A Time to say Thank You

In TamilNadu, Pongal is the traditional festival of harvest and thanksgiving. It falls a fortnight in January after New Year's day. Technically speaking, it is not just one day of festivities. There are three days of Pongal- Bogi, Pongal proper and Mattu Pongal.

The first day of Pongal is Bogi. Bogi signifies "Out with the Old and In with the New". All dusty, broken household items are taken out, cleaned if possible, otherwise discarded to the dumpster. After whitewashing the walls, applying cowdung as an antiseptic cover to the thresholds and the courtyards, a huge bonfire is lit in the night and the discarded items go up in flames. The destruction of the old signifies the ringing in of the new.

The next day is the Pongal proper. Families get up very early in the morning and prepare to greet the Sun God. The lady of the house fashions an old traditional stove out of three pieces of rock and uses a new bras spot to prepare the Pongal- the sweet dish made of milk, brown sugar and rice. As the milk brims over the pot, those gathered around shout "Pongalo pongal", the symbolism being that life too should brim over with health, wealth and happiness in the New Year. The Sun God is offered the sweet dish along with sugarcanes, turmeric and the year's first harvest of grains and lentils.

The next day is the Maatu Pongal or the Pongal for the Cattle. The cow holds a very important position in the Hindu mythology and is equated with the Mother Goddess. The cows are washed and cleaned on this day, their horns are painted in bright colours and a small ritual worship is held for them. They are then well-rested and given the day off from the fields.

Another important sidelight to the Mattu Pongal is the "Kaanum Pongal". It is primarily celebrated by the womenfolk of the household. They gather all the leftovers in the Pongal pot, and take it to the terrace. The terrace is cleaned and beautiful designs of rice flour are made on the floor. Turmeric leaves are spread out on the kolams for each one of the women. On it are placed pieces of yesterday's sugarcane, the Pongal, some rice mixed with curds, and some more rice mixed with turmeric powder. Each lady then lays out five handfuls of the rice, bows to it and prays for the well-being of her family. The food is ritually dedicated to the crows, which, in Hindu mythology, are the spirits of our manes or ancestors.

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