Henk Oochappan
Henk Oochappan
Henk Oochappan : Pongal, the festival of the harvest, is a time to start afresh. Renew all things like new clothes, paint the house, share gifts and festival food -- all to seek blessings for the year to come with new tidings in plenty. I find cooking the sweet pongal rice to be very symbolic and intimate to every farmer’s family and the season too.
A couple cooks the holi pongal rice after harvesting to seek the blessings of God at Velayudhamudaya Ayyanar Temple in Kochadai.
R. SENTHIL KUMARAN : “Grooming the bull for jallikattu event is like preparing a soldier for the battle field. Pongal is more about gathering and active participation of people in games and sports.
Letting the bull play in water is part of grooming. Here the bull is given a wash by its trainers.
George Varghese Kodiyatt: Agriculture is the main occupation of the people here and Pongal is a thanksgiving event. People thank the Sun, the bull and the other cattle which help them in farming. I find the lush landscapes as the symbol of prosperity. Harvesting paddy is a team effort and the festival hails the camaraderie.
The pregnant paddy crop bends once it reaches the harvesting stage and it looks like hailing the farmers’ efforts. The picture was shot at Thottiyodu near Nagercoil.
Sriram Janak : The sun shines brightly, scorching the earth and ready to accept the mortals’ offerings. Little kids wait impatiently with sticks of sugarcane hanging out of their mouths, while grandmothers busily rip banana leaves into pieces for the ‘prasadam’, and girls get the flowers ready for the poojai. As the pongal boils over, women raise ‘kulavai’ sound in harmony. The whole village soon joins the celebration…
Pongal preparation is a ritual followed faithfully by all. In rural areas, it is cooked on firewood stove and is a celebration.
Guna Amuthan : At a time when agriculture has lost its importance and farmers are struggling to eke out a living, Pongal is one festival that celebrates farmers and cattle alike. In my opinion, the giant bulls are tied down by the love and affection shown by their masters and not by the long tether.
Bulls are treated as pet animals and women too play a crucial role in grooming the bull.
R. Ashok : Jallikattu is the pinnacle of pongal. It is more a ritual than a sport. It is a once in a year opportunity both for the bulls and the fighters to exhibit their valour. It indirectly helps to protect the native breed of the animal. For the people, owning a bull is a matter of pride.
With plenty of action, Jallikattu is a visual treat for the photographers. The picture was taken at Palamedu at a jallikattu event.
