Geeta’s Blessings on Pongala - 1
Sree Matre Namaha
Episode : 83
Pongala festival is performed in Kerala during the month of February. This year as you all know Kalpana, Sneha and I went to Trivandrum to perform the same.
Geeta had attended it last year at Attukal temple, Trivandrum. Although Geeta wanted to perform it this year at her place of residence, she could not do so as the winters are very harsh in Canada. She hence chose summer time to continue the tradition.
A temple for Guruvayurappa is being constructed in Brampton, Canada. It is yet to be completed and the Pratista ceremony would be done in 2019.
Pongala festival is performed in Kerala during the month of February. This year as you all know Kalpana, Sneha and I went to Trivandrum to perform the same.
Geeta had attended it last year at Attukal temple, Trivandrum. Although Geeta wanted to perform it this year at her place of residence, she could not do so as the winters are very harsh in Canada. She hence chose summer time to continue the tradition.
A temple for Guruvayurappa is being constructed in Brampton, Canada. It is yet to be completed and the Pratista ceremony would be done in 2019.
As Geeta wanted to start the Ponagala, a suitable day was finalised which was a week before the start of Dhakinayanam. (From now every year on the last Sunday of Uttarayanam, Pongala would be conducted in this temple).
With all earnestness and love, Geeta started the preparations for the festival on a grand scale.
140 ladies registered, although more were expected to come. A lot of planning had to be done for the event to be successful.
Unlike in Kerala not everyone could have their own separate Pongala pots. In Canada the fire regulations are very strict.
Hence only two big pots were ordered and sourced from Kerala.
With all earnestness and love, Geeta started the preparations for the festival on a grand scale.
140 ladies registered, although more were expected to come. A lot of planning had to be done for the event to be successful.
Unlike in Kerala not everyone could have their own separate Pongala pots. In Canada the fire regulations are very strict.
Hence only two big pots were ordered and sourced from Kerala.
The set up was such that all ladies would have their own plate with rice, jaggery, cardamom, nuts and coconut etc.
Firstly an estimate was made on how much rice could be cooked in each pot.
Then the weight of the rice was divided among 140 plates. Jaggery, nuts, raisins, cardamom were all put in individual zip lock bags. Each of the participant received a tray with one packet of rice along with the additional items of jaggery etc.
As Geeta wanted everyone to have a chance to participate in some form or other, she invented a schedule wherein…
All the plates were numbered.
And all the items were distributed equally in the plates.
Each lady was given a plate.
She invited two small girl children and asked to pick randon numbers from 1 to 100 and 101 to 140.
The ladies whose numbers the children picked were given individual responsibilities to collect items from the participants.
For eg: One lady was assigned the task of collecting rice, wash it and add to the pot.
Another lady would collect jaggery and add to the pot.
So on and so forth.
8 lucky ladies were given responsibilities to carry on the work.
Firstly an estimate was made on how much rice could be cooked in each pot.
Then the weight of the rice was divided among 140 plates. Jaggery, nuts, raisins, cardamom were all put in individual zip lock bags. Each of the participant received a tray with one packet of rice along with the additional items of jaggery etc.
As Geeta wanted everyone to have a chance to participate in some form or other, she invented a schedule wherein…
All the plates were numbered.
And all the items were distributed equally in the plates.
Each lady was given a plate.
She invited two small girl children and asked to pick randon numbers from 1 to 100 and 101 to 140.
The ladies whose numbers the children picked were given individual responsibilities to collect items from the participants.
For eg: One lady was assigned the task of collecting rice, wash it and add to the pot.
Another lady would collect jaggery and add to the pot.
So on and so forth.
8 lucky ladies were given responsibilities to carry on the work.
Pongala is a very auspicious and sacred festival in Kerala. The women folk perform this festival with all fervour and religiousness. They leave no stone unturned to conduct it as per the rituals.
Hence it was also decided that all the ladies would take turns to mix the Pongala.
Geeta had brought the Vigrahas of Devi and Ganesha from her home.
Prior to this day:
The priest told Geeta that the weather forecast for the weekend was pretty bad.
The festival was supposed to be conducted on a Sunday.
The forecast indicated very heavy rain starting on Friday through Sunday.
An upset Geeta went to the Karpaga Vinayaka temple nearby and prayed.
‘Hey Vinayaka! We are conducting this auspicious festival. Please help us and make our path smooth. If the rain does not come as predicted I would offer 11 coconuts to you’.
Hence it was also decided that all the ladies would take turns to mix the Pongala.
Geeta had brought the Vigrahas of Devi and Ganesha from her home.
Prior to this day:
The priest told Geeta that the weather forecast for the weekend was pretty bad.
The festival was supposed to be conducted on a Sunday.
The forecast indicated very heavy rain starting on Friday through Sunday.
An upset Geeta went to the Karpaga Vinayaka temple nearby and prayed.
‘Hey Vinayaka! We are conducting this auspicious festival. Please help us and make our path smooth. If the rain does not come as predicted I would offer 11 coconuts to you’.
Keeping the situation in mind the priest said ‘let us not take a chance, let us raise a tent, in case we need it.
On Saturday, Geeta was busy making arrangements in the temple.
The tent was put up.
By evening it was raining heavily.
Sunday dawned…
What do you think???
Would it rain or would Geeta’s prayers be answered???
Would Gannu make the path smooth for the ladies to offer Pongala to His mother without any hitch???
On Saturday, Geeta was busy making arrangements in the temple.
The tent was put up.
By evening it was raining heavily.
Sunday dawned…
What do you think???
Would it rain or would Geeta’s prayers be answered???
Would Gannu make the path smooth for the ladies to offer Pongala to His mother without any hitch???
Geeta along with her friends did not leave any stone unturned to make this a beautiful experience.
They also practised a number of songs and dances dedicated solely to Devi Maa.
Except, Koligalli dance which was specifically for Kanna. Unni Kanna had once told Sneha that He loves a particular song. While the song was being played a group of ladies danced to its tune during a Kolattam. Hence Geeta wanted to include this song in the festival.
They also practised a number of songs and dances dedicated solely to Devi Maa.
Except, Koligalli dance which was specifically for Kanna. Unni Kanna had once told Sneha that He loves a particular song. While the song was being played a group of ladies danced to its tune during a Kolattam. Hence Geeta wanted to include this song in the festival.
Two days prior to all this…
Geeta wrote a prayer that would be read at the festival. She also wrote a short description of why and what of Pongala which was to be read on that day.
The prayer itself is so beautiful.
Before writing this song, she requested her friends to come up with different names for Devi. But as everyone was busy no one replied to her request.
To know what happened …..
Geeta wrote a prayer that would be read at the festival. She also wrote a short description of why and what of Pongala which was to be read on that day.
The prayer itself is so beautiful.
Before writing this song, she requested her friends to come up with different names for Devi. But as everyone was busy no one replied to her request.
To know what happened …..
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