Pongal

The commencement of the New Year brings a slew of festival which Indians keep looking forward for the rest of the year. The four day long harvest festival Pongal holds a great value for the people of Tamil Nadu and traditionally it is a day to thank and appreciate the Sun God

Pongal celebrations date back at least 2,000 years old as evidence suggests that it was celebrated even during the medieval Chola Empire days.

Pongal:  The commencement of the New Year brings a slew of festival which Indians keep looking forward for the rest of the year. The four day long harvest festival Pongal holds a great value for the people of Tamil Nadu and traditionally it is a day to thank and appreciate the Sun God for helping in growing crops by providing energy for its growth as the farmers’ livelihood depends on it. The festival is marked by boiling the fist rice of the harvest, which is sanctified by the Sun.

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History:

Pongal celebrations date back at least 2,000 years old as evidence suggests that it was celebrated even during the medieval Chola Empire days. Traditionally it is a day to thank and appreciate the Sun God for helping in growing crops by providing energy for its growth as the farmers’ livelihood depends on it. Pongal is one such festival, that is celebrated to thank the Sun God and Lord Indra for helping farmers in getting better-yielding crops. Pongal is celebrated on the third day of the Tamil month Thai. It is one of the most important festival for the Hindu families in Tamil Nadu that is celebrated for four days with great exuberance. Pongal is also the name of a dish that is made on this festival.

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Importance:

Pongal is one such festival, that is celebrated to thank the Sun God and Lord Indra for helping farmers in getting better-yielding crops. On Pongal day farmers prepare signature items like Pongal, Shakkara Pongal, sugarcane is offered. A special puja is also performed to thank the Sun god. This harvest festival is traditionally celebrated for four continuous days. First day of the festival falls on 13th January is called Bhogi. This is the day when people reject old belongings and welcome new stuff. Farmers burn their old household materials in fire while chanting “Paraiyana kadiwalum, Pudiyana Pugudulam” that literally means, “Let the old things go away and Let the new things come in”. The lesson inside is that people should change with changing time. New thoughts should be embraced and the old ones should be let go.

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Significance:

The period is referred to as Uttarayan Punyakalam which bears special significance in Hindu mythology and is considered to extremely auspicious. It is believed, this is the period when the Devas wake up after a half a year-long slumber during this period and bestow wealth and prosperity on earth. On this auspicious day the Tamils decorate their homes with banana and mango leaves. They also decorate their houses using rice flour decorative patterns.

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Pongal is celebrated the day on which the sun begins to move northwards is called ‘Makar Shankranti’. In Tamil Nadu this festival is called the Pongal or Thai Pongal. The period is referred to as Uttarayanam and is considered auspicious. Pongal is a four-day festival.

The first day, Bhogi, is celebrated on the last day of the month of Margazhi. On this day, people decorate their homes. New vessels are bought and clean up home and environment.

The second day is Perum Pongal, is the most important. People worship Surya, the Sun God. Women decorate the central courtyard of their homes with beautiful kolams, done with rice flour and bordered with red clay. The Pongal payasam is cooked in the early morning during the sunrise, exactly at the moment when the new month is born.

The third day is Mattu Pongal, celebrated to glorify cattle that help farmers in a myriad ways. On this day, the cows are bathed and decorated with vermilion and garlands and fed.
The last day is Kaanum Pongal. It is that part of the festival when families used to gather on the riverbanks and have a sumptuous meal. It is also time for some traditional dances such as kummi and kolattam. Special prayers are offered by women for the well-being of their brothers.

Pongal ushers in the New Year in Tamil Nadu. Newly-harvested grains are cooked for the first time on that day. Joyous festivities mark the celebration in every home. The poor are fed and clothed. On the next day, the cow is worshipped, and birds and animals are fed.

 

Amma says “For me there is no creator and creations. Like the ocean and the waves, they are all one and the same. God is in the people or in the world, and the world is in the people. It is love that transforms into worship. Even nature is part of God. That is why we have temples even for insignificant creatures such as lizards, trees and poisonous snakes. We have ‘Mattu Pongal’, we worship the cattle. We need them for cultivation. It is a form of thanksgiving to the entire creation as that is the power that sustains life.”

