Happy Pongal, Makar Sankranti January 14, 2013
By Michelle Carr-Crowe, Silicon Valley guide and real estate expert
Whether referred to as Lohri, Bihu, Hadaga, Poki, Pongal or Makar Sankranti, today is a day of thanksgiving for the good harvest held every year in India, particularly Tamil Nadu.
Makar Sankranti or Pongal is a four-day holiday, with different traditions for each of the four days.
Pongal marks the sun’s six-month long journey northwards (Uttarayana). It is considered an auspicious day by Hindus.
Bhogi is the first day of Pongal. Many people clean house, then burn or remove old household items and purchase new household items on this day. Bhogi is the official beginning of the new six-month cycle.
Perum, also known as Surya Pongal is the second day of this holiday. It is considered the most important day of Pongal, with people offering up prayers and wearing new clothes.
A puja or act of ceremonial worship is performed when rice is boiled in milk outdoors in a earthenware pot and is then symbolically offered. Early in the morning after bathing, women decorate the front of the homes with auspicious designs (Kolam) using either rice flour and red clay or white lime powder.
Mattu Pongal is the third day and includes being thankful for cattle, as it is believed that cattle help give a good harvest. People adorn cattle with Multi-colored beads, tinkling bells, sheaves of corn and flower garlands. Arati is performed on the cattle as well, to ward off the evil eye.
Kanum Pongal is the fourth and last day of the holiday, which includes a special ceremony and blessing between brothers and sisters. Many people go on picnics and spend time with families and friends.
Other Pongal festivities can include exchanging gifts, dancing, and buffalo-taming contests.
Although celebrated in many parts of South and Central India, it is not a mandatory holiday. However, agricultural businesses, schools and colleges in these areas remain closed for all four days of Pongal.
Pongal is associated the legend of Govardhan Mountain, Shiva (also known as Krishna) and his buffalo or bull, Nandi (also known as Basava). According to the legend of Govardhan Mountain, Lord Krishna lifted the mountain on his little finger on Bhogi, (the first day of Pongal), to protect the cattle and people from Indra, an angry rain god.
On the third day of Pongal, Lord Shiva sent his buffalo Nandi (Basava) to tell people to have an oil bath daily and eat once a month. However, the bull became confused and told people to eat daily and bathe once a month. This angered Lord Shiva so he placed the bull on earth to help humans harvest for more food, therefore Pongal became a harvest festival.
Images courtesy of Society for the Confluence of Festivals in India (SCFI).
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