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About the festival of Pongal in India :
Pongal an important festivial of South India especially in Tamil nadu which falls on January 15th of every
year.Pongal is a celebration of the prosperity and is well celebrated
in the sub urban regions of south india by the harvestors.People offer prayers to the cows and other
farm animals.Pongal marks the end of Dhakshayana and the beginning of Uttarayana, the Sun's
movement northward.
 As pongal is celebrated in Tamil nadu, the same harvest festival is celebrated in Andhra Pradesh and
Karnataka, as Sankranthi.In northern India, it is called Makar Sankaranti.
The first day of the pongal is known as Bhogi
festival.People on bhogi throw their old belongings to fire god
to mark the beginning of the new season.Women decorates the house
entrance with beautiful Kolam(rangoli).
Mattu Pongal :The third day of Pongal is dedicated to cattle and is called Mattu Pongal.On Maatu Pongal
day, the farmers honour their cattles by celebrating it as a day of thanks-giving to them.Cattle are
bathed,horns polished and painted in different colours, and garlands of flowers are placed around their
necks.
Kaanum pongal :The fourth day of Pongal is called Kaanum Pongal. In Tamil nadu this day is also known
as Karinaal or Thiruvalluvar Day.On this day, people travel to see other family members and the
younger members of the family pay homage to the elders, and the elders thank them by giving token
money. It is dedicated to the sun god, Surya.The sun is a vital part of the this festival. This is because
the Sun is the symbol of life on Earth. Without the Sun, crops cannot grow. and harvests will not be
fruitful.
The story behind the association of cows/bulls to this festival :
According to an ancient story,once Lord Shiva asked his bull, Basava, to go to the earth and ask the
mortals to have bath every day, an oil massage and to eat once a month. Unconsciously, Basava
announced that everyone should eat daily and have an oil bath once a month. This made Lord Shiva
furious who then cursed Basava, exiled him to live on the earth forever. He would have to plough the
fields and help people produce more food.
Prasada :
Women prepare the sweet receipe 'Sarkarai pongal" with ingridents like new rice and jaggery which is
first offered to Sun God. Sugarcane is offered as a symbolic for sweetness and happiness in life.
Astrouniverse performs Special Homa & Puja.Kindly participate in the homa and receive the blessings of Lord Surya.A blessed silver coin and Yantra will be sent along with the prasada items.
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