Malaysian Festivals

The first, "Bhogi Pongol" is a day for the family. Homes are washed, decorated, doorways painted with vermillion and sandalwood paste with colourful garlands of leaves and flowers decorating the home exteriors. This day, "Bhogi", the Rain God, is worshiped.

The place where the Pongal Puja is to be conducted, generally an open court yard, is cleaned and smeared with cow dung, a day before the festival.



The second, "Surya Pongal" is dedicated to the worship of Sun God.



In the third, "Mattu Pongol", the descendants of Nandi, cattle which help to produce the life-sustaining rice is honoured by them being bathed and gaily caparisoned with beads, bells, flowers and coloured powder. The horns are capped with gleaming metals.

People from the entire village get together for a community feast to share their crops and thank those who lent a hand to bring in a successful harvest.

The fourth day which is observed in some parts is generally a day of rest.



"Kolams" (Rangoli) marks the dawn of Thai Pongal in front yards of houses, drawn with rice flour paste. The idea is that ants and insects would feed on it and bless the house. At its centre is a lump of cow dung, holding a five-petal pumpkin flower, a symbol of fertility and an offering of love to the presiding deity.