Mattu Pongal 2023, Mattu Pongal 2023 Date
Makara Sankranthi is celebrated as Pongal in Tamil Nadu. While celebrating Pongal for four continuous days, the people of Tamil Nadu celebrates Mattu Pongal as the 3rd day of the Pongal celebrations and is observed on the second day of the Thai month in the Tamil calendar. Often it comes on either 15th or 16th January. The word ‘mattu’ in Tamil signifies ‘the bull’ and thus the day of Mattu Pongal is dedicated as celebrations of the cattle, especially the bulls as they help the farmers a lot in growing crops. Mattu Pongal is the day when people come together irrespective of caste and creed to celebrate and welcome the new harvest. Mattu Pongal is celebrated with great enthusiasm not only in Tamil Nadu but also in states like Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Rituals during Mattu Pongal
People clean and decorate their homes with attractive kolams put in the front side during Pongal. Pictures of rice are drawn on the first day, on second day the image of Sun God is drawn and on the day of Mattu Pongal the third day, images depicting bull or other livestock are drawn. People bath their cattle and their horns are painted and decorated with various color metal caps on the day of Mattu Pongal. Flower garlands, bells along with beads of different colors are tied on to their necks. Cattle owners sprinkle Saffron water with mango leaves on the cows and offer prayers to protect them from all evils. Also, Lord Krishna and Lord Indra are worshipped for the growth and prosperity of their cattle population. Cows are worshipped by touching their forehead and feet. An ‘aarti’ for the Cows are performed. A special dish known as ‘Sakkar Pongal’ is prepared from moong dal, cooked rice, dry fruits and jaggery and first offered to the cows and later distributed among all as ‘cattle prasad’ on this beautiful day of Mattu Pongal. Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati and Lord Ganesha are worshipped during the Pongal celebrations and different kinds of rice are made and offered to them and then to the cattle.
Jallikattu 2022 Festival
‘Manji Virattu’ or ‘Jallikattu’ which is an important village sport is observed with full enthusiasm in the villages of Tamil Nadu like Madurai, Tiruchirapalli and Tanjavur. In Jallikattu, young men in the village chase fierce bulls to grab the money tied in their horns. Observed during the evening of Mattu Pongal day, it is regarded as an integral part of Mattu Pongal celebrations. It is also held on Kaanum Pongal, a day after Mattu Pongal in some villages.
Some of the famous Pongal Recipes include Rava Pongal/Sooji Pongal, Sweet Pongal/Sakkarai Pongal, Pongal Sambar/Pasi Paruppu Sambar and Venn Pongal/Khara Pongal.
Significance of Mattu Pongal
Mattu Pongal is dedicated to the worship of cattle. The word ‘mattu’ means ‘bull’ and ‘pongal’ signifies ‘prosperity’. The festival marks the beginning of the harvest of the paddy (rice) fields. The story of Mattu Pongal is linked with the story of Lord Shiva and Nandi, his bull. Celebration of Mattu Pongal is a form of thanksgiving to the cows and bulls. Cows offer nourishment as the provide milk and the bulls help the farmers in ploughing the land for cultivation.
Legend of Mattu Pongal
Lord Ganesh, Goddess Parvati along with Ganesha are worshiped and Pongal is offered to them. As per a legend, once Shiva asked his bull, Basava, to go to the earth and ask the people to have an oil massage and bath every day and to eat once a month. Basava instead said that everyone should eat daily and have an oil bath once a month. This angried Shiva who then cursed Basava to live on the earth forever. He would have to plough the fields and help people produce more food. Thus this day is associated with cattle.
