Happy Thai Pongal wishes to all my friends, fans and family around the world. Pongal is technically the first day of the Tamil new year.
Traditionally On this day we honour the Sun god, bless crops and fields..and symbolically do work in the fields. Following day is Mattu-Pongal.. (Madu / Mattu means Cow in Tamil.. and it is a day to honour the 2nd most important thing for a farmer, next to The Sun.. which is cows/ cattle).
Those celebrating will be getting up early, have a shower, wear clean / new cloths, visit temple, and also cook milk-rice in the light of the Sun.. offer it to the Gods..then share in the meal with family and friends. `Pongal’ is the act of the boiling milk-rice frothing to the surface in the pot.. and it also is the name of the milk-rice dish itself.. It is the act of the auspicious cooking completion (as food is sacred and a blessing).
Thai is the Tamil name of the first month of the year.
so it all means the first boiling and cooking of the meal on the first day of the first month of the new year.
-Mani Navasothy
links to other Tamil/ Hindu festive blogs
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