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NEW DELHI, INDIA, January 14, 2005: Ushering in the new festival season, Lohri, which marks the new harvest, was celebrated in parts of north India. In Tamil Nadu, the festival is celebrated as Pongal, as Bhugali Bihu in Assam and Sankranti in central Indian states. While it is known by different names in various parts of the country, what is common is the fervor that goes with it.



For those not very familiar with it, Pongal literally means, “to boil over with happiness, prosperity and success.” It is primarily because of this that the ritual of harvested rice boiling over from an earthen vessel is practiced even today. It also indicates the joy of a bumper harvest. On this day, homes are cleaned and adorned with Kolam, which are designs drawn with white paste of newly harvested rice. The outlines of the designs are done with red mud. In certain villages, yellow pumpkin flowers are set out in cow-dung balls in the middle of the designs. Along with this, a brass or mud vessel is also decorated with mango leaves, ginger saplings, fresh turmeric leaves and sugarcane pieces. As per the custom, the pongal (the rice) is cooked in this vessel by either the lady of the house or the daughter-in-law. Once the pongal is cooked, the vessel is taken outside and kept in a place where the rays of the sun would fall on it. As household members stand around the vessel, womenfolk sing devotional songs. It is really these age-old traditions that make this festival season so unique and vibrant.

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