At times copying and pasting again and again may not change the false to truth as Goabel tried. In order to show the fallacies I have to rewrite and add more to show many presumptions are as bad as dravida pongal so this article has a word doc attached. K Rajaram IRS 16126
On Thu, 15 Jan 2026 at 11:36, 'gopala krishnan' via Thatha_Patty < [email protected]> wrote: > *PONGAL FESTIVAL IN TAMILNADU AND KERALA* > > Pongal is a multi-day Hindu harvest festival celebrated by *Tamils*. The > festival is celebrated over three or four consecutive days, which are named > Bhogi, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal and Kaanum Pongal, *beginning on the > last day of the Tamil calendar month of Margazhi*. > > Thai Pongal is observed on the first day of the Tamil calendar month of > Thai and usually falls on 14 or 15 January in the Gregorian calendar. > > According to tradition, *the festival marks the end of winter solstice, > and the start of the Sun's six-month-long journey northwards called > Uttarayana when the Sun enters Capricorn*. > > *It is dedicated to the solar deity Surya* and corresponds to Makara > Sankranti, the Hindu observance celebrated under various regional names > across the Indian subcontinent. > > *The festival is named after the ceremonial "Pongal", which means "boiling > over" or "overflow" in Tamil language* and refers to the traditional dish > prepared by boiling rice with milk and jaggery. > > Mattu Pongal is meant for celebration of cattle, and the cattle are > bathed, their horns polished and painted in bright colours with garlands of > flowers placed around their necks and processions on the day. > > The festival is traditionally an occasion for decorating with rice-powder > based kolam artworks, offering prayers at home, visiting temples, getting > together with family and friends, and exchanging gifts to renew social > bonds of solidarity. > > *Pongal is also referred to as Tamizhar thirunal* ("festival of Tamils") > and is one of the major festivals celebrated by the Tamil people across > various religions. It is observed by the Tamil diaspora in the Indian state > of Tamil Nadu, parts of South India, Sri Lanka and other parts of the world > with significant Tamil population. > > Etymology > > Thai Pongal is a combination of two Tamil language words: Thai (Tamil: 'தை') > referring to the tenth month of the Tamil calendar and Pongal (from pongu) > meaning "boiling over" or "overflow." Pongal also refers to a sweet dish of > rice boiled with milk and jaggery that is ritually prepared and consumed on > the day. It is also referred to as Tamizhar thirunal ("the festival of > Tamil people"). > > History > > The principal theme of Pongal is thanking the Sun god Surya, the forces of > nature, and the farm animals and people who support agriculture. The > festival is mentioned in an inscription found at the Veeraraghava Swamy > Temple at Tiruvallur. *Attributed to the Chola king Kulottunga I > (1070–1122 CE), the inscription describes a grant of land to the temple for > celebrating the annual Pongal festivities.* The ninth century Shaiva > Bhakti text Tiruvempavai by Manikkavacakar details the festival > > Pongal offering to Gods > > Pongal is a multi-day Hindu harvest festival celebrated by Tamils. The > three days of the Pongal festival are called Bhogi, Thai Pongal, and Mattu > Pongal. Some Tamils celebrate a fourth day of Pongal known as Kanum Pongal. > While the festival is observed for three or four days in Tamil Nadu, but > for one or two days in urban locations and by the Tamil diaspora outside > South Asia. > > *My note- This year three days till Saturday is Bank holidays in Tamilnadu* > > Bhogi > > Bhogi marks the first day of the Pongal festivities and is celebrated on > the last day of the Tamil calendar month Marghazhi. *On this day people > discard old belongings and celebrate new possessions*. The people > assemble and light a bonfire in order to burn the heaps of discards *except > plastics*. Plastics are not burned .It is kept in waste box to collect > and dispose by municipalities and corporations. Houses are cleaned, painted > and decorated to give a festive look. > > Prayers are offered to *Indra*, the king of Gods with thanks and hopes > for plentiful rains in the year ahead. *Kaappu kattu* is a tradition of > tying leaves of Azadirachta indica, Senna auriculata and Aerva lanata in > the roofs of houses and residential areas that is widely practiced in the > Kongu Nadu region. Bhogi is observed on the same day in the South Indian > states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Fruits of > the harvest are collected along with flowers of the season and a mixture of > treats along with money is given to children, who then separate and collect > the money and sweet fruits. > > Thai Pongal > > Thai Pongal is the main festive day, celebrated on the next day of Bhogi. > It is observed on the first day of the Tamil calendar month of Thai, and > usually falls on 14 or 15 January as per the Gregorian calendar. *It is > dedicated to the Sun deity Surya and corresponds to Makar Sankranti, *the > harvest festival under various regional names celebrated throughout India. > According to tradition, the festival marks the end of winter solstice, and > the start of the sun's six-month-long journey northwards when the sun > enters the Capricorn, also called as *Uttarayana.