Pongal festival of India & its significance

 


Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It marks the end of the winter solstice and the beginning of the harvest season. The festival is named after the dish "Pongal," a special dish made from newly harvested rice, jaggery, and milk.


Significance:

1. **Harvest Celebration:** Pongal is primarily a harvest festival, expressing gratitude for a bountiful harvest. Farmers thank the Sun God, Indra, and cattle for their contributions to agriculture.


2. **Four-Day Celebration:** Pongal is celebrated over four days - Bhogi Pongal, Thai Pongal, Maatu Pongal, and Kaanum Pongal - each day holding its own significance and rituals.


The four-day celebration of Pongal holds specific significance, with each day marking a distinct phase of the festival:


a. **Bhogi Pongal (Day 1):**

   - **Discarding the Old:** Bhogi Pongal is a day for discarding the old and welcoming the new. People clean and decorate their homes, getting rid of old possessions. A bonfire is lit with discarded items symbolizing the destruction of the old and the start of a new beginning.


b. **Thai Pongal (Day 2):**

   - **Main Pongal Day:** Thai Pongal is the main day of the festival when the special dish "Pongal" is prepared. The freshly harvested rice is cooked with jaggery and milk, symbolizing abundance and prosperity. The dish is allowed to boil over, signifying good luck and plenty.


c. **Maatu Pongal (Day 3):**

   - **Cattle Worship:** Maatu Pongal is dedicated to showing gratitude to cattle, particularly bulls, which play a vital role in agriculture. Cattle are bathed, adorned with garlands, and worshipped. Bull races and other traditional games are organized to honor these animals.


d **Kaanum Pongal (Day 4):**

   - **Family and Social Bonding:** Kaanum Pongal is a day for family outings and social gatherings. People visit friends and relatives, sharing festive meals and strengthening bonds. It is also a day to appreciate nature, with many families spending time outdoors.


The four days of Pongal celebrate different aspects of life, including purification, gratitude, abundance, and social harmony. It reflects the agricultural and cultural richness of the Tamil Nadu region, emphasizing the importance of community and nature in people's lives.


3. **Sun Worship:** The festival is dedicated to the Sun God (Surya). People cook the Pongal dish outdoors, allowing it to boil over as an offering to the Sun God.


4. **Cattle Worship:** Maatu Pongal is dedicated to honoring cattle, particularly bulls. They play a crucial role in farming, and on this day, they are bathed, decorated, and worshipped.


5. **Cultural Traditions:** Pongal is also a time for cultural festivities, traditional music, dance, and social gatherings, bringing communities together.


Overall, Pongal symbolizes thanksgiving, prosperity, and the spirit of unity among the people.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

More Heavy rains predicted in Maharashtra, schools closed in Mumbai

Image
  It is raining heavily in many districts of Maharashtra.  The Meteorological Department issued a red alert in Palghar and Raigad.  Orange alert has been issued in Thane, Mumbai and Ratnagiri.  In such a situation, the administration has announced the closure of all government and private schools in Mumbai on Thursday.  According to reports, the rock slipped at Kumbharli Ghat in Chiplun in Ratnagiri.  Some markets have been waterlogged.  There is news of landslide in Satara amidst rain.  According to the forecast of the Meteorological Department, a warning of heavy rain has been issued in Maharashtra for the next four days.  Red alert has been issued for Raigarh, Palghar, Pune and Satara districts.  Heavy rains are expected in Konkan as well as in Madhya Maharashtra.  Along with this, a warning of heavy rain has been issued in Thane along with Mumbai.  According to the Meteorological Department, an orange alert has been issued for rain in Ratnagiri, Kolhapur, Thane, Nashik, Yavatmal, C
Read more

Red alert of more heavy rains in Maharashtra, closures announced in schools, colleges in some districts

Image
  It is raining continuously in many districts of Maharashtra.  The Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for 4 districts, expressing the possibility of heavy to very heavy rains in the state today i.e. on Thursday.  Keeping this in mind, a holiday has been declared today (July 27) for schools and colleges in Mumbai, Thane, Ratnagiri and Chandrapur districts.  Orange alert of rain has been issued in Raigarh district.  In such a situation, the district administration will take a decision on the basis of the situation with Raigad district.  On the other hand, July 27 has been declared a holiday for all government, private schools, all colleges, all ashram schools, business and training centers within Panvel Municipal Corporation limits.  The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in Mumbai as well as Thane, Ratnagiri and Chandrapur.  In such a situation, keeping in view the possibility of heavy rains, school students of class I to 12 of all medium
Read more

Heavy rains totally disrupts train services in Mumbai area, CM orders early closure of Govt Offices

Image
  Due to heavy rains in Maharashtra, the speed of Mumbai local has slowed down.  Many trains have been cancelled and diverted. Due to heavy rains in Thane district adjacent to Mumbai, the track changing point on the Kalyan-Kasara route was damaged, due to which train services on this route were stopped on Wednesday afternoon.  A senior railway official gave this information.  The Central Railway also informed that it has diverted some mail and express trains on Diva-Panvel-Karjat route and Daund-Manmad route, besides terminating some trains between Mumbai and Pune.   Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday ordered that the government offices in Mumbai and the neighboring region should be closed early. The order comes as many local trains were delayed due to heavy rains and the government wanted the employees to reach home on time.  Chief Public Relations Officer of Central Railway, Dr. Shivraj Manaspure told that at around 2.40 pm, train services were stopped on the Kalya
Read more