The entrance to Hindu homes will be decorated with sugar cane to symbolize a sweet start while 11 mango leaves will be hung at the doorway to ward off evil.
According to Housewife M. Nalarmeany, 47, said in accordance with the Hindu calendar this year, the auspicious time for performing the surya namaskar (Sun God worship) and boiling milk while adding rice in a clay pot is before 7.26am.
There consist of two new claypots were each placed on top of three bricks before the firewood was lit. Young sugarcane stalks were also tied to form a triangle over the pots signifying a sweet start for the festival.
The boiling rice with fresh milk in new pots, which are later topped with brown sugar, cashew nuts and raisins early in the morning and allowing it to boil over the vessel. The moment the rice boils over and bubbles out of the vessel, the tradition is to shout of "Ponggalo Ponggal!" and blowing the sangu (a conch), a custom practiced during the festival to announce it was going to be a year blessed with good tidings. For Hindus, it is considered a good sign to watch it boil over, since it means that good luck and prosperity is forthcoming in the year.
Normally a special pooja (prayer) was offered to Lord Ganesha before the start of the Ponggal Festival to seek blessings and protection.
The overflowing of the milk in the pot symbolizes prosperity, peace and happiness for all,’’ he said.
After the milk had boiled over, prayers were offered to the Goddess Veerakaliamman before devotees were served with both types of the ponggal rice.
The second day of Ponggal is known as Mattu (cow) Ponggal where cows are honoured, given baths and garlanded as cows are sacred animals for the Hindus.The third day is known as the Kanni (young maidens) Ponggal where back in the olden days, young unmarried girls were encouraged to come out of their homes dressed in their finery to attend a celebration while young men were invited to view their prospective brides.
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