festival_descriptions

PONGAL FESTIVAL

Pongal is a four days long harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu, India. Pongal is one of the most
important popular Hindu festivals of the year. This four-day festival of thanksgiving to nature takes it's
name from the Tamil word meaning "to boil" and is held in the month of Thai (January-February) during
the season when rice and other cereals, sugar-cane, and turmeric (an essential ingredient in Tamil
cooking) are harvested.

The First Day - Bhogi Pongal
This first day is celebrated as Bhogi festival in honor of Lord Indra, the supreme ruler of clouds that give
rains. Homage is paid to Lord Indra for the abundance of harvest, thereby bringing plenty and prosperity
to the land. Another ritual observed on this day is Bhogi Mantalu, when useless household articles are
thrown into a fire made of wood and cow-dung cakes. Girls dance around the bonfire, singing songs in
praise of the gods, the spring and the harvest. The significance of the bonfire, in which is burnt the
agricultural wastes and firewood is to keep warm during the last lap of winter.

The Second Day - Pongal
On the second day of Pongal, the puja or act of ceremonial worship is performed when rice is boiled in
milk outdoors in a earthenware pot and is then symbolically offered to the sun-god along with other
oblations. All people wear traditional dress and markings, and their is an interesting ritual where
husband and wife dispose off elegant ritual utensils specially used for the puja. In the village, the
Pongal ceremony is carried out more simply but with the same devotion. In accordance with the
appointed ritual a turmeric plant is tied around the pot in which the rice will be boiled. The offerings
include the two sticks of sugar-cane in background and coconut and bananas in the dish. A common
feature of the puja, in addition to the offerings, is the kolam, the auspicious design which is traditionally
traced in white lime powder before the house in the early morning after bathing.

The Third Day - Mattu Pongal
The third day is known as Mattu Pongal, the day of Pongal for cows. Multi-colored beads, tinkling bells,
sheaves of corn and flower garlands are tied around the neck of the cattle and then are worshiped. They
are fed with Pongal and taken to the village centers. The resounding of their bells attract the villagers as
the young men race each other's cattle. The entire atmosphere becomes festive and full of fun and
revelry. Arati is performed on them, so as to ward off the evil eye. According to a legend, once Shiva
asked his bull, Basava, to go to the earth and ask the mortals to have an oil massage and bath every
day and to eat once a month. Inadvertently, Basava announced that everyone should eat daily and have
an oil bath once a month. This mistake enraged Shiva who then cursed Basava, banishing him to live
on the earth forever. He would have to plough the fields and help people produce more food. Thus the
association of this day with cattle.

The Fourth Day - Kannum Pongal
The Fourth day is known as Knau or Kannum Pongal day. On this day, a turmeric leaf is washed and is
then placed on the ground. On this leaf are placed, the left overs of sweet Pongal and Venn Pongal,
ordinary rice as well as rice colored red and yellow, betel leaves, betel nuts, two pieces of sugarcane,
turmeric leaves, and plantains. In Tamil Nadu women perform this ritual before bathing in the morning.
All the women, young and old, of the house assemble in the courtyard. The rice is placed in the centre of
the leaf, while the women ask that the house and family of their brothers should prosper. Arati is
performed for the brothers with turmeric water, limestone and rice, and this water is sprinkled on the
kolam in front of the house.

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MAHA SHIVARATRI

This falls on the 13th (or 14th) day of the dark half of Phalgun (February-March). The name means "the
night of Shiva". The ceremonies take place chiefly at night. This is a festival observed in honor of Lord
Shiva. Shiva was married to Parvati on this day.

People observe a strict fast on this day. Some devotees do not even take a drop of water. They keep vigil
all night. The Shiva Lingam is worshipped throughout the night by washing it every three hours with milk,
curd, honey, rose water, etc., while the chanting of the Mantra Om Namah Shivaya continues. Offerings
of bael leaves are made to the Lingam. Bael leaves are very sacred as, it is said, Lakshmi resides in
them.

