Pongal / Makar Sankranti
Wish you and your family a very Happy Pongal !!!
"Pongal", this festival is dedicated to Sun god, falls on 1st day of 'Thai' month (Thai in Tamil, Makar in Sanskrit), when the Sun enters into Capricorn. This festival is celebrated for several thousand years, also known as harvest festival, as during this month farmers harvest the rice and sugarcane. It is celebrated as 4 days festival, starting from last day of Dhanu / Margazhi month to 3rd day of Thai / Makar month.
Suryan (sun god)
In Kerala, on the day of Makar Sankranti, after sunset, one can see 3 flashes of light on top of the 'Ponnambalamedu hill', which is few kilometers away from the famous Sabarimala temple. It is called as 'MakaraVilaku', Makar is the name of the star (Capricorn), it is believed that on this day Lord Ayyappa himself can be seen in the form of light. Every year, millions of devotees will gather in that temple to witness the Makaravilaku.
By the mid of Margazhi month, will start preparing for Pongal festival by cleaning our house gradually like gathering the old things, dusting door, windows, ceiling, fans etc. buying new dresses, new rice, dal, jaggery, fresh sugar canes, turmeric plant branches, new pongal pot and many more things. We will be eating sugar canes on this whole month. There is specialty for this sugar canes, while biting the sugar cane, will peel the skin of the sugar cane with our teeth, this will strengthen our teeth and the juice of sugar cane helps in digestion. My grand mother asks us to eat sugar cane after Pongal in the evening, so that pongal cooked in new rice will not cause stomach ache.
Bhogi
The day before Pongal, i.e last of the Dhanu / Margazhi month, usually comes on 13th January, 'Bhogi' festival is celebrated. On this day, old fabrics, useless mats will be burnt. It signifies the real meaning of 'Burn our old bad thoughts and adapt good new thoughts'.
During our childhood days, will sleep in the afternoon so that we can be awake and draw color rangoli till midnight. Every street in our city will be bright and all women will be busy in drawing rangoli, their creativity can be seen in those rangolis . It's like night rangoli competition in the street, where all the ladies decorates their main gate with colorful rangolis (most famous is pongal pot rangoli and peacock rangoli). In my childhood days, when my mom was drawing border of the rangoli, will check other aunty's rangoli and ask our mom to draw bigger, creative and distinctive rangoli. Once, my mom completes the border, will fill the design with different color powders, adding shades in the rangoli is the fun part and after filling the colors, when my mom gives bright white color outlines, it will look more brighter and beautiful. When we complete the rangoli, it will be almost midnight, sometimes we wake early around 3 A.M in the morning to draw rangoli, those were fun festive days, where we can show our creativity.
Puran Poli is the special sweet prepared during Bhogi festival. It looks a small size thin stuffed parata, the outer layer is made of maida and the stuffing is mashed channa dal with jaggery. With the stuffing, will place it in the maida dough and flatten it like a parata, then place it on hot tawa and cook with ghee on both the sides. When, it becomes little brown / red color on both sides, then take it out from the tawa and it is ready to serve.
Pongal / Makar Sankrati
Pongal meaning 'Overflowing', signifying overflowing prosperity and happiness at home as it's the harvest season. On this day, we wake up early in the morning, takes oil bath , wear new dresses and celebrate with sweets. A day before the festival, will clean pooja room, pooja utensils and apply turmeric, kum kum on all god photos, pooja utensils etc. After taking bath, decorate pooja room with flowers and garlands, will draw Maa kolam (Rangoli using rice flour) at the entrance of our house, at the pooja room, on the kitchen counter slab, over the gas stove (stove where the pongal pots are going to be placed) and at the terrace,where we worship Sun god (usually will use terrace for Sun god pooja, we can use our balcony also).
As per my family tradition, by 6 in the morning will do pooja at the main door of our house. It will be done by the eldest woman of the house followed by all other women of the house (Mostly only women will do this pooja). At the main door will place a plate with little rice and over that Kamakshi Amman Vilaku (a type of lamp) will be kept. It will be lit before doing main door pooja and in another plate place Lord Ganesha made of turmeric paste. (Refer below picture for reference)
Along with Ganesha, place betel leaves, betel nut and fruits as Prasadham for Ganesha(Food Offering to God). After this pooja, will start the preparation for Pongal dishes.
