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Tamil Nadu Celebrates Mattu Pongal, Honors Cattle with Rituals & Feasts

Mattu Pongal, a day dedicated to honoring cattle, was celebrated with fervor across Tamil Nadu, featuring the bathing, decoration, and worship of cows and bulls. Special prayers and traditional Pongal offerings were made to the animals in homes, farms, and temples like the Vaikunda pathi Perumal Temple in Thoothukudi. Concurrently, the first major Jallikattu event of the year was held grandly in Periya Suryur, Trichy. This event followed the sanctioning of funds for a permanent Jallikattu arena, approved by Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin.

Key Points: Mattu Pongal 2024: Cow Worship & Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu

  • Cattle bathed & decorated
  • Special prayers in temples & fields
  • Pongal dishes fed to animals
  • First Jallikattu of year held in Trichy
  • Permanent arena funded by govt
2 min read

Mattu Pongal festival celebrated across Tamil Nadu

Mattu Pongal, the cow gratitude festival, celebrated across Tamil Nadu with rituals, temple prayers, and the season's first Jallikattu event in Trichy.

"Mattu Pongal is being celebrated with great enthusiasm across the state today. - Report"

Chennai, January 16

As part of the Pongal festival, one of the most important traditional celebrations of Tamil Nadu, Mattu Pongal is being celebrated with great enthusiasm across the state today. Mattu Pongal, also known as Cow Pongal, is observed every year as a mark of gratitude to cattle, which play a vital role in agriculture and human life.

On the occasion of Mattu Pongal, cows, bulls, and other cattle were bathed, decorated, and worshipped at homes and farms. Turmeric, kumkum, and flower garlands were adorned on the cattle, and special prayers were offered. Traditional Pongal dishes were prepared and fed to the cattle as part of the rituals.

In Thoothukudi city, special prayers were conducted at the Vaikunda pathi PerumalTemple, where cows maintained in the temple gosala were brought to the temple premises and worshipped with due rituals.

From early morning, Mattu Pongal celebrations began across the district. Farmers offered prayers along with their cattle in fields, gardens, and household premises, seeking good harvests and prosperity for their families.

The Mattu Pongal festival was celebrated across Tamil Nadu in a manner that reflected joy, tradition, and unity.

Pongal is celebrated for four consecutive days in Tamil Nadu, with each day having its own importance.

Meanwhile, the first Jallikattu event of the year and one of its most prominent traditional competitions was held in a grand manner at Periya Suryur in Trichy, Tamil Nadu, on Thursday. The event was organised in connection with the annual festival of Sri Narkadal Kudi Karuppannasamy Temple, on the second day of the Tamil month Thai.

For several years, the Jallikattu competition was conducted on a temporary village ground. Villagers had submitted a petition to Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh seeking a permanent arena. Following this, with the approval of Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, Rs 3 crore was sanctioned under the Tamil Nadu Sports Development Department for the construction of a permanent Jallikattu arena.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

K
Karthik V
It's heartwarming to see our ancient festivals being celebrated with such fervor. Mattu Pongal teaches us gratitude towards nature and animals. However, I do hope the Jallikattu events mentioned are conducted with the utmost safety for both the bulls and the participants.
R
Rohit P
Good to see the government sanctioning funds for a permanent Jallikattu arena. It's a part of our Tamil culture and identity. A proper arena will make the event safer and more organized. Kudos to the villagers for their persistence!
S
Sarah B
Reading about this from abroad fills me with nostalgia. The sight of decorated cows, the smell of fresh Pongal... it's pure joy. Articles like this are a lovely way to stay connected to our roots. Wishing everyone a prosperous Thai month!
M
Manish T
The essence of Mattu Pongal is beautiful, but I sometimes worry the younger generation is losing touch with the *why* behind these rituals. It's not just decoration and food; it's a deep-seated thank you to our co-workers in the fields. We need to explain this more.
A
Anjali F
Festivals like these truly unite people. Whether in a city apartment or a village farm, the spirit is the same. May the new arena bring more glory to the traditional sport and keep our culture alive for generations to come. Iniya Pongal Nalvazhthukal! 🙏

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