why v r celebrating pongal?

Answer 1

January is a special month when I suddenly become aware of the sun. For the past few months, the sun can barely penetrate the thick curtain of plants behind my chair and window, which face west. Then suddenly, in mid-January, the sun lights up my room and I have to close the shutters in the afternoon, to prevent the scorching rays from burning me. And then I remember that it is January, celebrated as uttarayana when the su n enters the northern hemisphere; or sankranti when people fly kites; or pongal when the Tamil farmer thanks the sun for a bountiful harvest and offers him the first fruits of his labour: Rice, lentils, milk and jaggery. So sacred is this moment that Bhishma waited on a bed of arrows to die in uttarayana. January also sees the end of the classical music and dance season at Chennai, and the beginning of folk music and dance. It is so satisfying to see the clockwork regularity with which this is repeated year after year.

The sun was the only stable aspect of nature on which ancient people could depend, the crucial force for the creation and maintenance of life, which made it an object of veneration in all ancient societies. It is amazing how similar were the myths and symbols associated with the sun across cultures. The sun is symbolic of the commonality of ancient cultures, possibly even their common origins. In astrology the solar sign signifies creative energy: it became symbolic of creation and was the muse for creativity across cultures.

The sun, in the ancient world, was considered to be made of gold. It was represented by the horse, whose speed was matched by the sun as it passed from day to night and back to day, and through the four seasons. The three positions of the sun — sunrise, noon and sunset — were described as the three steps of Vishnu Trivikrama in the Vedas; the three positions of the Greek Helios; and as Horus the rising sun, Ra the midday sun and Atum the setting sun, by the Egyptians. The Egyptian sun god Ra was born each morning as a child, grew until noon, and became an old man and died every night. The three positions of the sun were the hiding place of the immortal nectar. Because it rises in the east and sets in the west, the sun became a symbol of resurrection and death, while its passage across the skies was likened to a chariot of the gods.

In early Indian art the sun rode a chariot driven by four horses, representing the four seasons and the four divisions of the day, reminiscent of the Greek Helios. Later, the number of horses was increased to seven, for the seven days of the week. By the Kushana period in Mathura, the Sun God had developed his own symbolism: A lotus (or lotus bud) in either hand, a flower that grew away from the dirt below to face the regenerative qualities of the sun. And calf-length boots on his feet, so that they may not scorch the earth. The seven horses, lotuses and boots became his defining features throughout Indian art.

The lotus symbol was not restricted to India. Much earlier, in Egypt, the solar Ra was a child enclosed in a lotus bud in the bosom of the primordial ocean Nun, from which he emerged to create the world. Similar creation stories exist about the Mesopotamian Enki, resting in the waters, and about Brahma rising in the lotus from the navel of Narayana, resting in the waters. Sunrise was a powerful image, recreating creation.

As the brightest of all the heavenly bodies, the sun was all-seeing, an attribute that made it the “eye” of the Egyptian Horus, Hindu Varuna, Greek Zeus, Norse Wotan and Islamic Allah. The sun was regarded as a male divinity by the Egyptians, Persians, Assyrians, Greeks, Romans and Indians, and the divine ancestor of the pharaohs of Egypt, the emperors of Japan and the suryavamshi of India. But there were female solar deities among Africans, native Americans, Japanese, Germans and South Pacific islanders.

The swastika was a universal symbol of the sun long before Hitler appropriated it. The word is derived from the Sanskrit swasti or well-being and the symbol first appears in the Indus-Saraswathi civilisation. To the Vedic Aryans, it represented the sun, the arms signifying the solar rays and moving in a clockwise direction. It was an attribute of the Greek Zeus and the battle axe of the Scandinavian Thor, besides being found elsewhere in Europe, Asia and the Americas. It is one of the eight symbols of good luck in Buddhism, a symbol of the sacred fire of Zarathushtra and the sun-worshipping magi of ancient Persia, and of the gammadion in early Christianity. The swastika was so popular in Persia and Central Asia that many mosques in Persia and Central Asia were decorated with swastikas by the image-eschewing Moslems.

There is a large mosque in Central Samarkhand, overlooking the ancient Silk Road. On the top of its façade is a huge round-faced three-eyed sun, with rays blazing wide, flanked by two large Bengal tigers. The walls are decorated with swastikas. Timur built the mosque after his incursions into northern India, and it is believed that he took back Indian and Persian artisans who designed and constructed the mosque. The popularity of the solar symbolism outweighed Islamic considerations.

