Pongalo Pongal! - The harvest festival begins

KUALA LUMPUR: The annual harvest festival, Pongal celebrated by Indians, predominantly the Tamils in South India and Sri Lanka begins today, January 14. In Malaysia, Pongal is mainly celebrated by the Tamil community.

It is at this time of the year the sweet rice pudding consisting of rice, ghee, milk, sugar/jaggery (cane sugar) and cashew nuts are boiled in painted clay pots until they spill over on the top of firewood stoves. However, these days, modern stoves are used.

Women in the household will chant ‘Pongalo, pongal’ as soon as the rice mixture boils to a pre-congee consistency and spills over from the clay pot, signifying richness and prosperity.

The sweet Pongal dish is traditionally served on a banana leaf, accompanied by some savouries and sweets, usually with some typical South Indian dishes such as ‘vadas’ (small savory donuts), papadam (crisps made of urad flour) and coconut chutney.

The festival is believed to have astrological significance, which marks the day when the Sun purportedly shifts northwards.

Many see it as a time to express gratitude to both the sun and the livestock for the year’s bounty.

History and Significance

• According to Hindu mythology, Pongal was initially celebrated as a Dravidian harvest festival, with its history tracing back to the Sangam Age (the period of history of ancient Tamil Nadu, Kerala and parts of Sri Lanka)

• This is a day of celebration and thanksgiving to bring abundant rains and agricultural prosperity for the country.

• Pongal gets its name from one of the dishes prepared to mark the occasion, which signifies prosperity.

• The four-day festival celebrates the passing of the winter season and the beginning of the harvest season.

• The first day of the festival is known as ‘Bhogi’ where old clothes are burned to mark the beginning of a new life and is dedicated to Indra, the god of rain.

• The second day is known as ‘Thai Pongal’. On this day, the sweet rice dish is cooked in a painted claypot with turmeric plant tied around it, until the milk boils over and special prayers are offered to the God of Sun. Mango leaves, colourful kolam designs are usually used to decorate the house.

• The third day, is known as ‘Mattu (Cow) Pongal’, is when the bulls and cows have their horns decorated with flower garlands and bells tied around their necks. One this day, one offers thanks these animals who play an important role in farming.

• The fourth day, ‘Kaanum Pongal’ is usually a day to visit relatives and friends to strengthen mutual bonds.