KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 14 — For the final 45 years, Saraswathy A. Sundura Raju has by no means missed celebrating the Pongal competition, which she considers a harbinger of the upcoming yr.
Saraswathy, 63, who runs a traditional Indian floral store at Little India, Brickfields, ushers Pongal by boiling rice with milk and jaggery, praying for a affluent yr.
She mentioned the age-old Tamil adage, “Thai piranthal vazhi pirakkum”, which implies the daybreak of Thai month paves the best way for brand new alternatives, has confirmed to be apt in her life.
“The years when the pongal (candy rice) boils and overflows properly have all the time been affluent.
“And, the years when the pongal didn’t pan out properly had been difficult for my household.
“So, yearly, I begin boiling the milk with a prayer and up to now, the pongal has all the time turned out properly.
“I religiously adopted this ritual since I bought married 45 years in the past and I counsel my kids to do the identical,” she instructed eNews Malaysia.
Saraswathy is anticipating a busy weekend as most Hindus will throng Brickfields to purchase contemporary flowers and garlands for Pongal. — Picture by Hari Anggara
Saraswathy is anticipating a busy weekend as most Hindus will throng Brickfields to purchase contemporary flowers and garlands for Pongal that falls tomorrow (January 15) this yr.
Celebrated in the course of the Thai month (the tenth month in Tamil calendar), the four-day-long Pongal competition marks the beginning of the harvest season in the southern area of India.
Traditionally, the celebration begins on the eve of Pongal with the Bhogi competition — devoted to the rain god Indra — the place previous gadgets like garments are discarded in a bonfire.
On Pongal day, rice is cooked with milk and jaggery in a claypot, embellished with turmeric plant and flanked by sugarcanes, utilizing firewood in the entrance yard.
On the second day, cows are revered for his or her contributions to the harvest (Maatu Pongal) and the next day, single ladies wishing for a blissful marital life supply their prayers (Kaanum Pongal).
In northern India, Pongal is widely known as Makar Sankranti, which marks the Sun’s transition into the Capricorn (Makar) zodiac indicators and is ushered in with kite-flying competitions.
Mithra mentioned many Hindus nonetheless favor celebrating Pongal historically utilizing claypot and firewood. — Picture by Hari Anggara
Asokan Stores normal supervisor Mithra Thuraisingam mentioned many Hindus nonetheless favor to rejoice Pongal historically by cooking the candy rice with claypot and firewood.
“Most households nonetheless favor to use claypots as a result of the costs are extra reasonably priced now,” she mentioned.
In truth, KRM Cash & Carry buying division’s Haridas Selvam mentioned the native Indian community in Malaysia are extra keen on utilizing claypot for Pongal in contrast to these in Tamil Nadu, India.
“In Tamil Nadu, the females normally favor to boil the rice in brass pots that they create to their in-laws’ households after marriage and re-use it for each Pongal.
“The Tamil community listed here are extra enthusiastic to protect the cultural method of celebrating the competition utilizing claypot,” he mentioned.
Haridas mentioned the Pongal competition was aimed to assist the livelihoods of farmers and pot-makers. — Picture by Hari Anggara
Haridas mentioned the Pongal competition was supposed to assist the livelihoods of farmers and pot-makers, particularly because the Thai month normally brings one of the best sugarcane and turmeric yields.
“The sugarcane plant grows taller at each node, not permitting itself to be hampered by challenges.
“So, placing sugarcanes up on Pongal reminds us to all the time rise above our challenges,” Haridas mentioned.