The sun was often represented by birds of prey. The Egyptian Horus was represented as a falcon, the Indian Garuda was a solar bird, while the eagle and hawk were associated with solar deities in Greece, Mesopotamia and elsewhere. The sight of a majestic bird soaring high into the sun and beyond human vision was inspiring. The sun's enemy was the serpent who was defeated by the bird of prey, the eternal battle between the Naga, the symbol of darkness, and Garuda, the solar hero. In India, Rahu the eclipse was a serpent who was beheaded by Shiva. The solar Hercules battles the multi-headed serpent hydra and Achelous, the river god who turns into a serpent, while the solar disc above the falcon-headed Horus is surrounded by a snake.

There are few exclusive Surya temples in India, perhaps because most Hindu deities are associated with the sun. The earliest recorded temple of the sun — now destroyed — was built by the Kushana king Kanishka in Multan (NWFP). The surviving temples include those at Martand (Kashmir), Osia (Rajasthan), Modhera (Gujarat) and Konark (Orissa). But beautiful icons of the sun can be seen in nearly every Hindu temple. The temple of Konark is one of India's greatest artistic treasures, the sun's rays falling on his own image, as it does in the ancient sun temple of Abu Simbel in Egypt.

While the solar orb was carried by European rulers at their coronation, the sun became a powerful symbol in twentieth century pop art. These images are similar to the ancient large-eyed solar disc with blazing rays, which still appears on the national flags of the Philippines, Uruguay, Taiwan and Japan and lives on in images of life, strength and power. It is the ultimate role model for creation.

All these images flash before me as summer nears and I hear people cursing the increasing heat. But I also watched the Spirit on Mars last week, which reminded me that the sun has given us the gift of life on earth, impossible on either the moon or mars. And the heat felt very comforting.

Answer 2

I am from bangalore here makara sankranti is a celebration of harvest festival we offer pooja to cow eat pongal we make cows look today good with decorations and make them feel comfort
today it is a farewel and vote of thanxs to the cows, buffolos, and oxe who were been part of the cultivation job with the farmer they are taken care very well so it is a festival celebrated to show the bondage between humans and animals

Answer 3

Pongal is celebrated to mark the beginning of utarayana period, which is the brighter part of the year - and is the marking of harvest season for the farmers which will bring prosperity to their lives.

Answer 4

Whats Pongal dude ??

Answer 5

in accordance to Gregorian Calendar( of St,Gregory-which isn't rational),my start day replaced into over on February 10 th.--i do no longer rejoice on that day.I rejoice on Hindu Maakam (Month's call) whilst the moon "seem to be" present interior the constellation Utthara Aashada(Lunar calendar).I stated "seem to be,because of the fact Moon and Constellations are no longer Co-planar.

Answer 6

Pongal - The four day harvest festival of Tamil Nadu

Pongal is the first festival beginning off each new year in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. As the dates for this festival are calculated by the solar calander (ie. Western), the dates of January 13-16 never change. Each day of this festival has a special significance, however, it is celebrated more grandly in the villages, while the city folk mainly celebrate on the second day only.

The first day of the festival is called Bhogi. On Bhogi all people clean out their homes from top to bottom, and collect all unwanted goods. In the evening, people will light bonfires and burn what can be burnt. In the village where I celebrated Pongal, the people lived in mud huts with thatched roves. The porches of these homes was fully covered by the thatch material, but somewhat elevated from the ground. This part of the home was taken apart and reconstructed on this day along with the front section of the walkway in front of their home (pictured to the left). Both the porch and ground in front of their home was solid mud which had dried. So, to undo this, they put in water to soften it, and dug it out and rebuilt it. After rebuilding it, they took cow dung and added water to make a paste and spread this mixture evenly over the new fixtures to coat and sanitize them. This mixture was also spread on the floor of the hut, on which we slept at night. As they don't have beds, we slept on the floor of the mud hut with a mat between our bodies and the floor. Although, the mixture had been spread on the floor, it did not at all smell fowl in any way. In addition, the family I stayed with installed a new ceiling fan for Pongal.


