Good Morning: Happy Pongal, Lohri & Sankranti

[Guest guest]

Good Morning

I trust you (Gulf region) all had a nice extended holidays on account of Eid and

weekend. Now celebrate Sankranti the beginning of Uttarayana.

 

ON THE OCCASION OF "PONGAL , LOHRI & SANKRANTI"

I WISH YOU & YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS

TO BE VERY PROSPEROUS PONGAL ,LOHRI

&

HAPPY SANKRANTI 2006

Sheshagiri and family

 

A 'Manishi' (ordinary man) gets transformed into a 'Maharishi' (sage) by

engaging in selfless service. Truly speaking, the merit that can be obtained

from service cannot be acquired even by the practice of rigorous austerities.

Service brings human beings closer to each other and promotes affection and

friendship. Without this feeling of friendship and love towards one's

fellowmen, one cannot attain intimacy with the Lord. Install in your heart the

feeling that the service you render to your fellowmen is service to God.- Baba

Pongal is the only festival of Hindu that follows a solar calendar and is

celebrated on the fourteenth of January every year. Pongal has astronomical

significance: it marks the beginning of Uttarayana, the Sun's movement

northward for a six month period. In Hinduism, Uttarayana is considered

auspicious, as opposed to Dakshinaayana, or the southern movement of the sun.

All important events are scheduled during this period. Makara Sankranthi refers

to the event of the Sun entering the zodiac sign of Makara or Capricorn.In Hindu

temples bells, drums, clarinets and conch shells herald the joyous occasion of

Pongal. To symbolize a bountiful harvest, rice is cooked in new pots until they

boil over. Some of the rituals performed in the temple include the preparation

of rice, the chanting of prayers and the offering of vegetables, sugar cane and

spices to the gods. Devotees then consume the offerings to exonerate themselves

of past sins. Pongal signals the end of the traditional farming season, giving

farmers a break from their monotonous routine. Farmers also perform puja to

some crops, signaling the end of the traditional farming season. It also sets

the pace for a series of festivals to follow in a calendar year. In fact, four

festivals are celebrated in Tamil Nadu for four consecutive days in that week.

'Bogi' is celebrated on January 13, 'Pongal' on Jan 14, 'Maattuppongal' on Jan

15, and 'Thiruvalluvar Day' on Jan 16. The festival is celebrated for four

days. On, the first day, Bhogi, the old clothes and materials are thrown away

and fired, marking the beginning of a new life. The second day, the Pongal day,

is celebrated by boiling fresh milk early in the morning and allowing it to boil

over the vessel - a tradition that is the literal translation for Pongal. People

also prepare savories and sweets, visit each other's homes, and exchange

greetings. The third day, Mattu Pongal, is meant to offer thanks to the cows

and buffaloes, as they are used to plough the lands. On the last day, Kanum

Pongal, people go out to picnic. A festival called Jalli kathu is held in

Madurai, Tiruchirapalli and Tanjavur,all in Tamil Nadu, on this day. Bundles of

money are tied to the horns of Pongal ferocious bulls which the villagers try to

retrieve. Everyone joins in the community meal, at which the food is made of the

freshly harvested grain. This day is named and celebrated as Tamilian Tirunal in

a fitting manner through out Tamil Nadu.Thus, the harvest festival of Pongal

symbolizes the veneration of the first fruit. The crop is harvested only after

a certain time of the year, and cutting the crop before that time is strictly

prohibited. Even though Pongal was originally a festival for the farming

community, today it is celebrated by all. In south India, all three days of

Pongal are considered important. However, those south Indians who have settled

in the north usually celebrate only the second day. Coinciding with Makara

Sankranti and Lohri of the north, it is also called Pongal Sankranti.

Pongal marks the beginning of Spring and the coming of sunny days ahead.

Decorate your house with Kolams, cook the yummy Pongal and pray for the long

life of your brothers. Send warm ecards and greetings from our site to wish

your near and dear ones plentiful harvests, peace and joy.

 

 

 

Though Lohri festival has no religious significance but it holds a great social

significance and is celebrated as a day of imparting social love to one and

all. The festival of Lohri is meant to relieve people from worldly day to day

routine, and make them relaxed, cheerful and happy. It is the time when people

from all castes and social strata come together forgetting all past differences

and grievances. Every year Lohri succeeds in bridging the social gap, as people

visit homes, distribute sweets and greet each other.

Apart from this, the festival of Lohri is related to the harvest season. Harvest

and fertility festivals a special significance for an agrarian country like

India. Punjab being a predominantly agricultural state that prides itself on

its food grain production, it is little wonder that Lohri is its one of the

most significant festival. Thus, Lohri is symbolic of ripening of the crops and

of copious harvest. Lohri instill sensitivity among the people towards their

environment and culture. The fundamental theory behind the festival of Lohri is

the sense of togetherness and the culturally rich legacy of the people of

Punjab.

Lohri in Punjab and Haryana have always been celebrated with much exuberance and

fanfare. They believe in celebrating this harvest festival together and

rejoicing it to the fullest. For the masses this festival is a popular occasion

for social intercourse and enjoyment. They make a bonfire and roast 'fresh

chholia' (green gram) in pods with its leaves and stems intact, and eat it.

They also sing and dance sitting around the fire. Lohri is thus a community

festival and is always celebrated by getting together with neighbors and the

relatives.

The focus of Lohri is on the bonfire. The traditional dinner with makki ki roti

and sarson ka saag is quintessential. The prasad comprises of five main items:

til (gingelly) , gajak (a hardened bar of peanuts in jaggery or sugar syrup) ,

gur (jaggery) , moongphali (peanuts) , and phuliya (popcorn). There is puja,

involving parikrama around the fire and distribution of prasad. This symbolises

a prayer to Agni, the spark of life, for abundant crops and prosperity.

Therefore, the festival of Lohri has great social significance. This time is

considered auspicious for marriages and to undertake new ventures. The farmer,

comparatively free from his yeoman's duties, takes to fun and frolic. The

golden color of the ripening corn in the fields pleases him. For newly-weds and

newborns, Lohri is a special occasion. Families of the bride and groom get

together and celebrate by dancing around the fire and expressing their joy.

Lohri is a grand event of social and cultural integration, bringing about

unity, amity, harmony among all castes and communities.

 

Message for the day 14.1.200 65

Concentration is to be powerful under all circumstances.

Contemplation:

To be positive in positive situations is easy. But real concentration is to

remain positive and powerful even in negative situation. A long time of

practice of having positive thoughts enables us to remain concentrated even in

negative situations.

Application:

Each day let me practice with one positive thought. With consistent practice

when things are going good, I will be able to have concentration even in

difficult circumstances.

Attachment: (image/gif) pic11109.gif [not stored]

Attachment: (image/gif) pic19494.gif [not stored]

Attachment: (image/jpeg) ATT47615.jpg [not stored]