First, will wash the pot (as per my family tradition will use Vengala uruli, its a brass pot) and apply viboothi pattai ( 3 lines of ash powder) at three sides of the pot with turmeric and kumkum dots at the center of the viboothi pattai. Then, will tie the neck of the pot using turmeric plant branch (Manjal kothu), ginger plant branch (Manjal kothu) and pour water and milk according to the amount of rice going to be used. Before placing the pot over the stove, check Rahu kalam for that day, as per our customs, we don't start or do any good things during the rahu kalam. So, will place two pots over the stove (One pot for Paal Pongal and One pot for Sakkarai Pongal) either before the rahu kalam or after the rahu kalam. Once,the pot is kept over the stove, will wait for the milk to get boiled, will tilt the pot facing east (Sun god) so that when the milk boiled, it will overflow from the pot towards east direction. During its overflow, all the family members will gather and chorously say 'Pongalo Pongal, Pongalo Pongal, Pongalo Pongal'.
In my mother's place, we buy earthenware pot and sugarcane on the day of Pongal, early in the morning. Every year, we buy two new pot for this festival, one for 'Paal Pongal' (Rice cooked using milk and water) and one pot for 'Sakkarai Pongal' (Rice, moong dal cooked using milk, Jaggery and water)
Mochai Kulambu - For the pongal, will prepare tangy spicy Mochai kulambu (Field Beans sambar) which is the best combination for milk pongal. It's actually mixed vegetable kulambu, where as mochai will be dominated. The day before Pongal (Bhogi), will peel off fresh mochai from it's skin. After having delicious lunch spread, will eat sugar cane as mid meal snacks, which is helpful for digestion, as the new rice will be little difficult for digestion.
Mattu Pongal
The day after pongal / Sankranti is called as 'Mattu Pongal', on this day will worship Bulls and cows of our home, it's like paying tribute to bulls, which is a helping friend for farmers. In our house, will consider cows as Goddess lakshmi, will bathe cow and bull, decorate them with flowers and garlands, apply turmeric and kumkum on their forehead, will give fresh green leaves to them to eat and will give special food for them. At last, will take Deeparadhana for bulls, then it will be going around the street, everyone who sees cows and bulls will give food to them and worship them.
Jallikattu / Manju Virattu / Eru thazhuvudhal
Everyone must have heard the name 'Jallikattu' due to its controversy in the recent past. Why Jallikattu ?? Why to hurt animals ?? Oh no..!! poor illiterate uncivilized Tamil people !!! Huh ??? 'Jallikattu' is neither status symbol nor uncivilized manner, in fact southern part of India is the only one region where our culture and traditions are still being followed, only those who are already converted into western maaya and illiterate about India are thinking that Indian culture & traditions are myth , it's full of superstitions. Let me explain about Jallikattu now, in Jallikattu only humped bulls will participate for the game. Before explaining about the science behind the game, let me remind you that this day 2nd day of Thai / Makar month (mostly 15th January ) is dedicated to Cows and Bulls. We worship, we celebrate and it's thanksgiving to the Cows and Bulls of our family. In villages, we can still see Dogs, Goats, Chickens, Cows, Buffalo, Bulls as pet animal. But, more than all the pet animal Cow deserves special place in the house, we call them with a pet name and even include cows , bulls in our family picture. Even in temples, there is a place called 'Goshala' (Cow's place), where temple committee will take of the humped cows over there and food for god will be prepared from that milk.
Why to play games with bull ?? We are ONLY playing games with bulls, which may hurt humans not the bulls, but in Spain and other countries, they are killing the bulls for the happiness for the human game. Do anybody questioned that ? Jallikattu means 'Embracing the bull', not hurting the animal.
