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Festival of Harvest

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People throughout India celebrated the start of the harvest season with festivals like Lohri, Makar Sankranti, and Pongal.

The second day of the Pongal festival, known as Surya Pongal or Thai Pongal, is the most significant of the celebrations. It is dedicated to worshipping Surya, the Sun God, revered as the source of life and energy.

On this day, devotees begin with an early holy bath, marking the arrival of the Tamil month of Thai. The day is filled with rituals and ceremonies, bringing people together to honor Surya and express gratitude for the sun’s blessings.

The highlight of the day is preparing the traditional Pongal dish, made with rice, lentils, and spices. Cooked in a clay pot, the dish is offered to Surya as an expression of gratitude. The pot’s overflow symbolizes the abundance and prosperity that the sun brings into people’s lives

As the day progresses, families gather to share meals, exchange gifts, and engage in traditional games and activities. The atmosphere is filled with joy, laughter, and a sense of unity as people come together to celebrate the sun’s vital role in their lives. Surya Pongal is a day of reverence, gratitude, and celebration, marking the beginning of a new cycle of life and prosperity

Communities across the city are celebrating the harvest season with traditional enthusiasm. While the Punjabi community observed Lohri on Monday, the Tamil community is marking Pongal, a four-day festival celebrating the Sun’s northward journey. The festival includes Bhogi Pongal, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal, and Kaanum Pongal, each with its own unique significance.

Satnam Singh Bagga of Gurdwara Gobind Dham in Thaltej shared that Lohri was celebrated on Monday at homes and gurdwaras, marking the end of winter and the arrival of longer days. “Black sesame (til) and coconut are offered to the bonfire as a gesture of gratitude. Viewing the holy flame is considered especially auspicious for newlyweds and newborns,” he explained.

Elavazhagan Mudaliyar, president of Balasubramanian Devsthanam in Khokhra, highlighted the Pongal celebrations, starting with Bhogi Pongal, where old, unwanted items are burned in a bonfire to signify a fresh start. On January 14, devotees offer sugarcane and fruits to deities and pray for a good harvest. The third day is dedicated to cow worship, while the final day focuses on spending time with family. Thai Pongal, observed on January 14, coincides with Makar Sankranti, an important day for Keralites who celebrate ‘Makaravilakku.’ This revered festival at the Sabarimala shrine features rituals like nirmalya darshanam, neyyabhishekam (ghee offerings), various poojas, Maha Deeparadhana, and cultural programs at Ayyappa temples.

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