Pongal Festival of Tamil Nadu

S. BALAKRISHNAN

Pongal is the most looked forward festival of Tamils world over and in particular in the Land of Tamils, i.e., Tami Nadu. In fact, the four-day Pongal can be called the state festival as well. The main Pongal festival is on the 1st day of the 10th Tamil month ‘Thai’ which day also marks the Sun’s journey from South to Northwards, called the Uttarayan. Hence the day is celebrated by various names across India. The Sun enters the zodiac sign of Makaram, so the day is called Makara Sankranthi also. The 9th Tamil Month ‘Maargazhi’ is set aside exclusively for the worship of Lord Maha Vishnu/Krishna; so Hindu weddings are not held during Maargazhi. Thai month is considered auspicious for weddings and other new ventures; the saying goes that ‘with Thai the paths are opened’. It also marks the paddy harvest season with lot of currency flow. So Pongal is essentially a harvest festival.
On the eve of Pongal, that is, on the last evening of Maargazhi, born fire is lit with old, useless items, marking destruction of evil. This day is called Bhogi Pongal and it marks the discarding of the old and heralding of new, good things. Because of environment concerns and awareness, this practice itself is being discarded which goes well with the tradition of Bhogi. Houses are cleaned and whitewashed. Mango leaves and tender coconut palm leaves are designed as toran and hung at the doorways.  The next day, the main Pongal day, is to thank Sun God for the bountiful harvest. Is not the Rain God ‘Varuna’ equally responsible for bountiful harvest! I used to wonder. As if agreeing with me, this year Varuna is angrily lashing the Delta area of Tamil Nadu way beyond the normal monsoon season. Lakhs of acres of paddy field are lying under water, drowning the farmers in deep debt. This has spoiled the festive mood much besides the Corona fear.
Just harvested new rice is used for cooking sweet pongal in new earthen pot with milk, jaggery, ghee, cashew nuts, cardamom and raisins. The boiling over of milk is symbolically considered auspicious and is the main part of the festivities. This is heralded joyously as “Pongalo, Pongal!” with blowing of conch. While some people continue to cook this offering in open space with firewood, others have found rice cooker and gas stove most convenient! This sweet pongal is offered to Sun God on plantain leaf along with sugarcane, ginger & turmeric shoots, plantain, coconut, seasonal vegetables/fruits, betel leaf, supari, etc. Then it is feasting together and wishing everyone Happy Pongal. Auspicious traditional music from the combo of nagaswaram (piped instrument) and thavil/ melam (the drums) fills the air. The chewing of sugarcane continues throughout the day! Of course, new dress is mandatory. But I am a nut who has banned buying new clothes for festivals unless in dire need of. My wife’s main grouse against me is this though she has stacks of saris.
The third day of Pongal festivities is dedicated to the cattle, friends of the farmers. It is thanks giving day to the cattle that help the farmers on and off the field. Decorated with garlands, colourful clothes, and horns painted, the cattle are offered special food and then taken on a jolly round with tinkling bells around their neck. It is a day of rest and enjoyment for them. It is a day of cattle sports also – jallikattu/manju virattu, the bullfight, is organised (mainly in South Tamil Nadu) besides bullock cart races, etc. A few years back the State rose as one to fight the bullfight ban. I do not understand the logic behind this ban when the so-called animal lovers watch with open mouth the gory spearing of bulls in Spain, Portugal and other ‘advanced countries’! This day is also observed as ‘Thiruvalluvar Day’ in honour of the Tamil Poet Thiruvalluvar of BC 1st century. His magnum opus ‘Thirukural’, a revered composition of 1330 couplets, is relevant even to this day. Tami scholars are honoured and literary events are held on this day. In honour of Thiruvalluvar, the 1st day of Thai month is also the 1st day of Tamil almanac which is 31 years ahead of Gregorian calendar. The fourth day is called ‘Kaanum Pongal’ when people move across to meet friends and relatives or go on picnic. Public places like beach, parks, zoo, theme parks, maals and theatres overflow with over joyous people.   
So close is Pongal festivities to the heart of Tamils that there is a virtual exodus from cities/towns to native villages; bus and train tickets get booked instantly when booking starts. Trains and buses overflow and there are traffic jams across. The same scene is repeated on return journey. Government offices wear a deserted look as employees combine two weekends with this three-day Pongal holiday. Release of new Kollywood films is an integral part of Pongal which makes First Day First Show also mandatory for diehard fans.
While these days we send Pongal wishes through WhatsApp, etc., as kids in 1960s we used to prepare our own greeting cards by designing stencils. Our drawing talents converted the humble postcards into colourful & beautiful (?) greeting cards with poetic lines! The greeting cards received were treasured at least until the next Pongal or even beyond if they were flashy ones.    
As the saying goes it is true indeed that if the farmer doesn’t set his foot on clayey field we can’t set our hand on tasty food. Sadly, it is also true that if the farmer starts calculating his return is nothing! My salute to the brave farmers fighting against the farm bill!  
(krishnanbala2004@yahoo.co.in / 9840917608 Whatsapp)