KARNATAKA, INDIA, January 13, 2009: [HPI Note: we bring you a few of the many reports about the last days’ celebrations of Makar Sankranti, Pongal and Magh Bihu].
Pongal is a happy and prosperous time for Tamilians. Apart from being the first festival of the New Year, it is the time of harvest and prosperity. In Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the harvest festival is celebrated as Sankranthi. Pongal, which means the act of boiling over, is observed over four days from January 13 to 16 in Tamil Nadu. Surya Pooja is observed on January 13. Called as Bogi, it signifies the end of the old and ushering in of the new. Hence, all the old items from the house are thrown into a bonfire with the house being white-washed. The connotation is to burn the evil inside oneself.
On January 14, the Thai Pongal that celebrates the workmanship of the farmers, is observed. As they welcome the new harvest, fresh rice is extracted from the paddy. This rice is used to prepare the sweet and khara pongal. As the milk boils during the preparation of pongal, the entire family stands near the cooking pot and chants, Pongal o pongal. This pongal is then kept outside for the Sun God.
Apart from the South Indians in the country, even people across the globe look forward to Pongal. Deepti and Ganesh, a young Tamilian couple, residing in the US are planning to prepare pongal and have a small pooja at home along with their neighbours. “For us, all Indian festivals have become more special because that is one way in which we are connected to our roots,” says Deepti.
More pongal reports are:
Sri Lanka: http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/01/14/fea03.asp
Malaysia: http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/tamils-in-malaysia-prepare-for-pongal-fest_100141583.html