In India, we only had humped bull breeds, out of which Kangeyam and Pullikulam breeds are most famous for jallikattu, it is the game for bravery of a man, one who holds bull's hump for 20 - 30 seconds will be the winner. A bull will be there in the game arena for max 40 seconds. There are many variants of Jallikattu, 'Vadi Manjuvirattu' is renowned for mattu pongal, during this game bulls will comes out of 'Vaadi Vaasal' with a high speed (gate through which bulls enter into the competition area). There are many rules for this game, the person who participates in the competition should be physically fit, at a time only one person should hold the hump, those who touch the tail, horns, neck are disqualified from the game, like this there are many more rules and restrictions for this game. First, Kovil Kaali (Temple bull) will come of the gate and the players allow it a free run, will not touch the bull.
Now, why this game is needed ? it is not needed for humans, this game is practiced for ages , in order to preserve our country breeds. How ?? Only with the genes of stud bulls, stronger calves will be given birth, thus preserving the genes of our vedic bull breeds. How do we have stud bulls ?? only by feeding and maintaining them ? Can we be stronger only by eating and taking rest ? Stud bulls should be agile, alert and virile. In the peak of the reproductive period, the necessary male hormones needs to be secreted, pumping hearts and adrenaline rushes.
When the stud bulls enters into the vadi vaasal with much force and speed, their testosterone level increases, when the humans tried to control the bull, in a agile it will give back the force, due to which their hear pumps fast and hormone level increases. When the bull wins in the competition (No one couldn't control the bull), then it will be taken directly to the cows of temple for mating. As per our science, it is believed that after this competition, bulls will have complete power and the calves will have best genes with more power and strength. Only our vedic humped cow gives A2 milk, A2 milk produced by our Indian cows are good health, where as the A1 milk from cross breed are toxic for health. A2 milk is having more micro nutrients and minerals which enhances our immunity system.
Followed by clothing and food, western diseases are also spreaded in India, due to A1 milk, hormone injected meat and GM foods. Jersey and Holstein cows yields more A1 milk, but very less nutrition and also after few years, they stop yielding milk and not having enough stamina to give birth to calves, even if it gives birth to calves, they very weak, so it is directly sent for slaughter. Due to this artificial insemination from A1 breeds are making our native breeds extinct.
On a year, our vedic humped cows gives 3 times more milk than the humpless cows. One should not calculate the number of liters of milk in a day, should calculate the number of liters of milk produced in a YEAR. Today Brazil is minting money by selling humped desi bulls semen, which they have taken from India.
When we are doing Homam, we use ghees and Gomutra. The Gomutra of humped cows are having many benefits, it has been used in treating various diseases and also used in ayurveda . Indian humped cows doesn't need any antibiotics, it eats greens, water and does work peacefully, whereas the humpless cows eats and drinks throughout the day, falls sick and takes antibiotics, so it's milk is not good for health. Why only humped cows milk is good for health ? Coz, our vedic cows have hump, there is an unique channel (Nadi) from hump till the backbone tail, which causes secretion of purity whether it is milk, urine or cow dung.
After knowing the secret of our milk, westerns took many of our Vedic humped cows, milking money and giving best milk to their people, in return they have sent useless humpless cows to India, which gives toxic milk. They know the benefits of A2 milk, they are supplying A2 milk in their market with our desi cows and wants us to drink toxic milk to get diseases, due to which they will be rich with their pharma and health industry. That's the main reason for banning Jallikattu and tarnish indian breed truth, ancient sport , tradition in the name of animal welfare. Now, many foriegn countries are drinking safe and nutritious A2 milk.
Kaanum Pongal
The fourth and last day of Pongal celebration is called as 'Kaanum Pongal', 'Kaanum' means to visit. It is the day for family get together, meet family members, will go to our relatives places, get blessings from our elders and go for picnic / outing to near by places. During this day, the public sightseeing places will be crowded, most of the people go to beaches and other picnic spots.
First, will wash the pot (as per my family tradition will use Vengala uruli, its a brass pot) and apply viboothi pattai ( 3 lines of ash powder) at three sides of the pot with turmeric and kumkum dots at the center of the viboothi pattai. Then, will tie the neck of the pot using turmeric plant branch (Manjal kothu), ginger plant branch (Manjal kothu) and pour water and milk according to the amount of rice going to be used. Before placing the pot over the stove, check Rahu kalam for that day, as per our customs, we don't start or do any good things during the rahu kalam. So, will place two pots over the stove (One pot for Paal Pongal and One pot for Sakkarai Pongal) either before the rahu kalam or after the rahu kalam. Once,the pot is kept over the stove, will wait for the milk to get boiled, will tilt the pot facing east (Sun god) so that when the milk boiled, it will overflow from the pot towards east direction. During its overflow, all the family members will gather and chorously say 'Pongalo Pongal, Pongalo Pongal, Pongalo Pongal'.
