PONGAL

PONGAL (THE HARVEST FESTIVAL)
January 14, 2020

Pongal is a multi-day Hindu harvest festival of South India, particularly in the Tamil community. The term 'pongal' in Tamil means "to boil", and this festival is celebrated as a thanksgiving ceremony for the year's harvest. Devotees thank the Sun God and Lord Indra for helping in getting better-yielding crops.

ITEMS REQUIRED FOR PUJA

1) Lamp
2) Brass Kindi
3) Deepa Arti Stand
4) Incense Sticks
5) Fruits
6) Betel Leaves
7) Betel Nut
8) Turmeric Plant
9) Sugar Cane and Coconuts
10) Camphor

The first day of Pongal - The Bhogi festival
The Bhogi festival is celebrated in honour of Lord Indra, the god of rain, and the lord of lords. The ritual of Bhogi Mantalu is also observed this day, during which useless items of the household are tossed away.

The second day - Thai Pongal
This day, a special ritual is performed where rice and milk are boiled together in an earthen pot - to which a turmeric plant is tied - out in the open as an offering to the sun god. Along with this, sticks of sugarcane, coconuts and bananas are also offered.

Another important aspect of this day is the kolam, the traditional design hand-drawn at the entrance of houses with lime powder. This auspicious drawing must be done early in the morning and only after a bath.

The third day - Mattu Pongal
Mattu Pongal is the day celebrated in the name of cows. The cattle are adorned with bells, sheaves of corn and garlands and worshipped.

The fourth day - Kaanum Pongal
Kaanum (or Kanu) Pongal marks the last day of Pongal. On this day, a ritual is performed where the leftover sweet Pongal and other food are set out in the courtyard on a washed turmeric leaf, along with betel leaves, betel nuts and sugar cane.

Women of the household carry out this ritual in the name of their brothers, asking for their prosperity.

INDIA SAJAWAT & PUJA HUT
905-458-6808
31 Melanie Drive, Units 5-6
Brampton, Ontario
L5R 5H8