In Tamil Nadu, 16 January 2016, the day after the Pongal festival, is the Mattu Pongal (மாட்டுப் பொங்கல்), supposedly to celebrate the services of the cattle – cows and bulls or bullocks which were vital in farming yesteryear. The early morning of that day also has a spectacle – womenfolk placing colourful cooked rice balls on terrace or open ground for the crows.
The sentiment is that it safeguards the brothers of the womenfolk. Whatever the belief, the mantras chanted when they place the rice balls are amusing. While I do not remember all the verses – it has been too long since I was allowed to participate as a child – I do remember the last sentence.
The chant is ‘the crows are getting married’ (காக்கைக்கு எல்லாம் கல்யாணம்). So what made me remember it this year?
A few minutes back it drizzled in Chennai. As kids, when it used to drizzle while sun was also shining, we never used the term ‘passing clouds’; instead we used to say that somewhere a Crow and a Sparrow were getting married (காக்கைக்கும்-குருவிக்கும் கல்யாணம்).
Sniggering with that thought led to the one about the Mattu Pongal and the marriage of the crows.
:-D
So, here is a snapshot of the breakfast or lunch served for the crows’ marriage. By my count there were as many as seven or eight from the neighbour’s terrace.
Our terrace? Not one – seems the womenfolk in my apartment complex do not believe in crows getting married.
The sentiment is that it safeguards the brothers of the womenfolk. Whatever the belief, the mantras chanted when they place the rice balls are amusing. While I do not remember all the verses – it has been too long since I was allowed to participate as a child – I do remember the last sentence.
The chant is ‘the crows are getting married’ (காக்கைக்கு எல்லாம் கல்யாணம்). So what made me remember it this year?
A few minutes back it drizzled in Chennai. As kids, when it used to drizzle while sun was also shining, we never used the term ‘passing clouds’; instead we used to say that somewhere a Crow and a Sparrow were getting married (காக்கைக்கும்-குருவிக்கும் கல்யாணம்).
Sniggering with that thought led to the one about the Mattu Pongal and the marriage of the crows.
:-D
So, here is a snapshot of the breakfast or lunch served for the crows’ marriage. By my count there were as many as seven or eight from the neighbour’s terrace.
Our terrace? Not one – seems the womenfolk in my apartment complex do not believe in crows getting married.
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