Choice of a sound vessel, seasoning important for festival
EARTHEN pots – an integral part of Ponggal celebrations – are in high demand as the Tamil community makes last-minute preparations for the four-day festival starting today.
With a wide variety of designs and sizes available, choosing a good quality pot involved careful sound inspection, said Thilagavathi Arumugam, 42, of Kuala Selangor-based pottery wholesaler Jeyam Brothers Creation Sdn Bhd.
“Hold a pot in the palm of one hand and knock on it with a coin.
“A good earthen pot should produce a clear, bell-like sound,” said Thilagavathi who is helping to run the family business.
She said that it was important to season the pot before using, to prevent it from cracking due to thermal shock.
“Soaking the pot in water for at least an hour before use is a must,” she said.
“Soaking allows the porous material to absorb water, which helps strengthen the pot and ensures more even heating during cooking.
“Our pots need about an hour, other pots may need more time.”
Ponggal is a four-day harvest festival centred on the ritual of boiling milk until it overflows − a symbol of abundance − and cooking sweetened rice as an expression of gratitude to the sun for sustaining life on Earth.
During this period, families also observe a vegetarian diet.
Malaysian Hindu Sangam president T. Ganesan said it was customary to use a new earthen pot for Ponggal.
“The first day is ‘Bhoghi Ponggal’ where time is spent cleaning and decorating the home in preparation for the main event tomorrow, ‘Thai Ponggal’, marked by celebrations at home,” he added.
Ganesan said that on the third day, known as “Mattu Ponggal”, farmers express gratitude to cattle for providing milk and labouring in the fields.
“The fourth day, “Kaanum Ponggal”, is a community celebration, typically held at temple grounds or open spaces, where a tradition that once saw young unmarried women gather in hopes of attracting a suitor has since evolved into a celebration enjoyed by all,” he said.
“After the festival, the pot can be cleaned and reused for cooking or broken and returned to the earth as organic matter.”
Ganesan said the auspicious time for Ponggal tomorrow would be between 6.10am and 7.20am, 9.10am and 11.30am as well as 4.20pm and 6.20pm.
Separately, in a media statement, Selangor human resources and poverty eradication committee chairman V. Papparaidu said the state-level Ponggal celebration would take place in Ampang on Jan 17.
Papparaidu, who is also state special committee member for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism, said a part of the RM1.5mil allocated for Indian events would be used for the celebration.
“The morning event will be at Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Kampung Tasik Permai, while the evening event will be at Dewan Dato’ Ahmad Razali, where Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari is expected to attend,” he said.