* > > Dedicated to Surya, it is celebrated with family and friends with new > clothes worn and the preparation of the *traditional pongal dish in an > earthen pot*. The pot is typically decorated by tying a turmeric plant or > flower garland and placed in the sun along with sugarcane stalks. *On > either side of the pot sugarcane with leaves are tied and kept* . The > homes are decorated with banana and mango leaves, decorative florals and > kolams. *Relatives and friends are invited and when the pongal starts to > boil and overflow out of the vessel,* participants blow a conch or make > sounds while shouting "*Pongalo Pongal"* ("may this rice boil over"). In > rural areas, people sing traditional songs while the pongal dish is > cooking. *The Pongal dish is first offered to Sura and Ganesha, and then > shared with the gathered friends and family.* > > People traditionally offer prayers to the sun in the open and then proceed > to eat their meal. > > Mattu Pongal > > Mattu Pongal ("Matu" meaning cow in Tamil) is the third day of the > festival meant for the celebration of cattle. The cattle are regarded as > sources of wealth as it is a means for dairy products and fertilizers, used > for transportation and agriculture. The cattle are bathed, their horns are > polished and painted in bright colours with garlands of flowers placed > around their necks and taken for processions. Some decorate their cows with > turmeric water and apply shikakai and kumkuma to their foreheads. The > cattle are fed sweets including pongal, jaggery, honey, banana and other > fruits. People may prostrate before them with words of thanks for the help > with the harvest. > > Kanum Pongal > > Kanum Pongal or Kanu Pongal is the fourth day of the festival and marks > the end of Pongal festivities for the year. *The word kanum in the > context means "to visit" and families hold reunions on this day*. > Communities organize social events to strengthen mutual bonds and consume > food and sugarcane during social gatherings. Young people visit elders to > pay respects and seek blessings, with elders giving gifts to the visiting > children. > > Traditions and practices > > Pongal is traditionally an occasion for decorating, offering prayers in > the home*, temples*, getting together with family and friends, and > exchanging gifts to renew social bonds of solidarity. It is viewed more as > a "social festival" since the contemporary celebrations do not *necessarily > link it to temple rituals.* *However in some temples Pongal is prepared > and offered to deity and portions of the sweet pongal dish (Sakkarai > Pongal) are distributed as the prasadam in temples.* > > Cuisine > > *Pongal dish made from rice boiled with cow milk and jaggery* > > The festival is named after the "Pongal" dish, which forms the festival's > most significant practice. The dish is prepared by boiling freshly > harvested rice in cow milk and raw cane sugar. Additional ingredients such > as coconut and ghee along with spices such as cardamom, raisins and cashews > are also used. The cooking is done in a mud pot that is often garlanded > with leaves or flowers, *mostly tied with a piece of turmeric root.* The > cooking is done in sunlight, usually in a porch or courtyard and *the > dish is dedicated to the Sun god, Surya*. After it is traditionally > offered to the gods and goddesses first, followed sometimes by cows, then > to friends and family gathered. > > The dish and the process of its preparation is a part of the symbolism, > both conceptually and materially. It celebrates the harvest and the cooking > symbolizes the transformation of the gift of agriculture *into > nourishment for the gods and the community on a day that when the sun god > is believed to start the journey north.