What is Surya Pongal? The second day is dedicated to Lord Surya, the Sun God, who is offered boiled milk and jaggery. A plank is placed on the ground, a large image of the Sun God is sketched on it and Kolam designs are drawn around it. This icon of the Sun God is worshiped for divine benediction as the …
Read More »What is the history of Pongal? Ancient festival of the Tamils
What is the history of Pongal? The history of Pongal can be traced back to the Sangam Age, ie, 200 B.C. to 300 A.D. Pongal is an ancient festival of the Tamils and it is not known when exactly the Tamils began celebrating the festival, but some historians identify it with the Thai Un and Thai Niradal, believed to have …
Read More »What is Mattu Pongal? Third day is meant for the cattle
Mattu Pongal: This third day is meant for the cattle (‘mattu’) – the giver of milk and puller of the plough. The farmer’s ‘dumb friends’ are given a good bath, their horns are polished, painted and covered with metal caps, and garlands are put around their necks. The Pongal that has been offered to the gods is then given to …
Read More »What is Pongal? Tamils Hindu Harvest Festival Thai Pongal
Why it is a Harvest Festival? Pongal comes from the word ‘ponga’ which literally means ‘boil’ and so ‘pongal’ connotes ‘spillover’ or that which is ‘overflowing’. It’s also the name of the special sweet dish cooked on the Pongal day. Pongal continues through the first four days of the ‘Thai’ month that starts on January 14 every year. What is …
Read More »When is Pongal festival? Harvest Festival
Pongal festival is celebrated for four continuous days beginning from the last day of Tamil month of Maargazhi (December – January) and lasting upto the third day of Thai. Pongal is celebrated in the month of January after the winter solstice. When is Pongal festival? The date of Pongal usually remains same as it is reckoned according to the solar …
Read More »Which is Lohri Festival Popular Punjabi Folk Songs and brief history on Dulla Bhatti?
Lohri Folk Songs: Dulla Bhatti grew up as a real fighter and warrior learning the art with his keen eye from here and there, unknowingly in the foot-steps of his father and grandfather. When he was young enough, his mother told him the about the past and from then on Dulla pledged that his only purpose in life was to …
Read More »Who was Dulla Bhatti and his relation with Lohri Festival?
Dulla Bhatti was a famous legendary Rajput hero of Punjab, who led a rebellion against the famous Mughal king Akbar. There is a kind of epic in Punjabi language called Dulle di var, which narrates the battle events of Dulla Bhatti. Still there is a famous region in Punjab (now in Pakistan), called Dulle Di Bar means the forest of …
Read More »What is the significance of Christmas Bells?
What is the significance of Christmas Bells? Bells, especially Church Bells, have been associated with Christmas for a long time. In the Anglican and Catholic churches, the church day starts at sunset, so any service after that is the first service of the day. So a service on Christmas Eve after sunset is traditionally the first service of Christmas day! In …
Read More »Who were the four Sahibzadas, name them?
They were the sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Name the four Sahibzadas were Baba Ajit Singh Ji (1687 – 1704), Baba Jujhar Singh Ji (1689 – 1704), Baba Zorawar Singh Ji (1696 – 1704), Baba Fateh Singh Ji (1698 – 1704). Eldest Sahibzada was Baba Ajit Singh Ji and youngest was Baba Fateh Singh Ji. Baba Fateh Singh Ji …
Read More »What are Navratri Customs?
Navratri Customs: Navratri is a very important and popular festival of India. It comes twice on a year, once around March-April and the second time, around September-October. The nine days and nights of Navratri are entirely devoted to Mother Goddess. Throughout this period, fasts, strictly vegetarian diets, japa (chanting mantras in honor of the Goddess Shakti), religious hymns, prayer, meditation …
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