Mattu Pongal-2015: celebrated in SEVAI Cattle Project at Sirugamani

Mattu Pongal celebrations in SEVAI Sirugamani cow project

SEVAI celebrated Mattu Pongal-2015at Sirugamani Cow and other cattle project on the third day of Pongal which is dedicated to cattle and the same is called Mattu Pongal. Farmers of Sirugamani and cattle care takers offered prayers to the cows and other farm animals reared in SEVAI Cow project. K.Devendran the project coordinator mentioned, “The festival is spread over three days and is the most important and most fervently-celebrated harvest festival of Tamil nadu. A special puja is performed on the first day of Pongal before the cutting of the paddy. Farmers worship the sun and the earth by anointing their ploughs and sickles with sandal wood paste. It is with these consecrated tools that the newly-harvested rice is cut. Each of the three days are marked by different festivities. The first day, Bhogi Pongal, is a day for the family. Surya Pongal, the second day, is dedicated to the worship of Surya, the Sun God. Boiled milk and jaggery is offered to the Sun God. The third day of Pongal, Mattu Pongal, is for worship of the cattle known as Mattu Pongal. Cattle are bathed, their horns polished and painted in bright colors, and garlands of flowers placed around their necks. Cows have always held a special place and Cows give nutritious milk while oxen help plough the fields. Maatu Pongal is a day when cattle are given a glowing 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. They are fed with Pongal Devotees pay their respect to cows by bending down, like praying in temple, and touching their feet and foreheads and offering the cattle prasadam (food offering, Pongal,banana etc)”.The cattle centre was cleaned and the women made rangolies on the ground and made special arrangements for prayer. International visitors also participated in this Mattu Pongal”. -Govin