THAI PONGAL (HARVEST FESTIVAL).

Tamil people celebrate Pongal the first three days of 'Thai'

Busy harvesting month of Tamil calendar the famers follow.

Dates usually in middle of January and lasting for three days 

Celebrated in Tamil Nadu, Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka.

 

Pongal's a cultural event rather than strict religious festival day

The farmers join together to host an event as a special occasion, 

To pray to Sun, thank the Nature, the farmers and their cattle 

Thanking all who supported them during  that harvest season.

 

People of different faiths get together to celebrate this function

Thanking farmers and farm animals and express their gratitude

Their hard efforts for food production and feed the whole nation.

Really,  a ' thanks giving ceremony' for all the workers together! 

 

Pongal festival has its traditions, customs and unique ceremony 

The houses are well decorated and front garden is pre-prepared 

Simple square pitch decorated with 'kolam' drawings and flowers

Revealing to the direct sunlight and a firewood hearth is set up.

 

Pongal day starts early, family get  prepared before the sunrise

Members get up early morning, have shower and new clothes 

Traditional ornamental lamp is decorated with flowers and kept lit

The flowers and fruits symbolise auspiciousness and prosperity!

 

We assemble in front garden to cook a traditional Pongal pudding

Boiling water and cooking rice in a clay pot on a firewood hearth

Mixing more ingredients for this special dish; sugar and milk 

Green gram, a few pods of cardamom, raisins and cashew nuts!

 

When the meal is ready it is first served on a clean banana leaf,

The family pray to  Sun and thank the farmers and the cattle.

When this ceremony is over Pongal is served with many fruits 

To the family first, shared later with all neighbours and friends. 

 

Thai Pongal is an occasion for family re-unions and get-together, 

Personal animosities, all rivalries and the  enmities  are ditched. 

The estrangements are healed and absolute reconciliation effected.

Pongal festival for mutual trust and love for co-existence to flourish.

 

 'PLEASE RAISE YOUR VOICE  SAY 'PONGAL-O-PONGAL' 

Dr C K Krishnaswamy(UK)