MAHARA SANKRANTI AND THAI PONGAL – MONDAY, 15 JANUARY , 2024

Mahara Sankranti or Thai Pongal are celebrated to worship Sun God by people  in India for blessings with life giving energy called Sun Rays. It is the festival of farmers around Bharat and especially in Tamil Nadu where Farmers worship God Surya by cooking Sweet Pongal in the open courtyard surrounded by all family members who, on seeing the  boiling rice, will shout full throated ‘PONGALO, PONGAL’.

On Pongal, Farmers worship their domesticated animals like bullocks, cows and also their tools like plough, shovel, sickle ect apart from their  transport vehicles like carts, tractors and trailers etc. 

Pongal festivals will be celebrated for three days – First Day to worship Sun God, Second Day devoted to worship their farm animals and third day to meet their relatives at common place to exchange pleasantries and spend their time joyfully.

During the preparation of Pongal, Sugar Cane and turmeric bunch are important items in this festival. Actually, turmeric bunch will be wound round the neck of the vessel in which Sakkarai Pongal is prepared and Sugar cane will be kept ceremoniously around the place apart from other items such as coconut, bananas, betel leaves, etc.

In north India, flying of kites is an important sports events during the Sankranti.

Sankranti or Pongal festivals are coming after harvest and hence it is considered to be the most important celebrations for the farmers through out India.

Surya Mantra –  “ॐ हराम हरिम ह्रौं सह सूर्याय नमः||”

“Om Hraam Hreem Hraum Sah Suryay Namah||”

Meaning - “I bow down to the magnificent Sun God for his divinity and grace.”

LET ALL BE BLESSED BY LORD SURYA