sets the pace for a series of festivals to follow in a calendar year. In fact, four festivals are celebrated in Tamil Nadu for four consecutive days in that week. 'Bogi' is celebrated on January 13, 'Pongal' on Jan 14, 'Maattuppongal' on Jan 15, and 'Thiruvalluvar Day' on Jan 16.

The festival is celebrated for four days. On, the first day, Bhogi, the old clothes and materials are thrown away and fired, marking the beginning of a new life. The second day, the Pongal day, is celebrated by boiling fresh milk early in the morning and allowing it to boil over the vessel - a tradition that is the literal translation for Pongal. People also prepare savories and sweets, visit each other's homes, and exchange greetings. The third day, Mattu Pongal, is meant to offer thanks to the cows and buffaloes, as they are used to plough the lands. On the last day, Kanum Pongal, people go out to picnic.

Thus, the harvest festival of Pongal symbolizes the veneration of the first fruit. The crop is harvested only after a certain time of the year, and cutting the crop before that time is strictly prohibited. Even though Pongal was originally a festival for the farming community, today it is celebrated by all. In south India, all three days of Pongal are considered important. However, those south Indians who have settled in the north usually celebrate only the second day. Coinciding with Makara Sankranti and Lohri of the north, it is also called Pongal Sankranti.



Wish you all Happy Pongal .
 
Renjith Kumar