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The festival of Pongal signifies the great diversity of Indian religious belief and the varied cultured traditions of the different States. Pongal, known as Sankaranthi in North India, is an important festival as we pray to the Sun God on this occasion. Sun, the most powerful, helps in the growth of the paddy and other plantations. So this festival is very important for farmers and it is celebrated in a grand manner in villages. The house is cleaned, and all maintenance jobs are done before this festival. This festival of Pongal falls in the month of January. Pongal festival marks the favourable course of the Sun. During the four day festival, different varieties of Rangoli are drawn in front of the houses early in the morning. The first day is celebrated as the Bhogi Pongal and is usually meant for domestic activities and of being together with the family members. This first day is celebrated in honour of Lord Indra, the supreme ruler of clouds whom gives us rain. Homage is paid to Lord Indra for the abundance of harvest, there by bringing plenty and prosperity to the land. The second day of Pongal is known as Surya Pongal and is dedicated to the Sun God. On this day the granaries are full, sun shines brightly, trees are in full bloom, bird-songs resound in the air and hearts overflow with happiness that get translated into colorful and joyous celebrations. The third day is Mattu Pongal which is the festival of cattle. To the village people cow, the giver of milk and the bull which draws the plough in the fields are very valuable and therefore the farmers honour their dumb friends by celebrating it as a day of thanks-giving to them. On the Mattu Pongal day Lord Ganesh and Goddess Parvati are worshipped and Pongal is offered to them in the `puja'. Fourth day is known as Kaanum Pongal. On this day, people go out for places and enjoy this day. This is a day to spend time and entertain outside. Pongal
is a festival when God is praised with a simple faith and sincerity.
Old vices are all washed out and all that is good is welcomed in this
New year. This festival is of all living things, of man, his beast
and his crop and of the birds that fly in the sky making man look up
to the heaven in joy and thankfulness to God. |