Saying thanks is a civilized custom. It is an expression of gratitude in return to something good received from another person. While so, is it not more fitting to thank the invisible superpower that gives the mankind everything they have – from day to day life to prosperity? Pongal – the festival ear-marked as the day of Thanksgiving for the superpower that is visible up above our head everyday – is unique to Tamilnadu and its people; though it is named as Makara Sankaranthi and celebrated in entire India.
In the western countries like America, Canada, The Netherlands, Liberia etc. also they have been celebrating Thanksgiving Day – what started in ancient days as harvest festival for thanking the Sun God, for helping a bountiful harvest of crops – has become a secular holiday for the present generation of people. It falls sometime in November in these countries and people use it for exchanging greetings among friends, for all the goodness between them.
But in Tamilnadu, South India, Pongal festival is still identified as the festival of good harvest, coming as it does somewhere in the middle of January, when the Sun is entering the Tamil Month Thai (mostly January 14th every year and sometimes 15th like this year). By this time the harvest of Paddy would be over and village people use the rice thus brought back home afresh, to cook it on the open yard in front of their houses on this festive day.
Pongal – is the name of the cooked rice – adding jaggery, milk, cashewnut pieces, elaichi etc. with the rice to sweeten it and smelling nice. As the tendency of milk is to overflow the vessel at boiling point (even now mud pots are used in villages, though modern city-life has changed it to metal utensils and pressure-cookers) the very overflowing of milk is taken as symbol of prosperity for the entire family.
The cooked rice is then placed on a plantain-leaf along with other items like fruits, flowers and sugar-cane, as an offering to the Sun God – also in the open space in front of the house in villages; and respective Pooja rooms in houses of city people. The element of offering it to God and praying for his benevolence is one and the same everywhere.
Why Pongal festival is unique to Tamilnadu? Because in other parts of India, the day is celebrated as Makara Sankaranthi – that is Sun is entering the Makara Month according to calendar; and they consider it an auspicious day for taking holy-dip in rivers. Of course Pooja is inevitable one in these places also. But the fanfare and enjoyment of Pongal is unique in Tamilnadu, which extends for 3 days including the day of Pongal.
The second day next to Pongal is known as “Mattu Pongal” – meaning festival of cattle, especially cows and oxen; those animals, which have been serving the family throughout the year, are honored on this day. Villagers on this day decorate their cows and oxen beautifully; and worship them with feeding special food items and sugar-cane. It is another Thanksgiving Day – this time for the animals as well.
The third day is known as “Kanum Pongal” – that is seeing friends and relatives visiting their houses, with gifts and prizes and spending time with them merrily. Yet another Thanksgiving Day among society. During the last decades, this day has been converted into one of Tourism Day, both in villages and towns alike – taking the family for a jolly-trip, to numerous places of tourist importance and rejoicing.
On this day, believe it the Marina Beach of Chennai, the capital of Tamilnadu will be overflowing with a sea of humanity, competing with the sea of water, throughout the day.
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