Putting Kolum


Preparing the stove for cooking.
The second day of the festival, Surya Pongal, is the day on which the celebrations actually begins, is the first day of the Tamil month Thai. On this day, Surya, the sun God is worshipped and women will wake early on this day to create elaborate kolum on the grounds in front of their doorway or home. Kolums are created with colored rice flour placed on the ground carefully by using one's hand. The picture shown to the right shows the beginnings of this. The women in the picture took several hours to finish that kolum. All people will wear their new dresses and use the new utensils or household items which replace the ones discarded the previous day. On this day the new rice is collected and cooked in pots until they over flow. It is this overflowing which means Pongal. This overflowing of rice is a joyous occasion, and the children and adults as well will shout out 'Pongal-o Pongal!' Children will dance and make music to the tune of these words. As far as I know, the words have no real meaning but an expression of happiness that the new harvest is here and we should enjoy it! The rice is cooked and prepared as a dish called Pongal, which is rice with dhal and sugar. This Pongal variety is called venpongal, ven meaning white. Another variety is also prepared with dhal and jaggery (sweet), called chakra1pongal, chakrai meaning sweet. To accompany the venpongal, people eat brinjal (eggplant) sambar (stew), vadai, idli, and spicy accompaniments. This is one of my favorite meals!!


Children wearing new clothes.


View from top of temple steps.

The third day is called Maatu Pongal, maatu meaning cattle. This day is devoted to paying homage to cattle. Cows and Bulls are decorated with paint and bells and people pray to them. In fact, in my Pongal experience, the cattle were decorated with bells on their neck, and *** *** placed on their head, and we (My friend, her family and I.) paid respect to them by bending down, like praying in temple, and touching their feet and foreheads, followed by an aarthi (showing fire to the object of praise) and offering the cattle prasadam (food offering, in this case, pongal).. In some villages in south India, there are bull fights of varying types. These are not so common as they once were, I understand.

The fourth day is termed as Kaanum Pongal. On this day, people travel to see other family members. As in the family I stayed, we traveled to another village to meet her family there. On this day, the younger members of the family pay homage to the elders, and the elders thank them by giving token money (like Rs. 10 or US 25cents). Another thing many do is leave food out on banana leaves for birds to take. I don't remember having done this, but I do know many South Indian people will take the first bit of rice cooked in any given day and set it outside for the crows to take, so this is not necessarily a habit only for Pongal. Some also go to temple, as shown in the photo. The photo is taken from the top of the staircase we climbed to get in the temple.

Answer 7

Pongal is the only festival of Hindu that follows a solar calendar and is celebrated on the fourteenth of January every year. Pongal has astronomical significance: it marks the beginning of Uttarayana, the Sun's movement northward for a six month period. In Hinduism, Uttarayana is considered auspicious, as opposed to Dakshinaayana, or the southern movement of the sun. All important events are scheduled during this period. Makara Sankranthi refers to the event of the Sun entering the zodiac sign of Makara or Capricorn.

In Hindu temples bells, drums, clarinets and conch shells herald the joyous occasion of Pongal. To symbolize a bountiful harvest, rice is cooked in new pots until they boil over. Some of the rituals performed in the temple include the preparation of rice, the chanting of prayers and the offering of vegetables, sugar cane and spices to the gods. Devotees then consume the offerings to exonerate themselves of past sins.

Pongal signals the end of the traditional farming season, giving farmers a break from their monotonous routine. Farmers also perform puja to some crops, signaling the end of the traditional farming season. It also sets the pace for a series of festivals to follow in a calendar year. In fact, four festivals are celebrated in Tamil Nadu for four consecutive days in that week. 'Bogi' is celebrated on January 13, 'Pongal' on Jan 14, 'Maattuppongal' on Jan 15, and 'Thiruvalluvar Day' on Jan 16.

The festival is celebrated for four days. On, the first day, Bhogi, the old clothes and materials are thrown away and fired, marking the beginning of a new life. The second day, the Pongal day, is celebrated by boiling fresh milk early in the morning and allowing it to boil over the vessel - a tradition that is the literal translation for Pongal. People also prepare savories and sweets, visit each other's homes, and exchange greetings. The third day, Mattu Pongal, is meant to offer thanks to the cows and buffaloes, as they are used to plough the lands. On the last day, Kanum Pongal, people go out to picnic.

