Cow Pongal 2013

Beautiful darshan of Arunachala from the ARS

The third day of Pongal is dedicated to cattle and is called Mattu Pongal. People offer prayers to the bulls, cows and other farm animals. Cows and bulls have always held a special place in India. Cows give nourishing milk while bulls and oxen help plough the fields. Thus, Mattu Pongal is a day when cattle are given a well deserved day of rest and are given pride of place. Therefore the farmers honour their cattle friends by celebrating it as a day of thanks-giving to them.

Front Gate to ARS

Special Kolam Decorations Throughout

I decided to celebrate Mattu Pongal (Cow Pongal) at the Annamalai Reforestation Society as I knew that it would be a good occasion watching them bathe and decorate their nine cows and bullocks. 

Charming Shrines at the ARS

Legend for this day: Lord Ganesh and Goddess Parvati are worshipped and Pongal is offered to them in the 'puja'. According to a legend, once Shiva asked his bull, Basava, to go to the earth and ask the mortals to have an oil massage and bath every day and to eat once a month. Inadvertently, Basava announced that everyone should eat daily and have an oil bath once a month. This mistake enraged Shiva who then cursed Basava, banishing him to live on the earth forever. He would have to plough the fields and help people produce more food. Thus the association of this day with cattle. 

Beautiful Healthy Bulls at the ARS

Bath Time -- one for each

On this celebratory, joyous day cattle are washed, their horns are painted and they are fed with Pongal and given a day of quiet and rest. 

I was particularly fascinated to watch their feed being prepared in the custom made troughs at the ARS. I have been informed that the ingredients are as follows: Bran Husk, Groundnut Oil Cake, Black Gram Powder, Fried Gram Skin, Rock Salt, Urad Dhal Powder – all mixed up with water into a nice soup. From the gusto that the cows and bulls approached their feed – can definitely state that they approved of lunch. 

Yummy Lunch Being Prepared

How beautiful with their flowers and blue horns!

Mani manager of Farm with lady helpers

2013 Pongal Arunachala

Pongal was originally a Harvest Festival for the farming community but today it is celebrated by all. It follows the solar calendar and is celebrated on the same days each year. With the end of the wet month of Margazhi (mid December to mid January) the new Tamil month of Thai heralds a series of festivals. 

According to the calendar based on the solar system the year is divided into two halves following the apparent movement of the Sun northwards and Southwards. The former is termed Uttarayanam and the latter is Dakshinayanam. Uttarayanam marks the Sun’s movement northward for a six month period and all important events are scheduled during this time. On the first day of Thai, the Sun leaves the zodiac sign of Sagittarius and enters that of Capricorn, the latter is known as Makaram. The event thus is celebrated as Pongal. 

There is a Tamil saying; "Thai peranthal Vali Perakum" – which means - with the dawn of the month of Thai, there will be peace, happiness, prosperity, brightness and harmony in the life of everyone. 

Four festivals will be celebrated at Tiruvannamalai (and throughout Tamil Nadu) for four consecutive days during Pongal Festival. Bhogi Pongal on January 13th, Surya Pongal on January 14th, Maattu Pongal on January 15th, and Thiruvalluvar Day (Kaanum Pongal) on January 16. 

On Bhogi old clothes and materials are thrown away and set on fire, marking the beginning of a new life. The second day of Pongal, is celebrated by boiling fresh milk early in the morning and allowing it to boil over the vessel - a tradition that is the literal translation for Pongal. The third day, Mattu Pongal, is meant to offer thanks to the cows and buffaloes, as they are used to plough the lands. The fourth day of this Festival is called Kaanum Pongal. In a few places this day is also known as Karinaal or Thiruvalluvar Day. 

[Above photograph taken early this morning January 14 with the dew still on the Hill and on the ground. This is exactly how Arunachala looks early in the morning this time of year]