KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13 — Come Monday (January 15), Malaysia’s Tamil Hindu community will joyously celebrate its most cherished festival, the Ponggal harvest festival.
A cherished tradition, the festival involves the preparation of the iconic sweet rice dish, Ponggal, cooked in a traditional clay pot, symbolising gratitude to the Sun God (Surya Bhagavan) for a bountiful harvest.
Far from being a mere religious event, Ponggal embodies a joyous celebration of the farmer’s life and agriculture and holds deep, hidden meanings.
Malaysia Hindhudharma Maamandram president A.Radhakrishnan emphasised that Ponggal is one of the most significant festivals celebrated by Tamil communities worldwide, including in India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and other nations with a Tamil diaspora.
“The festivities, spanning four days, commence with ‘Bhogi,’ a day dedicated to introspection, symbolised by the burning of old and unused household items. This ritual serves as a metaphor to reflect within and eliminate negativity, marking the initiation of a new cycle,” he told Bernama.
The festival’s central day is Thai Pongal on Monday (January 15), dedicated to the Sun God. Families rise early to prepare the special dish Ponggal. As the rice boils and overflows from the pot, the air is filled with cheers of ‘Ponggalo Pongal,’ symbolising abundance and prosperity.
Radhakrishnan elaborated on the subsequent days of celebration. ‘Mattu Pongal,’ the third day, involves worshipping cattle believed to contribute to a successful harvest. The fourth day, ‘Kanni Pongal,’ sees unmarried women making Ponggal, praying for good husbands.
Celebrated in the 10th month of the Tamil calendar, Thai, Ponggal uniquely follows a solar calendar, marking the Sun’s northward movement for six months.
The popular Tamil adage, ‘Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum,’ meaning the advent of the month of Thai brings new opportunities, resonates during this period.
Meanwhile, Malaysia Hindu Sangam president Ganesan Thangavellu shared auspicious times for sweet rice preparation this year, emphasising the morning as the advisable cooking period.
The auspicious times to prepare the sweet rice this year are between 7am to 8.30am; 10.25am to 11.52am, and 2.30pm to 4pm.
Various celebrations across the country, including the National Unity Ministry’s national-level Ponggal celebration and MIC’s Ponggal Festival in Kuala Lumpur on January 15, will showcase the cultural richness and unity within the Malaysian Tamil community.
In Tamil Nadu, India, Ponggal reflects the state’s agricultural heritage and cultural identity, underscoring the deep connection between the Tamils and their cultivated lands.
Meanwhile, Selangor Bar Representative to the Bar Council Kokila Vaani Vadiveloo shared a heartfelt Ponggal message, expressing hopes that this harvest festival fills lives with overflowing joy, sweetness, and good health.
She urged everyone to share happiness with loved ones, emphasising kindness and generosity towards the less fortunate in Malaysia’s multicultural society.
“As the Ponggal celebrations unfold, may the charm of traditions and the sweetness of sticky rice resonate, bringing happiness to all,” Kokila said.
— Bernama