In one pot, will pour soaked raw rice and in another pot will pour soaked raw rice and moong dal mixture. Have to stir the pot in between, so that rice won't stick to the bottom of the vessel. For 'Paal Pongal', rice will be cooked with the water and milk in the pot, as it's the new rice it will be little bit mashed and all the water and milk will be absorbed. When the rice is completely cooked, it will be in a thick paste consistency (It will be more thicker when it cooled down) and then turn the stove off. At the same time, in the second pot, raw rice and moong dal will be cooked and it will be also in the paste consistency, add required jaggery and cardamon powder in the second pot, once jaggery starts to melt and it will blend well with the rice and dal mixture. Once all the water are absorbed, turn off the sweet pongal pot and add the tempering of cashews, raisins which is roasted in ghee.
Pooja Procedure:
Once the pongals are ready, will keep these two pongal pots in pooja room. Then, in a big banana leaf will place the prepared full course lunch menu such as Pachadi, vegetable curry, kulambu, vada, sweet pongal and will keep paal pongal at the centre. On top of the paal pongal will pour a teaspoon of cooked dal and ghee. Next, will place full lengthy sugar canes at the two sides of the room, in a plate will keep bunch of betel leaves, betel nuts, fruits and a coconut, then lit diyas / lamps, lit scented sticks, scented cones and then break the coconut into 2 pieces and keep it back on the plate. Now, will take deeparadhana (Arati) for all the gods in the puja room and at the main door.
Then, will go to terrace with prepared pongal neivedhyams (Food prepared for God). In a big banana leaf will arrange couple of betel leaves, betel nuts, coconut, fruits, piece of sugar cane, Vada, Sambar, Curries and 2 types of pongal. In the terrace, will first put Maa kolam (Rangoli using rice flour) / colorful rangoli and place the banana leave facing sun and worship sun god with the prasadham and will take Deeparadhana for the sun god.
Pongal celebration in Village
Mattu Pongal
The day after pongal / Sankranti is called as 'Mattu Pongal', on this day will worship Bulls and cows of our home, it's like paying tribute to bulls, which is a helping friend for farmers. In our house, will consider cows as Goddess lakshmi, will bathe cow and bull, decorate them with flowers and garlands, apply turmeric and kumkum on their forehead, will give fresh green leaves to them to eat and will give special food for them. At last, will take Deeparadhana for bulls, then it will be going around the street, everyone who sees cows and bulls will give food to them and worship them.
Jallikattu / Manju Virattu / Eru thazhuvudhal
Everyone must have heard the name 'Jallikattu' due to its controversy in the recent past. Why Jallikattu ?? Why to hurt animals ?? Oh no..!! poor illiterate uncivilized Tamil people !!! Huh ??? 'Jallikattu' is neither status symbol nor uncivilized manner, in fact southern part of India is the only one region where our culture and traditions are still being followed, only those who are already converted into western maaya and illiterate about India are thinking that Indian culture & traditions are myth , it's full of superstitions. Let me explain about Jallikattu now, in Jallikattu only humped bulls will participate for the game. Before explaining about the science behind the game, let me remind you that this day 2nd day of Thai / Makar month (mostly 15th January ) is dedicated to Cows and Bulls. We worship, we celebrate and it's thanksgiving to the Cows and Bulls of our family. In villages, we can still see Dogs, Goats, Chickens, Cows, Buffalo, Bulls as pet animal. But, more than all the pet animal Cow deserves special place in the house, we call them with a pet name and even include cows , bulls in our family picture. Even in temples, there is a place called 'Goshala' (Cow's place), where temple committee will take of the humped cows over there and food for god will be prepared from that milk.
Why to play games with bull ?? We are ONLY playing games with bulls, which may hurt humans not the bulls, but in Spain and other countries, they are killing the bulls for the happiness for the human game. Do anybody questioned that ? Jallikattu means 'Embracing the bull', not hurting the animal.
