Thai Pongal A festival of gratitude

Kalabhooshanam Chelvatamby Maniccavasagar

Thai Pongal which is observed by Hindus today generally includes rites and ceremonies. The Sun is the main object of worship and the Pongal made of coconut milk, rice and jaggery is offered first to the Sun. As the Mahara Sankaranthi coincides with the harvest season the farmers also express their gratitude to the Sun by worshipping it and offering fruits, sugar cane and boiled rice with milk.

Thai Pongal being celebrated at a Hindu home

The Pongal rings in a year of warmth. The cold season ends, the flowers bloom and the songs of the birds fill the air. It is therefore no wonder that the ancients attached great importance to the Sun and its movements. All auspicious events such as weddings and festivals are conducted during “Uttaranayana” season.

Most of the festivals celebrated by the Hindus have astronomical factors behind them. As the Sun makes its overtures in the East, dispelling the nestling darkness of night, Thai Pongal or Mahara Sankaraanti dawns exerting an indescribable sense of hope and wonder in mankind. The Month of Thai also marks the birth of spring.

On this Thai Pongal day, the Hindus get up early in the morning, anoint themselves, apply a paste obtained by grinding some medicinal herbs and have a pre dawn bath.

They wear new clothes and go to temples for worship. In temples, the bells ring loudly, heralding the birth of Thai.

The cuckoo peals the dawn of the melodious birth of spring with many tunes. The gentle dawn breeze embraces everyone and instils a sense of new hope and confidence.

In Hindu homes, milk rice is cooked with jaggery and offered to the Sun. The poor are treated with lavish meals. The family members, relations, neighbours join in merry-making. To the young, particularly the children it is a day of sport and fun. They enjoy themselves wearing new clothes and light crackers.

The children also engage in flying kites in an open space. The young girls enjoy themselves playing indoor games. In the evening dance and music recitals are organised in the principal villages and towns.

In fact, man is imbued with a sense of eager expectancy as Thai Pongal drawn near. There is a saying that “Thai Piranthaal vali pirakkum” which means with the dawn of the month of Thai, the times will be proportions. Pongal also conveys to humanity the message of peace, unity, sanity, amity and brotherhood for a better tomorrow.

There is no other festival as important as “Thai Pongal” to the farmer who shares his happiness with nature. The farmers on the following day of Thai Pongal celebrate “Maattu Pongal”, the Pongal for the cattle which helped in ploughing the fields, providing milk and helping to draw carts through the year.

In fact, man shows his gratitude to the animals by cleaning the cow shed, smearing a layer of fresh cowdung on which “kolam” is drawn, bathing and adorning the animals with garlands, kumkum and sandal paste. Pongal is next prepared followed by worship and thanksgiving. The Pongal is then offered to the animals.

There is a deep spiritual significance in the worship of the Sun; the harbinger of life and vitality light and warmth. Thai Pongal reflects man’s gratitude to “Mother Nature” for the bountiful harvest.

Pongal originated as a harvest festival heralding the new season, but today the rituals of lighting the hearth, placing of the Pongal pot on the fire, adding the newly harvested grain and finally offering the cooked rice, all form the ritualistic aspect of the morning prayer on Pongal day.

The ancient Hindus realised that nature and environment needed man’s care and through these rituals he was able to take care of his surroundings and at the same time develop his spiritual life and find peace and harmony. Thai Pongal is also observed with great reverence, devotion, a sense of duty and loving kindness towards all.

Love and peace are the central theme of Thai Pongal.