BERITA
SEMASA
Selamat Menyambut
Hari Pongal
The first day of 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 auspicious month of Thai. 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. |
