On the first day of the Pongal festival - dedicated to the worship of the rain God Indra -- people rise early, get dress, and offer flowers to the Lord Vinayaka made from cow dung or turmeric and lit traditional lamps.
The second day of the festival is devoted to Surya, the Sun God. The Pongal dish which is essentially a rice cooked in milk is offered to Lord Ganesh and then to cows and then it is distributed as prasad.
The third day is marked by the worship of the Goddess Parvati and her son, the elephant-headed Lord Ganesh. This is also the day when cattle- an indispensable part of life in all villages- are bathed and decorated, then paraded through the villages.
The procession is followed by cattle races, and in some instances, bullfights which are locally known as 'jallikattu'- bags full of money are tied to the horns of bulls, and young men endeavour to wrestle with the bulls to get the bags off (and keep the change for themselves, of course!)
The fourth and the final day of the Pongal festival which is traditionally known as Kannum Pongal is the day when the families relax, visit each other and have lunch with friends and family.
The second day of the festival is devoted to Surya, the Sun God. The Pongal dish which is essentially a rice cooked in milk is offered to Lord Ganesh and then to cows and then it is distributed as prasad.
The third day is marked by the worship of the Goddess Parvati and her son, the elephant-headed Lord Ganesh. This is also the day when cattle- an indispensable part of life in all villages- are bathed and decorated, then paraded through the villages.
The procession is followed by cattle races, and in some instances, bullfights which are locally known as 'jallikattu'- bags full of money are tied to the horns of bulls, and young men endeavour to wrestle with the bulls to get the bags off (and keep the change for themselves, of course!)
The fourth and the final day of the Pongal festival which is traditionally known as Kannum Pongal is the day when the families relax, visit each other and have lunch with friends and family.