A festival called Jalli kathu is held in Madurai, Tiruchirapalli and Tanjavur,all in Tamil Nadu, on this day. Bundles of money are tied to the horns of Pongal ferocious bulls which the villagers try to retrieve. Everyone joins in the community meal, at which the food is made of the freshly harvested grain. This day is named and celebrated as Tamilian Tirunal in a fitting manner through out Tamil Nadu.

Thus, the harvest festival of Pongal symbolizes the veneration of the first fruit. The crop is harvested only after a certain time of the year, and cutting the crop before that time is strictly prohibited. Even though Pongal was originally a festival for the farming community, today it is celebrated by all. In south India, all three days of Pongal are considered important. However, those south Indians who have settled in the north usually celebrate only the second day. Coinciding with Makara Sankranti and Lohri of the north, it is also called Pongal Sankranti.

Its known as the following round thw world.

Korea - Chu'sok
Usually held in the month of September or October, this Korean harvest festival is marked by the rising of a full "Harvest Moon." Ch'usok is usually described as a kind of Thanksgiving for a good harvest, but it is really an ancient holiday dedicated to the ancestors. Families gather from all over the country and from overseas for the great holiday.

Japan - Tori no Ichi
"Tori-no-ichi" is a festival of Japan held in the month of November. The festival is also called "Otori-sama.". The festival is lively with handclasp and shouts for deals. It starts at midnight with a sound of Japanese dram and continues for 24 hours. The festival becomes livelier as the night goes on. You may not interest in rakes but will enjoy the lively festival of "Tori-no-ishi."

Sri Lanka - Pongal or Ulavar Thirunaal
The rituals of Pongal celebrated in Sri Lanka is almost similar to the Indian Tamils and it refers to boiling rice in a pot for consumption. The sun gives life to the rice. The instruments of this transmutation are the pot and the oxen who assist the farmers in preparing the rice fields and threshing the grains.

United States - Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated in America, generally observed as an expression of gratitude to God. It is an occasion to give thanks to God for the bounty of the autumn harvest. In the United States, the holiday is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November.

China - August Moon Festival
The August Moon Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most celebrated Chinese holidays. It is held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. Chinese families celebrate the end of the harvest season with a big feast. Unlike the American Thanksgiving dinner, the Chinese have mooncakes instead of grandma' apple pie. Friends and relatives also send mooncakes to each other as a way of giving thanks.

Vietnam - Tet Trung Thu
Tet Trung Thu is a wonderful, ancient festival of Vietnam that revolves around children. The Festival dates back as far as 15-20,000 years ago in Southeast Asia, and is traditionally held on the 15th day of the 8th Lunar Month. An important to families in Vietnam for many years, originally this Festival came about as a way for parents to make up for lost time with their children after harvest season.

Israel - Succoth
The week long holiday of Succoth begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Tishri. It is usually held in September and October. Succoth occurs at harvest time, and has elements of a harvest festival. Thus, it is also the Jewish Thanksgiving because it is known as the "Festival of the Harvest". Other names of this festival are Sukkot, Festival of the Booths, Jewish Harvest Festival and Feast of Tabernacle.

Africa America - Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa, which means "first fruits of the harvest" in the African language Kiswahili, is a popular harvest festival and has gained tremendous acceptance among the African American people. Since its founding in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa has come to be observed by more than18 million people world wide. This festival runs from December 26 to January 1 and over this seven days, people of African descent come together to celebrate family, community, culture and the bonds that tie them together as a people. They also remember their heritage, give thanks for the good things they have and rejoice in the goodness of life.

Africa - Yam Festival
The yam festival marks the end of an abundant food-producing harvest. African people have always had festivals at the time of the harvest. In Ghana the Yam Festival (Homowo) lasts three days. The festival begins with a cleansing ceremony to honor family members who have died. Farmers give thanks to the gods who ensure a good harvest. Twins and triplets are honored during this time as a special gift from God.

Answer 8

To worshp and thanks the animals who help us raise or cultivate the food which we need every day

Answer 9

our sincere thanks to our nature world like plannet sun earth to give us food. each and every one must give our thanks to these world atleast once in a year. to the cows bulls and goats we give our sincere thank to these animal also, because they also gives us to their lsupport for our lives

Answer 10

don't worry if you say we won't celebrate it