* > > The dish "boiling over" is believed to symbolically mark the blessing by > Goddess > Parvati. It is the ritual dish, along with many other courses prepared > from seasonal foods for the gathering. > > Jallikattu > > *Jallikattu, a traditional bull taming event held during Pongal** days. * > > Jallikattu is a traditional event held during the period attracting huge > crowds in *which a bull is released into a crowd of people,* and multiple > human participants attempt to grab the large hump on the bull's back with > both arms and hang on to it while the bull attempts to escape. > > *Kakka pidi/ Kanu Pidi* > > Kanu Pidi is a tradition observed on Mattu Pongal by *women and young > girls* where they place a leaf of turmeric plant outside their home, and > feed pongal dish and food to the birds, particularly crow and pray *for > their brothers' well being*. Brothers pay special tribute to their > married sisters by giving gifts as affirmation of their filial love. > > Pongal by Tamil community in Kerala > > Pongal is observed by Tamil community in Kerala, and it is a local holiday > in Idukki, Palakkad, Pathanamthitta, Thiruvananthapuram, and Wayanad > districts.[37] In Attukal Temple near Thiruvanathapuram, Attukal Pongala is > celebrated in the month of February–March. This similarly named celebration > of Pongala includes dance (Kathakali) and musical performances, and > processions featuring the temple goddess. > > *Pongal festivities coincide with Makara Sankranthi,* Maghi and Bihu > celebrated across various parts of India. > > Sri Lanka > > In Sri Lanka, Pongal is celebrated by the Sri Lankan Tamils and the Pongal > festivities *last two days,* essentially focused on Thai Pongal day. The > custom of cooking Pukkai, a dish similar to Pongal, and made of red rice, > mung beans and milk, is carried out on the first day. > > Other parts of the world > > Pongal is one of the major festivals celebrated by Tamil people across > various religions in Tamil Nadu. It is also celebrated in other parts of > South India including Puduchchery and is a major Tamil festival in Sri > Lanka. It is observed by the Tamil diaspora worldwide including those in > Malaysia, Mauritius, South Africa, Singapore, United States, United > Kingdom, Canada, and the Gulf countries. > > In 2017, Delegate David Bulova introduced a joint resolution HJ573 in the > Virginia House of Delegates to designate January 14 of each year as Pongal > Day. > > Pongal and Uttarayanam. > > *The four-day event that is dedicated to the Sun God marks the Sun’s > journey northward, Uttarayanam.* Thai Pongal on January 14 corresponds > with the *Makara Sankranti, *the harvest festival that is celebrated > across India under various regional names. > > What is Pongal? > > Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated by the Tamil community. It is a > celebration to thank the Sun, Mother Nature and the various farm animals > that help to contribute to a bountiful harvest. Celebrated over four days, > Pongal > also marks the beginning of the Tamil month called Thai, which is > considered an auspicious month. It usually falls on the 14th or 15th of > January each year. There is a saying in Tamil- *“Thai piranthal > vazhipirakkum” *meaning a solution will be found for issues when the > auspicious month Thai starts. > > Pongal celebration by Tamil Brahmins in Kerala > > Tamil Brahmins in Kerala celebrate Pongal with key rituals like making > Sarkkarai Pongal, decorating homes with kolams and mango/banana leaves, > offering it to the Sun God (Surya), and observing Kanu Pongal for > ancestral welfare, but they focus on the sweeter, spiritual aspects, > often using pre-harvest grains, as it's a minor harvest festival in > Kerala compared to Tamil Nadu's focus on the major harvest. They perform > Surya Narayana prayers and share the dish, emphasizing gratitude to nature > and ancestors, with the overflowing pot symbolizing prosperity. > > Key Celebrations: > > *Sarkkarai Pongal (Sweet Pongal):* The main dish of rice, jaggery, milk, > ghee, and cashews is prepared, often in new earthen pots decorated with > turmeric, symbolizing sweetness and abundance. > > Sun Worship: The Pongal dish, sugarcane, and other offerings are placed > in the sun, with prayers offered to the *Sun God (Surya) for prosperity > and longer days (Uttarayana Punya Kalam).