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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, Maatu Pongal is
a day when cattle are given a well deserved day of rest and
are given pride of place. Therefore the farmers honor their
cattle friends by celebrating it as a day of thanks-giving
to them.
Legend
On this day, Lord Ganesh and Goddess Parvati are worshiped
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.
Puja Process
The cattle are washed, their horns are painted and covered
with shining metal caps. Multi-colored beads, tinkling
bells, sheaves of corn and flower garlands are tied around
their necks. They are fed with Pongal and taken to the
village centres. Devotees pay their respect to cows by
bending down, like praying in temple, and touching their
feet and foreheads, followed by an aarthi (showing fire to
the object of praise) and offering the cattle prasadam (food
offering, in this case, Pongal).
Jallikattu- A Bull Festival
A festival called Jallikattu is held in Madurai,
Tiruchirapalli and Tanjavur on this day. Bundles of money
are tied to the horns of ferocious bulls which the villagers
try to retrieve. Everyone joins in the community meal, at
which the food is made of the freshly harvested grain. This
day is named and celebrated as Tamizhar Tirunal in a fitting
manner throughout Tamil Nadu. |
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