Thai Pongal:

Thanksgiving to Sun God

By Shyamala Devi KARUNAKHARAN

Thai Pongal is one of the significant celebrations of Hindus world over. It is celebrated on the first day of Tamil month Thai (January-February) according to the Hindu almanac. This year, it falls on January 14.

Since the month Thai coincides with the paddy harvest, Thai Pongal is also known as the harvest festival. Hindu farmers honour and thank the Sun for its contribution in obtaining a bountiful harvest during the season. In Tamil it is also called Uzhavar Thirunaal (farmers’ festival).

On this day, Hindus wake up before sunrise, bathe and wear new clothes. The front courtyards of their homes are decorated with Kolams (floor decoration) specifying the sacred area where Pongal will be prepared.

Parallel lines are drawn in a square shape with a small opening in the middle of one side illustrating an entrance. Kolam is usually made with rice flour with the purpose for the ants and insects to feed on it.

The area selected in the garden for the celebration will have a direct view of the Sun and will be garnished traditionally with coconut and mango leaves and sugar cane.

A hearth arranged with three bricks will be placed in a corner of this square-shaped Kolam. Then a clay pot of water with its neck tied with a string of ginger and turmeric plants and mango leaves is placed on the hearth.

Here for a change, the breadwinner of the family conducts the cooking while the other family members cheerfully participate in the event.

When the water boils the washed rice is put into the pot by all family members. They take turns and drop three handful of rice into the pot.

The auspicious moment is the spill-over of the milk from the pot which is considered prosperous.

This is when the family members light firecrackers to signify the moment of joy.

Pongal (milk rice) is prepared using red raw rice, cooked in milk and sweetened with jaggery. Other ingredients added are roasted green gram, sugar candy, ghee, cashew nuts and plums. When the pongal is cooked, it is then spread on a banana leaf with other sweetmeats and offered to the Sun at a pooja with the participation of all family members.

The pongal will then be ready to serve and the family members sit together and have the meal signifying unity and togetherness.

Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, Jaffna

Later it will be distributed to relatives, neighbours and friends.

The Hindus’ commitment to protect their rich cultural heritage is shown in observing the traditions of Thai Pongal. As it is the beginning of the month, on this day they anticipate a future filled with hope and optimism.

The customs and celebrations basically signify the expressions of the renewal of the life circle. This is also the time to discard the old and welcome the new.

Maattu pongal

The second day of pongal is celebrated by Hindu villagers as Maattu Pongal to offer thanks to cattle as they too help farmers in various ways in agriculture, next to Sun.

Long before the introduction of the marvels of science and technology, such as tractors, mini tractors and water pumps, the man used cattle to get all these jobs done, starting from ploughing the field to pumping water from deep wells to irrigate the paddy fields.

So, the farmers pay their heartfelt tribute to these cattle with great encouragement.

The cattle are bathed and decorated with kumkum and bells and fed with pongal, bananas and sugar cane.

In some villages Jallikattu, a traditional sport where a specially grown bull is tamed, is held with much commotion of joy. The day filled with fun and frolic would carry the unpretentious spirit of an authentic village life.