Mattu Pongal

2007-01-16T19:36:00.001-08:00

"Maattu Pongal" is celebrated on the second day of the month of Thai. This is a Thanks giving day to cows, bulls and buffaloes by worshipping them which help the people in farming activities, and give milk.

The farmers give a bath to the cows decorate them with garlands, saffron, "Kumkumam" and tie silk cloth for them. Then the cows are offered with special "Poojas" and "Sakkarai Pongal" (sweet rice).

"Maatu Pongal" was celebrated at Sri Ponnambalawaneswarar temple in Colombo 13 at dusk on Jan 16th.

2007-01-16T19:18:00.002-08:00

The second day of the month of Thai is "Maattu Pongal"

2007-01-16T19:18:00.001-08:00

Cows are especially worshipped on "Maattu Pongal" day

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Hindus believe the tail side of the cows are more prosperous than the face. Because cow dung is used to make "Thiruneeru" (holy ash which Hindus wear on their foreheads)

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A view of Sri Ponnambalawaneswarar Devasthanam at dusk

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A Hindu devotee worships a cow

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The milk boils over and bubbles towards the "Kizhakku Thisai" out of the vessel

2007-01-16T19:14:00.002-08:00

The chief Hindu priest of Sri Ponnambalawaneswarar temple Bala Kurukkal puts the first rice to boil to make "Sakkarai Pongal" (sweet rice)

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Leelavinothini Chandrajothy (4) decorates "Sunthari" with "Kumkumam"

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The cows are decorated with garlands, silk, saffron and "Kumkumam"

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The chief Hindu priest of Sri Ponnambalawaneswarar temple Bala Kurukkal offers "Panchcharaththi" to the temple cow "Sunthari"

2007-01-16T19:10:00.001-08:00

A devotee is feeding "Sakkarai Pongal" (sweet rice) to a cow

2007-01-16T19:09:00.001-08:00

The Hindu devotees at Sri Ponnambalawaneswarar temple watching the cows