MCO Ponggal 2021

MCO PONGGAL 2021

By, Kousalya Selvam

Pongal is a thanks-giving festival celebrated throughout Southern India. The word ‘Pongal Is derived from Tamil literature and its literal meaning is ‘to boil’. Pongal is also the name of a rice based dish, which is prepared for this festival. It basically is a harvest festival and the only festival to follow the solar calendar. This festival is celebrated on the 14th of January every year.  

According to Hindu mythology and astrology this festival marks up a very auspicious occasion, as the day when God begins, after a six month long night. The celebration for this festival is spread across three days. The first day is marked by a special puja, performed by cutting on the paddy. The farmers worship the sun and the earth by smearing their ploughs and sickles with sandalwood paste.

Each of the three days has a different festivity. The first day is a day to be with your family and is known as Bhogi Pongal. The second day is dedicated to the worship of Surya, the Sun God as in known as Surya Pongal. On this day boiled milk with jaggery is offered to the Sun God. The third day, Mattu Pongal is the day for worship of cattle, also known as Mattu. Cattle are bathed and cleaned, their horns are polished with bright colours and they are garlanded with flowers. The Pongal offered to the gods is later offered to the cattle and birds.

So as other Hindu families, we also celebrated our Ponggal. This year was extra special because all of my family members celebrated together. Every year, some of use couldn't make it as I will be away at campus and my father will go to work. MCO did it right where we had a chance to celebrate together after so many years plus this was the first year where we celebrated the original way where we did Ponggal outside of our house. Usually, we will keep on kitchen stove and that is a new norm to some Hindu families. It was a privilege's for us to celebrate the ancient way. 

We started our shopping on 13th where we bought all the things that we needed for our Ponggal celebration such as the clay pot, sugarcane, mango leaves, sweets, banana leaf, vegetables and flowers. I started to clean our prayer room, decorated with flowers and tied fresh mango leaves in the entrance of our house together with sugarcanes. 

House entrance with mango leaves and sugarcanes

Bhogi celebration

Finally, the day has arrived. On 14th January 2021, we woke up early to prepare things for Ponggal. My brother and I tied the sugarcane and tied three sugarcanes above it. In the middle of the stones, we placed some wood sticks and light up fire.                    

                  

Soon after, we place the pot on top of the fire and poured milk. We waited for milk to boil and pour which defines unlimited prosperous and happiness throughout the year.   

                  

Right after that, we performed some prayers to the sun which is called Thai Ponggal. We offered some fruits, coconut and sweets. 

Offerings

For lunch, my mom prepared for us delicious banana leaf food. Our 2021 Ponggal ended up with full of vibes and pure love. Celebrating any occasion with family is pure bliss, we are blessed! 

Banana leaf spread by Mom