SIVAKASI WEATHER
Sivakasi Celebrates Therukattu Pongal

13-03-2014
13th March 2014

- Pavala Rajesh Kumar Jeyabalan

Sivakasi Celebrates Therukattu Pongal

Theru kattu Pongal is celebrated on Masi month of Tamil Calendar every year, in Sivakasi and the festival is famous in majority streets of the town. Therukkettu Pongal is celebrated in Sivakasi for more than 100 years. The spirit of Therukettu Pongal encourages the feeling of brotherhood in the street and even the enemies turn friend on this day. People of all communities and even religions participate in this entertaining street festival and strengthen the secular fabric of the street.

Each street has Idol, commonly Amman (Muthaalamman) idol and workshipped by the street people. Before a week of the festival, sprouted grains (Mulaipari) are produced in pots and kept in a dark room. For eight days, Kummi will be performed by the girls and women of the street, accompanying kummi song, in front of the small temple (Poodam). A sum of amount collected as Therukattu Pongal Vari from each family of the street and the committee members of the street organise Therukattu Pongal.

On the occassion of Therukettu Pongal the street are decorated with colour papers, festoons, flowers, thoranais, Veppilai thoranais, decorative serial lights, tube lights and focus lights. Music systems arrangements will be made at the entrance of the streets. Games, competitions will be conducted. Dance, drama will be performed by the Street kids, in a pre arranged stage. Chief guest of the theru kettu pongal, distribute prizes to the winners. Chief Guest may be usually, the ward councillor or the Chairman or the famous personalities of the town.

As a part of Therukettu Pongal Festival, mulaipari and milk pots are carried out by the street people. In the mulaipaari procession, girls and women of the respective streets carry earthen pots with grown grains (nine different types of grains) inside on their heads and walk towards Sivakasi Mariamman Kovil Theppakulam where the content is dissolved. The street people go with their street mates accompanying with Maela Thaalam, to the temples and special poojas will be done for the wellness of the street people. After their arrival to the street, special archanai will be performed to the goddess of the street. Annadhaanam will also be done, in some streets. Pongal are prepared and distributed to all the families, on the next day. Auctions will be taken place. People get flower garlands, lemon garlands, amman sarees through auction. The festival will be concluded with immersion of the created idol in the well or Theppakulam.






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