#pongal

Wishing you all a very Happy Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Magha Bihu, Lohri, Baisakhi, Uttarayan to all who are celebrating today! 🪁🥰

मकर संक्रांतीच्या सगळ्यांना खूप शुभेच्छा! तीळ-गूळ घ्या आणि गोड गोड बोला ❤️🎉

ఈ సంక్రాంతిని భోగభాగ్యాలతో, నూతన ఆరంభాలతో మరియు ఆప్యాత్మిక బంధాలతో సందడిగా జరుపుకోవాలని కోరుకుంటూ, సంక్రాంతి శుభాకాంక్షలు! ☀️🪁🥁

Time to thank the sun and soil🌞!!! Happy Pongal😊!!!

◜ 🍚𓂃 Happy Pongal! ‧ ☀️◞

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Happy Pongal! May your Pongal be filled with peace, love, prosperity, and health! Welcome to the first cultural education post of the year!! I hope that you learn a little something from each one of these that we post

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╰╮What is Pongal? ﹕✦

Pongal is a Tamil harvest festival celebrated on January 14th or 15th, recognizing the Sun, Mother Nature, and farm animals that help contribute to a bountiful harvest. It also marks the start of the auspicious Thai month. The festival's name, pongal, is derived from the Tamil word pongu, meaning "to boil over."

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╰╮How is it celebrated? ﹕✦

Pongal is celebrated over the course of 4 days:

⧼ 1 ⧽ Bhogi

Bhogi, the first day of Pongal, signifies a fresh start by cleaning and discarding old belongings, wearing new clothes, and decorating houses in the spirit of the festivity.

⧼ 2 ⧽ Surya

On the second day of Pongal, Surya Pongal, the Sun God is honored. Households draw kolam [an art form that involves drawing geometric patterns on the floor using rice flour or chalk] at the entrance of one’s home and cook fresh rice with milk at auspicious times. Family members shout "Pongalo Pongal" as the milk boils and boils over the edge of the pot. After offering the Pongal to the Sun God, they feast on special Pongal dishes cooked just for today.

⧼ 3 ⧽ Maatu

Maatu Pongal is the third day of Pongal, honoring and worshipping cattle (Maatu) for ploughing the land. Cows are bathed and adorned with beads, flowers, garlands, and bells. In Singapore, thanksgiving prayers are conducted for cattle at some dairy farms.

⧼ 4 ⧽ Kaanum

Kaanum Pongal is the fourth day of Pongal, a day of community bonding and strengthening ties. Families gather for a sumptuous meal, younger members seek blessings from the older members, and traditional Indian folk dances like mayilattam and kolattam are performed.

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╰╮Important symbols! ﹕✦

⧼ 1 ⧽ Thoranam

Thoranam is a hanging decoration traditionally used by the Tamil community. They are usually made using coconut or mango leaves.

⧼ 2 ⧽ Pulli Kolam

Pulli kolam is most commonly drawn during Pongal. It is drawn at the entrance of one’s home. Dots of rice flour are placed in a grid-like framework, which are then joined to form symmetrical patterns.

⧼ 3 ⧽ Sugarcane

Sugarcane, which is an important harvest of the season, signifies prosperity and well-being.

⧼ 4 ⧽ The Sun

The Sun is worshipped as the source of life, as it allows for the growth of good harvest that provides food for humans.

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Fact OTD Raw steaks that have traditionally been put on black eyes were done so because the meat is cold, not because it has any special healing properties. Ice wrapped in a washcloth or a baggie of frozen veggies are more suitable steak substitutes.