Mattu Pongal at Sri Ramanasramam
16th January 2012
On 15th Pongal Festival (Makara Sankranti), which is a festival of the people, especially farmers, of Tamil Nadu was celebrated at the Ashram. It is a day of thanks giving to the Sun God.
Mattu Pongal means Pongal festival dedicated to cows and bulls. So at our ashram too the cows, bulls and calves were the centre of attraction and the objects of special affection and adoration on this sacred day. The whole Gosala (cowshed) was given a thorough wash. The cows and bulls were given a bath, their horns were painted, vermillion applied to the foreheads, garland put round their necks. Ashram priest offered puja to the cows. As usual Prasad was distributed to devotees.
Earlier a special puja was offered at the Samadhi of Cow Lakshmi and the Nandi (sacred bull) at the Matrubhuteswara Temple.