In India, we only had humped bull breeds, out of which Kangeyam and Pullikulam breeds are most famous for jallikattu, it is the game for bravery of a man, one who holds bull's hump for 20 - 30 seconds will be the winner. A bull will be there in the game arena for max 40 seconds. There are many variants of Jallikattu, 'Vadi Manjuvirattu' is renowned for mattu pongal, during this game bulls will comes out of 'Vaadi Vaasal' with a high speed (gate through which bulls enter into the competition area). There are many rules for this game, the person who participates in the competition should be physically fit, at a time only one person should hold the hump, those who touch the tail, horns, neck are disqualified from the game, like this there are many more rules and restrictions for this game. First, Kovil Kaali (Temple bull) will come of the gate and the players allow it a free run, will not touch the bull.
Now, why this game is needed ? it is not needed for humans, this game is practiced for ages , in order to preserve our country breeds. How ?? Only with the genes of stud bulls, stronger calves will be given birth, thus preserving the genes of our vedic bull breeds. How do we have stud bulls ?? only by feeding and maintaining them ? Can we be stronger only by eating and taking rest ? Stud bulls should be agile, alert and virile. In the peak of the reproductive period, the necessary male hormones needs to be secreted, pumping hearts and adrenaline rushes.
When the stud bulls enters into the vadi vaasal with much force and speed, their testosterone level increases, when the humans tried to control the bull, in a agile it will give back the force, due to which their hear pumps fast and hormone level increases. When the bull wins in the competition (No one couldn't control the bull), then it will be taken directly to the cows of temple for mating. As per our science, it is believed that after this competition, bulls will have complete power and the calves will have best genes with more power and strength. Only our vedic humped cow gives A2 milk, A2 milk produced by our Indian cows are good health, where as the A1 milk from cross breed are toxic for health. A2 milk is having more micro nutrients and minerals which enhances our immunity system.
Followed by clothing and food, western diseases are also spreaded in India, due to A1 milk, hormone injected meat and GM foods. Jersey and Holstein cows yields more A1 milk, but very less nutrition and also after few years, they stop yielding milk and not having enough stamina to give birth to calves, even if it gives birth to calves, they very weak, so it is directly sent for slaughter. Due to this artificial insemination from A1 breeds are making our native breeds extinct.
On a year, our vedic humped cows gives 3 times more milk than the humpless cows. One should not calculate the number of liters of milk in a day, should calculate the number of liters of milk produced in a YEAR. Today Brazil is minting money by selling humped desi bulls semen, which they have taken from India.
When we are doing Homam, we use ghees and Gomutra. The Gomutra of humped cows are having many benefits, it has been used in treating various diseases and also used in ayurveda . Indian humped cows doesn't need any antibiotics, it eats greens, water and does work peacefully, whereas the humpless cows eats and drinks throughout the day, falls sick and takes antibiotics, so it's milk is not good for health. Why only humped cows milk is good for health ? Coz, our vedic cows have hump, there is an unique channel (Nadi) from hump till the backbone tail, which causes secretion of purity whether it is milk, urine or cow dung.
Kamadenu Cow that we worship
After knowing the secret of our milk, westerns took many of our Vedic humped cows, milking money and giving best milk to their people, in return they have sent useless humpless cows to India, which gives toxic milk. They know the benefits of A2 milk, they are supplying A2 milk in their market with our desi cows and wants us to drink toxic milk to get diseases, due to which they will be rich with their pharma and health industry. That's the main reason for banning Jallikattu and tarnish indian breed truth, ancient sport , tradition in the name of animal welfare. Now, many foriegn countries are drinking safe and nutritious A2 milk.
A2 milk in a Foreign supermarket.
Kaanum Pongal
The fourth and last day of Pongal celebration is called as 'Kaanum Pongal', 'Kaanum' means to visit. It is the day for family get together, meet family members, will go to our relatives places, get blessings from our elders and go for picnic / outing to near by places. During this day, the public sightseeing places will be crowded, most of the people go to beaches and other picnic spots.
-- Aarthi Thiyagarajan
