MIRI: The Hindu community will be celebrating the Ponggal festival at Kamini Durga Easwari Amman place of worship at Raghavan Building, Jalan Brooke tomorrow.
Selvaraj Grapragasem
Almost every civilisation has its harvest festival for its people to welcome and rejoice in celebrating good harvest of their staple crops like rice.
“The word ‘Ponggal’ literally means ‘boiling over’ and is celebrated by Hindus to mark the harvesting of bounteous crops in the fields,” said Miri Hindu Society chairman Selvaraj Grapragasem yesterday.
The prayers will commence at 4pm with ‘abishegam’ for all the deities followed by the cooking of sweet rice known as ponggal and performing of ‘pooja’ for goddess Durga.
Ponggal is cooked in a new earthenware pot at the same place where pooja is to be performed.
Fresh turmeric and ginger are tied around this pot, then a delicious concoction of rice, ‘moong dal’, ‘jaggery’ and milk is boiled in the pot on an open fire.
“Following the ritual, this ponggal is allowed to boil over and spill from the pot. Once the ponggal is ready, it is tempered with cashew nuts and raisins fried in ghee.
“Ponggal is offered to god first, on a new banana leaf along with other traditional delicacies like ‘vadas’ and ‘payasam’.
“Besides this, sugarcane, grain, sweet potatoes, and others are also offered to the Sun God,” he explained.
The following day is known as Mattu Ponggal or the Ponggal of the Cow — a day dedicated to the revered cow.
“The fourth day of Ponggal also holds special significance — this is the day when the bonds between friends and relatives are strengthened or reinforced by visiting their homes, and sharing thoughts of love and care,” he added.
Devotees who would like to join the abishegam are encouraged to bring along items such as milk, ghee, coconut water, cooked rice, sugar cane water, and honey.
For further details, contact Selvaraj at 013-8139605.