ஞாயிறு/ Ñāyiṟu (The Sun) இனிய பொங்கல் நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள்!!!! Featuring THE Tamil Festival, we have arrived at the next instalment of our Tarot series- The Sun. Pongal is perhaps THE most popular Tamil festival. Marking the beginning of the very significant month of தை (Thai) in the Tamil calendar, Pongal is a three-day harvest festival that celebrates the reaping the benefits of months-long labour. The first day of Pongal is Thai Pongal and marks the beginning of the month of தை (thai). The second day is Māttu Pongal. As the name suggests, it is the day that farmers bathe their cattle, decorate them with turmeric, saffron and garlands, and feed them food to thank them for their help in producing a bountiful harvest. The final day is Kānum Pongal. Kānum literally means "see". This day is dedicated to meeting with family and friends, catch up, and just have a good time. Jallikattu, also called Manjuvirattu, is another highlight of Pongal festivities- a kind of bull chasing where players have to hang on to a running bull long enough to untie the cloth tied to its horns for a prize. If no one succeeds in doing so, the prize goes to the bull's owner. The most important thing, perhaps, is how communal and inclusive Pongal is. Pongal is a TAMIL festival celebrated by Tamils and Tamil enthusiasts globally. To label Pongal as 'Hindu' is not only a gross misunderstanding, but only adds to the harmful and flawed idea that the Tamil identity is synonymous with Hinduism, which, as we have already seen on multiple occasions, cannot be further from the truth. A common argument is that Pongal is Hindu because it's centred around thanking the Sun 'god'. Nature worship is so ancient it goes beyond the birth of any organised religion, and is a common indigenous practice worldwide, a practice that no organised religion can claim ownership over. So go ahead, eat cakkara Pongal, go out and most importantly, be grateful to the farmers who put food on our table. Pongal is for EVERYONE! 😘🫰🏽✨ #leanderscribbles#tamil#தமிழ்#tamilartist#tamilart#tamilculture#tamilhistory#tamilheritage#pongal#jallikattu#tamilheritagemonth#eelam#india#asia#southasia#asianart https://www.instagram.com/p/CnbME0sh4Os/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
