MY PONGAL CELEBRATION (ADDITIONAL ASSIGNMENT PLUS 1)

Pongal is a festival predominantly celebrated by farmers to thank the Surya Bhagavan and domestic animals like buffalo and cows. Surya Bhagavan regarded highly because He gives sunlight to crops like sugarcane and paddy. Meanwhile, those animals are also considered auspicious because of their helping nature in the field. It is commonly celebrated in Tamil Nadu, India and Malaysia is not an exception as many Tamil communities reside here. It usually falls on January 14 every year. As a symbolic, we prepare a sweet dish also known as Pongal in a clay pot and offered it to God and animals before eaten by us together with friends and family.

A day before Pongal my brother Raj and I bought few important items such as clay pot, fresh milk, chalk pieces, sugar canes and mango leaves only because the rest are available in the kitchen. On the night, we threw out old items from our house varies from clothes to furniture to start the “Thai” month. According to the tradition we suppose to burn them however open burning is strictly not allowed in my residential area. On the morning, we were told to take oil bath before set up the cooking place. Firstly, we tied the black sugar cane on both sides of the grill door as it represents the continuity of sweetness. Secondly, applied turmeric paste on “mangala thoranam” which is made of coconut leaves. Thoranam has a bird-like design and got four or five them which faces upward direction. Next, we hang the thoranam to have prosperity in our family. My mother usually cooks Pongal in car porch because those days they usually celebrate in an open place to cater to many people. That is why the kitchen is not really recommended. My mother put kolam by using rice flour as a decoration. My grandmother used to say its function as food for the insects. We normally use firewood for the stove as it is easier to control the flame. Around 8.00 am my mother started to cook the delicacy using rice, fresh milk, ghee, brown sugar, palm sugar, raisins and cashew nut. The actual meaning of Pongal is overflow/ to boil. Once, all the ingredients are added orderly we waited until it boils and shouted “Ponggalo Pongal” to mark the auspicious occasion. We also said, "Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum" which means, 'let this beginning of Thai bring new opportunities. Once the delicacy is ready, we brought them to the prayer room to do some puja before enjoy it with family as breakfast. So, that is how this year celebration went. Luckily, we celebrated it before Covid-19 lockdown or else we shall never think about it.