 

The Sun is worshipped as the embodiment and source of Life-Force, without which we could not be. Payasam is offered to the sun seeking his blessings, and then eaten as prasad; the second day, animals are venerated, usually through the worship of a representative cow, which again is offered sweet payasam; the third day sees the family relations worshipped, of course through more offering of payasam, and, more importantly, through the coming together of family members. If there have been arguments or miscommunications in the family, this is the day when the air is cleared and hearts are opened. It can be a very healing time, restoring a deep relationship with the Universe, Mother Nature and one another. Through this festival, the Creation is recognized as the miraculous divine blessing it truly is.

Amma also explained an interesting point about the intelligence behind this kind of worship, saying that it is not superstitious, but in fact very practical. During this particular festival for example, the tradition of cooking payasam and allowing it to boil over is observed all over South India. This overflowing of sweetness represents the Prema (Divine Love) that should overflow from our hearts towards all of Creation. Amma continued with a remarkable point. She said that the steam rising from the rice, jaggery, cardamom and other spices being boiled in so many households and mixed with the smoke from the firewood traditionally used, actually creates a special medicinal combination that has a very beneficial effect on the atmosphere. The collective observance of this and similar practices has a positive effect on both the ‘mental environment’, as well as the weather, climate and harmony of Nature in general. This is just one aspect of the subtle wisdom underlying these simple, elegant customs.

“Pongal means ‘to overflow.’ The time when humankind’s love for nature and nature’s love for humankind overflow—that is Pongal. Human beings make nature happy by having good thoughts and doing good actions. Nature blesses humankind with a bountiful harvest. When the universal mind and the individual mind overflow and become one—that is what Pongal is symbol of.

 

“Matru-devo bhava, Pitr-devo bhava, acharya-devo bhava atithi-devo bhava—‘May you see your mother as God, your father as God, your teacher as God, your guests as God’—this is what Sanatana Dharma teaches us. Respect everything, worship everything. Why? Because there is nothing other than God. May this Pongal Festival be an opportunity for you to you to instill this culture and God deeply within and spread it without.

“Festivals are, in fact for everyone living in the area. Even people working far away will return home in order to participate. Everyone will sit together, eat together and remember old times together. On such occasions, we experience the joy and exuberance that occur when hearts come together. These festivals are sacred moments that help us to establish love and unity and nourish our relationships.

 

Types of Pongal Festival: 4 days of Pongal Celebration

Pongal is one of the most popular Hindu harvest festivals in Tamilnadu, the southern part of India. It is observed intrinsically in the month of Thai, i.e. January/February which falls near to the notable Hindu festival- Lohri each year. In 2019, the Pongal dates are from January 15th to January 18th. Out of the four days Thai Pongal carries major significance which would be on 16th January. Pongal is celebrated for four days during the starting of the holiest month, according to Tamil solar calendar.

In south India; this month is also known as the month of weddings. The word 'pongal' in Tamil Nadu reveals "to boil", therefore this auspicious day is dedicated to give thanks to nature for her productivity. Pongal is solemnized in the season when crops like sugarcane, rice, turmeric etc. are reaped in the farmlands. They also worship to the God of light Sun for rich agricultural crops. People believe that Pongal brings good wishes, wealth, peace and prosperity. The types of Pongal are: 

1. Bhogi Pongal: It is the first day of the main pongal festivity and in 2019, it will fall on 15th January.

2. Thai Pongal: It would be observed on 16th January in 2019 and is the second day of the pongal festival. 

3. Mattu Pongal:  On 17th January in 2019, Mattu Pongal is celebrated.

4. Kaanum Pongal: The last and the fourth day is commemorated on 18th January in 2019.

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Day 1: Bhogi Pongal [15th January 2019]

 

Bhogi Pongal is dedicated to Lord of rain Indra for the prosperity of their agricultural land. Since Lord Indra who is the supreme divinity is the God of clouds and rains. On the same day, some set of rituals of Bhogi Mantalu are also conducted in some rural areas; people provide their gratitude to Lord Indra by dancing and singing songs in praise of Lord around the bonfire. The importance of bonfire is that it is made of agricultural wastage and useless household woods. Girls and the females of the house sing songs and dance around the bonfire, in the name of the gods.

