Eco-friendly Pongal 2023
- M.A.Aleem Neurologist Swachh bharat Ambassador Member Tiruchirapalli District Welfare Fund Committee
The four day long harvest festival Pongal holds a great value for the people of Tamil Nadu and traditionally it is a day to thank and appreciate the God for SUN ,for helping in growing crops by providing energy for its growth as the farmer's livelihood depends on it.
The first day is day of the Pongal festival is celebrated as Bhogi festival in honor of Lord Indra, the supreme ruler of clouds that give rains. Homage is paid to Lord Indra for the abundance of harvest, thereby bringing plenty and prosperity to the land. In Bhogi the useless household articles are thrown into a fire made of wood and cow-dung cakes.
In recent times this ritual of bonfire causes immense air pollution due to burning plastics and rubber tyres as agriculture waste is not available in cities. This results in the release of carbon di-oxide and other obnoxious gases into the atmosphere, exposure to which results in irritation of eye, nose, throat, skin and respiratory diseases besides many other health hazards. Therefore, people are requested to handover the old unwanted used things to the needed people or placed in the Happy Wall opened by the city corporation.
It is better to avoid burning of the waste materials such as rubber tyres, plastics, polythene, etc on the Bhogi day.
The waste materials may also be disposed of in an appropriate way. Plastics, unwanted papers and rubber could be used for recycling.
All other organic wastes may be converted into compost or disposed into Corporation waste collect spots.
Do not burn useless tyres, old clothes and other wastes as this will contribute to air pollution and global warming.
On the second day of Pongal, the puja or act of ceremonial worship is performed when rice is boiled in milk outdoors in an earthenware pot in eco-friendly way and is then symbolically offered to the sun-God along with other oblations.
The third day is known as Mattu Pongal, the day of Pongal for cows . Multi-colored beads, tinkling bells, sheaves of corn and flower garlands are tied around the neck of the cattle and they are worshiped .
It is better to avoid painting of chemical based colors on cows
The Fourth day is known as Kannum Pongal day. On this day,all the members of the family get-together and go on outing and enjoy every meal together by dancing, singing and playing. Please avoid plastics during this day and don't throw the wasts on streets water bonds and river or riverside
Let us pledge to celebrate joyous Bhogi, Pongal, Mattu Pongal and Kanum Pongal in an eco-friendly manner. Small action of each one of us can make a difference to our environment.
