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Pongal Rituals
One of the most important festivals of India is Pongal. On this occasion prayers are said to the Sun God. In Tamil Nadu Pongal is celebrated with festivity and zeal in order to mark the harvesting of crops. The house is cleaned and all household works are done before the festival. Pongal, known as Sankaranthi in North India, is held in the middle of January. Pongal is the accurate time to celebrate for their good harvest and thank God, Earth and Cattle. Cheerful festivities and rituals mark the occasion of Pongal in South India. It is a four-day long celebration when early in the morning people decorate the front of their houses with a wide variety of Rangolis. The four days of the festival have their individual significances.
Various rituals are associated with the conventional celebration of Pongal. Quite a few numbers of preparations are to be made for this festival. On the day before Pongal, the place where the puja is going to be carried out, is neaten and soiled with dung. The puja is generally performed in a courtyard or an open terrace. Kolams, patterns made of rice flour, are made to feed the insects on it so that they bless the household. Besides this, Kolam has also its sociological significance. The Sankranti Rath is a most commonly drawn Kolam, whose ropes are kept untied till next day when they are joined from one house to the other. This indicates a combined wish to recognize a continuous cosmic cycle. A lump of dung holding a five-petaled pumpkin flower is a representation of fertility and present of love to the presiding god.
Pongal or sweet rice is prepared in a new pot made of earth right at the place of the puja. The pot is tied around with fresh turmeric and ginger. Then rice, moong dal, jaggery and milk are boiled in it. The ritual is to allow this Pongal spill out of the pot by boiling. Cashew nuts and raisins (fried in ghee) are added to this. The ready Pongal is first presented to God on a fresh banana leaf with vadas, payasam and other popular Pongal food items. Sugarcane, grain, sweet potatoes are also presented to Sun God.
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