Fw: HAPPY PONGAL - Thai pongal

[Guest guest]

DEAR

ALL…

 

 

WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY PONGAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

" PONGGALO

PONGGAL" Pongal known

as 'Bhogi Pongal' is a day for family gathering and is dedicated to Lord

Indra, the king of the deities and God of the Clouds and Rains. It is

also the beginning of the New Year according to the Malayalam calendar

and before sunrise, a huge bonfire of useless things in home is lit that

is kept burning throughout the night. The houses are then cleaned till

they shine and are decorated with Kolams painted using rice four. The

harvest of rice, turmeric and sugarcane is brought in for next day.

 

The second day of Pongal known as 'Surya Pongal' is

dedicated to the Sun God. The granaries are kept full on this day and Sun

God with his rays are painted on a plank as he is worshipped with the

birth of the new auspiciousai. Since the word 'Ponga' means 'to boil'

representing plentiful and excess yield, a special dish is cooked on this

day in a new mud-pot that comes in innovative shapes and have artistic

designs on them called 'Pongapani'. A colorful sugarcane market is also

set up on this day. The special dish is called 'Sarkkarai Pongal' and is

offered to Sun God with sugarcane sticks.

 

The third day known as 'Mattu Pongal' is dedicated

to the cattle as cowherds and shepherds pay thanks to their cows and

bulls, wash them, paint their horns and cover them with shining metal

caps. They are fed 'pongal' and tinkling bells are tied around their neck.

Cattle races are conducted and in the game called 'Manji Virattu' groups

of young men chase running bulls. Bull fights called 'Jallikattu' are

also arranged at some places where young men have to take the money bags

tied to the horns of ferocious bulls single-handedly and without the use

of arms.

 

The third day is celebrated as 'Kanni Pongal' when

unmarried girls cooks Ponggal wishing for wedding bells soon.

 

Pongal, as all Indian festivals, have interesting

legends attached to it. Orig ina ted as a Dravidian harvest festival, it

has found no mention in Indo-Aryan Puranas. According to the popular

legend, the first day of the festival known as Bhogi Pongal was once

dedicated to Lord Indra. The child Krishna came to know of the pride and

arrogance of Indra on being the king of the deities and that he thought

himself to be the most powerful of all the beings. He conjured a plan to

teach him a lesson. When, as usual, his father and other villagers who

were cowherds by profession, were preparing for the festival and

offerings to Indra, Krishna objected and persuaded them to worship Mt

Govardhan instead, as it gave them fodder for their cattle. When Indra

came to know of this, he considered it a heresy of the villagers and sent

thunderous pours, storms and lightning to drown them and punish them.

 

However, Lord Krishna had other plans in mind and

he lifted up the Govardhan mountain on his little finger to protect the

cowherds and their cattle. The simpletons tried to help him by putting

their own sticks in the mountain out of love. The rains continued for

three days and at last Indra realized his mistake and divine power of the

young boy. He promised humility and begged Krishna 's forgiveness. Since

then, Krishna allowed to let the Bhogi celebrations continue in honor of

Indra. A beautiful depiction of the scene can be scene at Mahabalipuram

where Krishna lifting Govardhan has been carved skilfully and since then

the origin of the festival of Pongal came into being.

 

Another legend associated to the third day of Pongal

known as Mattu Pongal involves Lord Shiva and his mount, Nandi the bull.

It is said that once Shiva ordered Nandi to go to the Earth and deliver

his message to the people that they should take oil bath every day and

eat food once a month. However, the dozing Nandi could not hear the

message right and told the people to eat everyday and take oil bath once

a month. Shiva was furious and said that due to his folly, there will be

lack of grains on the Earth and so he would have to remain on Earth to

help humans plough the fields.

Cheers, Balaji :-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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