* > > Kolams & Decorations: Homes are decorated with colorful kolams (rangoli) > in the courtyard, and banana/mango leaves adorn doorways. > > *Kanu Pongal (Brother-Sister Bond*): Observed the day after Pongal, women > prepare curd rice and other simple dishes, offering them to crows for the > happiness of their ancestors and brothers, a practice distinct from the > cash gifts in Tamil Nadu. > > Community & Family: Families gather, wear new clothes, and share the > festive meal, with shouts of "Pongalo Pongal!" and conch shell blowing when > the Pongal boils over. > > Differences from Tamil Nadu: > > Harvest Focus: In Kerala, it's more spiritual, whereas in Tamil Nadu it's > deeply tied to the major harvest, using newly harvested grains. > > Ritual Focus: Kerala Tamil Brahmins focus more on ancestral prayers and > the celestial significance (Uttarayana), less on the agricultural harvest. > > In essence, Tamil Brahmins in Kerala adapt the Pongal traditions, > honouring nature and family, while maintaining their specific cultural > nuances within the Kerala context > > Celebration by the Tamil Community in Kerala-addition > > In Kerala, Pongal is primarily celebrated by the Tamil community and other > settled communities that have strong cultural ties to the festival. The > celebration is a private, family affair, involving traditional rituals in > homes or local temples, and often lacks the large-scale public festivities > seen in Tamil Nadu. > > For the Tamil diaspora and families settled in districts like Idukki, > Palakkad, Pathanamthitta, Thiruvananthapuram, and Wayanad, Pongal remains a > significant four-day harvest festival. *Their celebrations largely mirror > those in Tamil Nadu and center on expressing gratitude to the Sun God > (Surya) and farm animals for a successful harvest. * > > Key aspects include: > > Traditional Cooking: Families prepare the "Pongal" dish (sweet rice boiled > in milk and jaggery) in new clay pots, often outdoors in their front yards > or courtyards. The moment the dish boils over is a joyous occasion, greeted > with chants of "Pongalo Pongal!" as a symbol of abundance and prosperity. > > Home Decorations: Houses are cleaned, painted, and adorned with elaborate > kolam (decorative patterns made with rice flour) at the entrance. Turmeric > plants and sugarcane stalks are also used for decoration, emphasizing the > harvest theme. > > *Rituals and Offerings: The cooked Pongal is first offered to the Sun God > on a banana leaf*. Subsequent days involve prayers for cattle (Mattu > Pongal) and family reunions (Kaanum Pongal). > > Community and Family: Celebrations focus on strengthening family and > social bonds, exchanging gifts and sweets, and sharing meals with friends > and relatives. > > Celebration by Other Communities in Kerala > > Beyond the Tamil populace, the observance of Pongal is limited among > native Malayali communities, as their primary harvest festival is Onam, > which occurs at a different time of the year. > > Mannan Community: A specific instance of Pongal being a significant > festival is within the indigenous Mannan community in areas like Chinnar. > For them, it is a deeply spiritual, annual observance tied to regional > deities and clan lineage, involving unique rituals, traditional > performances (Mannan Koothu), and offerings of a specific Pongal payasam. > > Kakkapoti > > The term "Kakkapoti" is not the name of a festival itself, but a *local > or colloquial reference to a ritual performed by women during the Kaanum > Pongal* (or Kanu Pongal) day. This day is the fourth and final day of the > four-day Pongal harvest festival celebrated by Tamil people, including > Tamil Brahmins. > > *What is the Kakkapoti ritual?* > > *The ritual involves offering colourful balls of cooked rice to crows > (referred to as kakka in Tamil*) and other birds, along with other items, > typically on a banana leaf/Turmeric leaf. *The core belief is that as a > group of crows never separates, the family, too, should remain united and > live together always.* > > The women of the house, particularly sisters, perform this ceremony for > the well-being and prosperity of their brothers and their families. A > common recital during the ritual is "*Kakka podi vechen Kannu podi vechen > Kaakaikkum, Kurivikkum kalyanam. Kurivikellam Seemantham" (meaning, > roughly, "I placed balls for the crows and birds, for their wedding and > well-being"). * > > When is it celebrated? > > The Kakkapoti ritual is performed on Kaanum Pongal (also known as Kanu > Pongal or Mattu Pongal in some regions), which is the fourth day of the > Pongal festival. > > The Pongal festival typically falls in mid-January, in the Tamil month of > Thai. Kaanum Pongal usually falls on January 16th (or sometimes January > 17th) of the Gregorian calendar. > > *Compiled from various websites and posted by R. Gopalakrishnan 15-1-2026* > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Thatha_Patty" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1772427966.336714.1768457178064%40mail.yahoo.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1772427966.336714.1768457178064%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZooPQ9ja%3DZOnZiKsEh5CszHGGC3KbQgos6-LmQ%3DJAY5OmA%40mail.gmail.com.
PONGAL.docx
Description: MS-Word 2007 document
