Thai Pongal - Harvest Festival

Thai Pongal (தைப்பொங்கல்) is a harvest festival event celebrated by Tamils across the world. Pongal in Tamil means "boiling over or spill over." The act of boiling over of milk in the clay pot is considered to denote future wishes for the family.

Thai Pongal celebrated at harvest time, it's a celebration of the prosperity associated with the harvest by thanking the sun god, rain and the farm animals that have helped in the harvest. In villages, new clothes are worn and people owning cows find this festival more important.

The saying "Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum" (தை பிறந்தால் வழி பிறக்கும்) meaning "the birth of the month of Thai will pave the way for new opportunities" is often quoted regarding the Pongal festival. Usually, the festival takes place January 14 . On the day Wearing new clothes, decorative kolams, sugar canes, preparation of sweet pongal with rice, milk and jaggery in new earthen pots and offer to Sun God, marks this festival. Kite flying  could be seen on this day.

The moment the rice boils over and bubbles out of the vessel, the tradition is to shout of "Ponggalo Ponggal!", a custom practiced during the festival to announce it was going to be a year blessed with good tidings. For Tamils, it is considered a good sign to watch it boil over, since it means that good luck and prosperity is forthcoming. Then New boiled rice is offered to the sun god during sunrise, a gesture which symbolises thanks to the sun and nature for providing prosperity. Even while serving the Pongal for crows (in terrace or roof tops) after finishing the pujas and Nivedyam to God, Tamil Hindus shout Pongalo Pongal! It is later served to the people present in the house for the ceremony. People also prepare savories and sweets such as vadai, murukku, payasam and visit each other and exchange greetings.

Karthikai Deepam

Karthikai Deepam is a festival of lights celebrated by Tamil Hindus on the full moon day of Karthikai month (November/December), which is observed in every home and in every temple.

Rows of agal vilakkus (oil lit lamps) in front of every house... this is the image that at once comes to mind when we think of Karthigai Deepam - the festival of lights that is celebrated during the month of Karthigai (November-December).  Unlike many other Hindu festivals, Karthigai is a Tamil festival and is celebrated by all the Tamil diaspora throughout the globe.

Navratri Day

On Navratri Day @ home . . before the pooja i took some pic . . .

These are the food prepare for the pooja (clockvise from left - Kadela, Aval( some kind of sweet food) Susiam ( Made with greengram) and Vadai

Festivals

Navratri
Navratri is celebrated in a large number of Hindu worldwide. The mother goddess is said to appear in 9 forms, and each one is worshipped for a day. These nine forms signify various personalities that the goddess influences us with. The Devi Mahatmya and other texts invoking the Goddess who vanquished demons are cited.

The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit
Nava meaning - Nine
Ratri meaning - Nights.

During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti/Devi i.e. female divinity are worshipped.

First three days – DURGA (Goddess of valor)
The goddess is invoked as a spiritual force called Durga also known as kali in order to destroy all our impurities and other things.

Second three days – LAKSHMI (Goddess of Wealth)
The Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees inexhaustible wealth. She is the goddess of wealth.

Final three days – SARASWATI (Goddess of knowledge and art). The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order to have all-round success in life, believers seek the blessings of all three aspects of the divine femininity, hence the nine nights of worship.

The 9th day is Ayudha Pooja when everyone gives their tools of the trade -- pens, machinery, books, automobiles, school work, etc. a rest and ritually worships them. The tenth day, also known as Vijaya Dasami (day of Victory over evils), is significant to launch new activities or beginning of learning. Many teachers/Schools start teaching Kindergarten children from that day onwards.