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Day 2:Thai Pongal [16th January 2019]

 

It is a belief that the main Pongal event is performed on this day. Thai Pongal is also called as Surya Pongal or Thai Pongal. The ceremonial worship is started with Kolam; a traditionally, handmade auspicious design at the entrance of the house by white lime powder. This should be performed early morning and after bath by the females of the house. All people wear traditional dress, jewelry and put tikkas on their forehead. 

The major event on this day is performed where rice is boiled along with milk in a pottery pot tied with a turmeric plant on clay stoves outside of the house. This mixture is prepared by the females of the house for offering it to Sun God in the morning time. In many places, women gather at a specific location to perform this traditional ritual. After rice is cooked; it is offered to Lord Sun along with sticks of sugarcane, coconuts, and bananas.

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Day 3: Mattu Pongal [17th January 2019]

 

Mattu Pongal is dedicated to the worship of cows. On this special day, the farmers make over their cows with multicolored beads, tinkling bells, sheaves of corn and flower garlands. Then they are taken to the village centers; where all the villagers gathered to watch each other’s cows and their makeovers. Then they are worshiped and an Aarti is performed to venerate those embellished cows. The resounding of bells and beautifully makeup cows make the entire atmosphere festive and full of fun. 

As per the mythological narration, it is believed that once Lord Shiva had asked his lovable bull, named- Basava, to go on earth with a note for the creatures. He also conveyed to tell those mortals to bath daily, have an oil massage and also to eat once a month or so. Nevertheless, Basaka accidently proclaimed that Lord Shiva wanted all human beings to eat on a daily basis and to have an oil bath once a month. Shiva got infuriated by the mistaken message and exiled his most loving bull- Basava to go on earth for evermore and cursed that he would have to turn up the earth of (an area of land) with a plough, especially before sowing to aid farmers produce food and nutrition. On grounds of it, the cows and bulls are revered on this day. 

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Day 4: Kaanum Pongal [18th January 2019]

 

The fourth day or last day of Pongal is known as Kaanum or Knau Pongal. The pongal ritual performed on this day is that; the leftovers of sweet Pongal, colored rice (red and yellow), betel leaves, plantains, betel nuts, two pieces of sugarcane and others dishes are placed in the courtyard and placed on the washed turmeric leaves. The main item- rice is put merely in the centre of the turmeric leaf. All the women of the house assemble in the courtyard and pray for their brothers and family’s prosperity, followed by Aarti with turmeric water, rice, vermillion, limestone, and this holy water is sprinkled everywhere, even outside the house.

Puja Vidhi and Rituals of Pongal Festival

In 2019, the Pongal dates are from January 15th to January 18th. Out of the four days Thai Pongal carries major significance which would be on 16th January this year. In Tamil state, different regions commemorate distinct set of pongal rituals with immense gusto and utter dedication on the four days of this festival. Pongal puja vidhi varies from place to place and so does rituals. Pongal Rituals are way mesmerizing and unusually unique especially in the last days of the festivity. However some of the conventional rituals are common in every area of Tamil state and one of them is making traditional rangoli like designs- kolams in houses with rice powder with colourful patterns. Other significant compulsory ritual is preparing sumptuous rice for the hoedowns at homes.

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Pongal Puja vidhi and Rituals

Throughout the celebration people put Kumkum and turmeric dots. Beauteous decorated Rangoli are made at the entrance gates to welcome Goddess Laxmi for showering blessings on this favorable occasion. They discard their old clothes and even burn the garbage of the home. The puja house is decorated very nicely as it is believed that divine godheads arrive at homes and bring in good health, prosperity and harmony among the family members. People keep clay pots or stove for cooking the next time. Tie the manjal kothu around the pot. Draw three lines with wet viboodhi and keep a kumkum dot on the pot. Certain dishes like suzhiyan, adhirasam & obbattu are prepared. Beautiful and traditional rangolis are put all around the house. On the major days of Pongal people wake up at early morning 4 am because they are supposed to do the pooja during sunrise at around 6 am. They take head bath. The elders also look over brides and grooms to initiate matrimonial functions on these specific pious days. They usually prefer Pongal festivity to begin marriage events and other holy observances.

