January 14, 2009

HAPPY PONGAL TO ALL



According to Hindu mythology, this is when the day of the gods begins, after a six-month long night. The festival is spread over three days and is the most important and most fervently-celebrated harvest festival of South India. A special puja is performed on the first day of Pongal before the cutting of the paddy. Farmers worship the sun and the earth by anointing their ploughs and sickles with sandal wood paste. It is with these consecrated tools that the newly-harvested rice is cut. 

Each of the three days are marked by different festivities. The first day, Bhogi Pongal, is a day for the family. Surya Pongal, the second day, is dedicated to the worship of Surya, the Sun God. Boiled milk and jaggery is offered to the Sun God. The third day of Pongal, Mattu Pongal, is for worship of the cattle known as Mattu. Cattle are bathed, their horns polished and painted in bright colors, and garlands of flowers placed around their necks. The Pongal that has been offered to the Gods is then given to cattle and birds to eat.no other function is celebrated in such a grand manner in tamilnadu,like the way in which pongal is celebrated....

ENJOY ALL THE THREE DAYS HAPPY PONGAL TO ALL

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

That's a wonderful festival. I love different cultures and religions as we are all one and the same human family. My Husband is a good Buddhist and I am a great fan of Avalokiteshwara.