Hymns in praise of Lord Shiva, such as the Shiva Mahimna Stotra of Pushpadanta or Ravana's Shiva
Tandava Stotra are sung with great fervour and devotion. People repeat the Panchakshara Mantra, Om
Namah Shivaya. He who utters the Names of Shiva during Shivaratri, with perfect devotion and
concentration, is freed from all sins. He reaches the abode of Shiva and lives there happily. He is
liberated from the wheel of births and deaths. Many pilgrims flock to the places where there are Shiva
temples.

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VARUSHA PIRAPPU

Puthandu marks the Tamil New Year’s Day and is celebrated in the beginning of Chithirai - the first
month in the Tamil Calendar year. The auspicious occasion of Puthandu is also popularly known as
Varusha Pirappu or the birth of New Year and falls on 13th or 14th April according to the Gregorian
Calendar. Many people in Tamil Nadu also celebrate Puthandu as the day when Lord Brahma - Hindu
God of Creation started creation. People of Tamil Nadu celebrate Varusha Pirappu in a big way by
merrymaking and feasting.

Puthandu Rituals
People of Tamil Nadu celebrate Puthandu Pirappu by following specific traditions and rituals. Early in
the morning, womenfolk adorn the entrance of their house with colorful Kolam patterns. Centre of the
Kolam is decorated with a lamp called kuthuvillakku in a belief that it would dispel darkness. It is also
customary for people in Tamil Nadu to pay visit to temple and invoke divine blessings for the coming
year.

A popular custom of Puthandu is 'kanni' which means the auspicious sight. Following the ritual, people
start the Puthandu day by watching auspicious things like gold and silver jewellery, betel leaves, nuts,
fruits and vegetables, flowers, raw rice and coconuts. This is done under the belief that a good start to
New Year will ensure prosperity and happiness in the coming year. A bath and a visit to the temple
usually follow Kanni. After this people read the Panchangam (almanac).

Puthandu Celebrations
To mark the occasion of Tamil New Year people wear new clothes and relish best of festive food
including 'Maanga Pachadi', a sweet, sour and bitter dish made of raw mangoes, jaggery and neem
flowers to signify different aspects of life. Many even get their houses painted for the occasion. People
also visit friends and dear ones to exchange greetings for New Year - “Puthandu Vazthukal”. Youngsters
are particularly excited about Puthandu as they receive small gifts from all their elders.

Highlight of the day is a big Car Festival held at Tiruvadamarudur near Kumbakonam. Puthandu
Festivals are also held at Tiruchirapalli and Kanchipuram besides many other places. At several places
‘Chitthirai Festival’ is also organized in the month of Chitthirai to celebrate the marriage of Goddess
Meenakshi to Lord Sundareswarar.

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NAVARATHIRI

Navarathiri means nine nights. The nine nights are dedicated to the three main goddesses of
Hinduism - Parvati, Lakshmi and Sarasvati.

The first three nights are dedicated to the goddess of action and energy. Her different manifestations viz
Kumari, Parvati and Kali are worshipped during these days. They represent the three natures/ classes
of womanhood - the virgin young girl, auspicious wife/ mother and the angry old hag ! This is not a
criticism of women, just a classification. It helps us recognise the different aspects of our own nature.

Lakshmi is worshipped for the next three days in her various aspects as the goddesses of peace, plenty
and bliss. Fulfilment is more important than wealth itself. As the goddess of wealth, she governs not
just the bank balance, but also such basic things as family, friends, food etc. (read my article on wealth
on my site.)

Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge. Not just the knowledge of how to earn a living, but how to "live"
aswell. She is the goddess of the spiritual knowledge and the knowledge that frees us from this bind of
Samsara. She is worshipped during the final three days of the Navratri.

The nine nights are there for us to revel in the knowledge of the goddesses that live within us, imbibing
us with their spiritual energy and power. Used for the good, they help liberate us from the mire of this
world. Use these energies unwisely, and they will snare us in the maya of this world.We should
meditate of these aspects of the nine nights, that was the reason they originally came into being.