 

The first day marks the 'Bhogi Pongal'- It is meant for cleaning and decorating the house. The second day is known as 'Thai Pongal'- It is the day when new rice is harvested and it is prepared. This is   when the Sun God is worshiped. This day corresponds with Makar Sankranti, the winter harvest festival   celebrated throughout India, which marks the start of the sun’s six month journey north and warmer weather. People also gather in their homes to cook the Pongal dish. It's offered to the Sun God during prayers,   and later served for lunch. The third day is known as 'Maatu Pongal'- It is completely dedicated to the cattle that are represented by a cow. It is customary to clean and worship the cows on   this day. The final day (fourth day) is known as 'Kaanum Pongal'- It is meant for family gatherings. On this day birds are worshiped. Balls of cooked rice are prepared and left out for birds to eat. People also thank family and friends for their support during the harvest. Devotees offer all the dishes in 9 leaves. But in general, they spread 5 leaves for the Sun God. In those 5 leaves they keep sweet pongal, vella pongal, pongal  sambar, kootu in little quantities. Just in the middle of the rangoli- kolam, a huge and mammoth figurine of the Lord Surya (Sun God) with the glittered beams are also chiseled. Light two lamps in front of the banana leaves. Spread a banana leaf and keep all the seasonal vegetables like sweet potato, pumpkin, yam, arbi, Panag kizhangu. Keep sugar cane pieces, banana, betel leaves & nuts. Break a coconut and keep it. Now do the puja and mangala harathi. Finish the puja. After the puja, a glass of milk sweetened with jiggery is distributed which is known as “siruveetu paal”.

 

Pongal is all about rice!

The most important part of the Pongal festival is cooking the Pongal dish which is a sweet version of pongal called Sakkarai pongal and it is made with rice mixed with moong dal and cooked with ghee, cashew nuts, and raisins adding jiggery. A spicy pongal called Ven pongal/Ghee pongal are also prepared adding lots of ghee and spices like pepper & cumin. Traditionally, pongal is cooked in clay pots, on stoves made with stones and wood used as fuel. When it starts to boil over, everyone shouts out "pongalo pongal". Without this Pongal is never celebrated.

 

Mythology of Pongal:

The story behind Pongal Celebration

The beauty of South India lies in its culture and tradition. The people belonging to those states always make sure to celebrate their ancestral traditions without any refurbishing. South Indians are said to be the most clean hearted, helpful and hard working people, and so are their customs and traditions. So, here comes the Pongal festival which is a representation of how people are from South India.

How did this Pongal festival start? What is the story behind this and what are the mythological connections?

 

Story of Lord Shiva

Lord Shiva has a lot of followers up along with him in the Himalayan ranges who are bulls. Lord Shiva asked his bull named Basava to visit the earth and meet the human beings. He was asked to convey the message that, the humans must take an oil massage and bath on a daily basis and as far as eating is concerned, they can eat only once in a month.

By mistake, the bull wrongly conveyed to the people that, they must eat everyday and as far as oil massage and bathing is concerned, it must be done only once in a month. This act of Basana made Lord Shiva very furious. As a result, Lord Shiva punished him to live on the earth forever and help people in ploughing the fields and growing more food.

 

Story of Lord Indra

Once it happened that, Lord Krishna in the days of his childhood, decided to teach Lord Indra a lesson, as he had become a bit too arrogant after having become the king of all deities. Lord Krishna went to meet the cowherds and told them to stop worshipping Lord Indra. This made Lord Indra enraged and he brought about a major thunderstorm along with rains that continued for three consecutive days. Seeing this calamity, people went to Lord Krishna with cries of help. Then, Lord Krishna lifted the mountain Govardhan and that too with a single finger. This incident made Lord Indra realize his mistake.