Pongal and Kanu

Om Surya Narayana Swamine Namaha.

PONGAL: the festival worshipping the Sun God, usually 14th or 15 th January

Mango leaves for decoration, Betel leaves and areca nut for vethalai pakku, Coconut, Bananas, Sugarcane, Turmeric plants with leaves and root, Banana leaves

For Sweet Pongal: Rice, Pasi paruppu(split mung dal, optional), jaggery, ghee

When: Pongal is celebrated on the first day of the Tamil month Thai, according to the Tamil calendar. Thai masam or month comes after Margazhi, the month of music and devotion and the festival marks the end of winter solstice - Dakshinayanam, and the start of the sun's six-month-long journey northwards, Uttarayanam.

Why: In ancient India, the Sun God is considered Pratyaksham Bramha or the God that can be seen. Look up to the skies and you can see the life giving, nourishing God. One need look no further.

Life in India revolves around the Sun God. Surya Namaskaram, daily prayers are centered around dawn, noon, dusk to coincide with sunrise, peak, sunset. Gayatri Manthra prays to Surya, Saraswati and Savitri to grant wisdom.

Aditya Hridayam, from Ramayana, is chanted daily for good health.

As the Sun God starts his annual sojourn towards North(Uttarayanam as it is called) bringing radiance, warmth and growth, we pray His radiance destroys ignorance and disease and bestows radiance, good health and knowledge.

Puja & Neivedhyam: The Sun God is worshipped today. Sweet Pongal (rice, pasi paruppu and jaggery) along with Vadai is offered to the Sun God along with raw sugarcane, vethalai pakku and raw turmeric leaves. Some Pongal and rice is kept aside for Kanu the next day.

KANU: The day after Pongal.

Kanu is celebrated in the morning the day after Pongal by the women of the house hold. It is more a ritual and reminder of the Unity women can bring into families by remembering how crow families live together and offering the left over Pongal and rice to the crows.

Sweet Pongal and Rice (mixed with curd and turmeric) from the Pongal day are rolled into small balls - 5, 7, 9 etc.

A clean place on the terrace, balcony or outside is chosen, cleaned and 2 small rangolis made. On these the turmeric leaves or banana leaves are placed, facing the direction East. The Pongal and rice balls, vettalai Pakku, Banana, raw coconut wedges(keethu) are placed on these leaves and offered to crows.

After this offering, taking care not to touch any clothes and others, one heads directly for the mandatory head bath.

Kanu is an annual reminder of Aiykamatyam me Balam or Untiy is strength. Crows caw and inform their family of available food before eating it themselves. This is a lofty annual reminder to be grateful, forgive and forget and be there for each other when needed.

On Kanu day, we have lunch of Kalanda sadam i.e. mixed rice - lemon rice, coconut rice etc Happy Kanu.. 🥬🍃