[radikal]

Pongal is the harvest festival which falls on the 14th of January. For various reasons it is the occasion of great rejoicing. The month proceeding Pongal is believed to be up of unlucky days which has at last passed and the month we which follows consist of lucky days. This festival always takes place during the winter solstice –when the sun having finished its sojourn towards the south turns to the north. To the ancients the most important of the epochs marking the sun’s annual course was the winter solstice.-for the gradual descent of the sun further and further below equator caused dismay among the sun worshippers. They feared that the sun might disappear for ever, annihilating life, with the annihilation of heat and light. Hence the ceasing of the sun’s downward course should have been hailed by the people as the restoration of their faith hope and joy. On the Pongal day the sun enters the Makara rasi marking Uttarayanam. Thus the festival is dedicated entirely to the sun.
Pongul is a three day festival beginning from 13th of January i.e. the last day of Dhanu. This day is called Bhogi and is dedicated to Indra-the Rain God. People rise early and have oil bath using gingely oil and a special herbal preparation to keep the skin supple. Every household is white washed cleaned and dusted. Broken and dented utensils are exchanged for new ones. Bonfire is set at night with old items that have outlived their use. New clothes for a festival are an Indian heritage and the shops go all out to lure the customer before and during Pongal. It becomes the main topic for the conversation and keeps every one in a happy and expectant mood.

Next day is Pongal. The house is decorated with strings of mango leaves tied neatly with its stalk tucked inwards to form a loop. The banana and sugar cane plants are erected against the gateways and archways. Fresh kolam is drawn on the floor virtually converting the home into an art gallery. Special brass or clay pot is decorated with mango and turmeric leaves. It is smeared with kumkum and turmeric. Pongal is cooked in it.

After the ritualistic bath, women put freshly harvested rice to boiling milk on fire in the open. As soon as it simmers they hail ‘Pongalo Pongal’ and quickly remove the vessel from the fire. It is offered to the sun and distributed among the family members who prostrate in full length before accepting it. The sun is seen through fingers entwined in a peculiar way. People exchange visits. On meeting each other they say “Has the rice boiled?” The people have sumptuous feast and engage in various entertainments.

Mattu Pongul is observed on the next day. The horns of the bovines are decorated with kumkum and turmeric. Round their necks are hung garlands of green leaves interlaced with flowers. Women visit the houses of neighbors and relatives with a piece of turmeric. The elderly women smear their foreheads with turmeric. Some render couplets wishing them marital success. On reaching home small balls of left over rice is arranged across the turmeric leaves. Oil lamp is lit. They pray to the sun God “Keep my family united like the flocks of crows Retain the bond if unity always.” The offering is fed to the crows. Then they take their bath and engage in daily chores.

In the evening rural folk organize bull fights. Men with bare hands taming the bull are a real test for their courage. They get the pleasure and thrill out of forcing the animal to submission with their hands. The reward is tied to the well oiled horns of the specially bred bull. At times it is fed on a diet of toddy with a dash of lemon, or chilly powder sprinkled on their eyes to make them ferocious at the appointed hour. Foul play do takes place. By standers may beat the animal while others pull its tail. Scores fall victim to its sharpened horns and tough hooves. As the sun goes down, the dust kicked by the raging bull an men settle. Now it is time to talk about those who have ventured and injured. With this the entire festival comes to an end and the count down for next years Pongal begins.