January 15, 2025 at 1:15 PM IST
The auspicious 4-day stretch of Pongal began yesterday and led us to the joyous celebration of Mattu Pongal today. What is it about?
With 394.6 million acres of soil in India occupied by agricultural land, the special importance of cattle to us is overwhelming. And it is this feeling that is honored with grand celebrations on the occasion of Mattu Pongal. Mattu Pongal is celebrated today, Wednesday, January 15. Rituals, traditions and customs observed on this day emphasize the appreciation of animals, especially in Tamil culture. Although there is a lot of religiosity and routine surrounding the day, at its core, Mattu Pongal is a day when the community comes together to sincerely thank cattle for their unparalleled contribution across the agricultural spectrum.
Also an important implication of the festival is the day of the beginning of the Tamil month of Tai, associated with the harvest of rice and other crops. Returning to the theme of honoring cattle, the day traditionally involves a series of elaborate rituals that center around the sacred animal.
The day begins with farmers and cattle owners bathing their cattle with herbal pastes and scents to ensure they are well groomed throughout the day. The cattle are then carefully decorated with teak, bright motifs on the horns, garlands, bells and even colored cloth draped over the body. The following puja focuses on seeking blessings for their health and prosperity by paying obeisance to deities such as Ganesha and Murugan.
The cattle are then further pampered by being fed concoctions of ghee, sugar, kidney beans and rice, followed by additional delicacies such as coconuts, sugarcane and bananas. But the highlight of the day is the bull sled racing. Friendly in nature, they are accompanied by music, dancing, singing and feasting, where the women wear colorful saris and the men wear traditional attire such as dhotis.
We wish you all a very Happy Matu Pongal!
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