|
|
 |
 |
|||
|
|
By E. Sivayoganathan Thai Pongal is a joyful festival celebrated by the Hindus with the observance of rites and rituals that are the expression of purification, purgation and jubilation over ones life’s renewal. It is also a day to express gratitude. It has been paradox of history that religion, which generally seeks to improve man or cast him in the image of some higher being in whom all virtues concentrate, has been a source of constant strife over the centuries. The agricultural community depends heavily on rainwater, the solar energy and the cattle for the cultivation of their agricultural lands. It is an expression of gratitude for these animals for their contribution for the plentiful yields from the fields. The Tamil month Thai begins on mid-January heralds a number of religious and merriful festivals. The first day of the Tamil month of Thai is Thai Pongal. Sun moves during the period from January to June northwards, which is termed as Utharayanam and during July to December moves southwards called as Dakshinayanam. The sun moves from Zodiac sign of Sagittarius and enters that of Capricorn on the first day of Thai month known as Magara and celebrated as Magara Sangaranthi. A Tamil saying goes on that “Thai Piranthal Vali Pirakkum” meaning that when the month of Thai dawns there will be way of love, peace, harmony, prosperity, joyness in everyone’s life. Since sun is playing an important part in the Thai Pongal Festival on the fist day of Thai that is the Thai Pongal Day When the rice is brought from the bountiful harvest and boiled with cane sakkarai, cow milk and first offered to Sun along with agricultural produce, milk, fruits, cane, young coconuts, turmeric, green gram etc. and later shared with relatives, neighbours and visitors. It is believed that the direct Sun rays falling on the pot of boiling rice, bring home, peace and prosperity. On the Thai Pongal day people get up early in the morning bathe themselves, clean the houses and decorate them for unclean house, drives away good fortune. They go to Kovils in the mornings for religious rituals. In front of the courtyards of the homes beautiful designs (Kolam) are drawn by using rice flour and turmeric flour. At the centre of this Kolam new earthern pot with water is kept on hearth and boil the rice till the milk on the top flows out of the pot. Oil lamps are also lit and kept along side. The period July to December is sowing time and they toil round the clock in the changing weather of cold, hot, rain, winds to cultivate paddy fields which not only bring profits to them but others also get benefit by the bountiful harvest. From the ancient times to recent times people worship Sun as God. During the Veda period people worshiped Sun in the morning and the evening known as Santhiyavanthanam. On the Thai Pongal Day people’s mind is full of love and joy and hope that Thai will bring vigour, long life and strength to members of the family individually and collectively. People even in the early period attached a great importance to the Sun and during Thai cold season vanishes, flowers blossom and birds hymn to fill the air and during Utharayana period all kinds of auspicious matters such as weddings and festivals are conducted. Thai Pongal brings family reunions and get together, forgetting enmities and personal rivalries and March towards reconciliation. If one has the ability to chase away the darkness of ignorance and arrogance from within one could attain greatness since ones inner beings is resplendent with peace, love and compassion. Indeed in everyone’s heart and mind burns a different light that is light of knowledge and warmth of human love and compassion. The following day after Thai Pongal is the Mattu Pongal to express gratitude to these animals toiled with them in ploughing & drawing carts. These animals are bathed, decorated, horns are painted with bright colours such as red, blue, green and yellow, forehead with turmeric and kumkum, next adorned with garlands. Bullock carts races are conducted and distribute prices to those winners. To quote on this Thai Pongal Festival is “Senseless hatred reigns on earth and men hide their faces from one another then Heaven is forced hide its face. But when love come to rule on earth an men reveal their faces to one another then splendour of God will be revealed”. As the saying goes what ever you love, you are its master, what ever you hate you are its slave. Let the dawn of Thai drive away all evils such as hate, jealousy, wickedness, ignorance and bring peace, harmony, unity and prosperity to all on earth
|
|
Contact
Information: Send mail to