The holy day of Thai Pongal marks the beginning of the harvest season. The farmers in ancient agricultural communities offered newly harvested grains to the sun god to invoke its blessings and to this day the rituals are followed religiously. The farmers’ hearts leap with joy on seeing the abundance of the harvest and following this the ritual of cooking the first sheaf of grain and the offering of the cooked rice in a spirit of gratitude marks Thai Pongal.
Thai Pongal in Astrology
On this day when the sun enters the house of ‘Mahara’ or ‘Capricorn’ taking a northerly course in Uthasrayana which is the first day of Thai (January) month in Tamil. Astrologically the sun travels from ‘Thanu” Rasi to ‘Mahara’ Rasi.
The way of Celebration
Thai Pongal generally includes customs & celebrations that are the expression of jubilation over life’s renewal. On Thai Pongal, the family begins the day early. Every member of the family gets up early in the morning, bathes, puts on new cloths and gathers in the front of the garden (muttram) to cook the traditional pongal (rice pudding). The front garden is prepared for this ceremonious and cooking. A flat square pitch is made and decorated with kolam drawings, and it is exposed to the direct sun light. A fire wood hearth will be set up using three bricks. The cooking begins by putting a clay pot with milk on the hearth. When the meal is ready it is first put on a banana leaf and the-family prays for few minutes to thank the nature sprit, the sun and farmers. Then the meal (Pongal) is served with fruits (banana and mango) among the family. Later it will be shared with neighbors, fiends and relatives. Although every household makes the food, sharing each others ‘pongal’ is the one of the important features of the event.
Maattu Pongal (Thanks Giving to the Cattle)
Maattu Pongal is intended to demonstrate the recognition and affection to cattle and decorate them with garlands, applies kungumam (Kumkum) o their foreheads and is feed with a mixture of venn pongal (White rice with milk), banana and other fruits. Thai piranthal vali pirakkum is a well-known saying in Tamil. When the month of Thai dawns times will be propitious is the meaning of the same. The Thai Pongal conveys to the humanity the message of peace, unity, brotherhood for the better tomorrow.