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The third day is known as
Mattu Pongal, the day of Pongal for cows. To the village people cow, the giver of milk and the
bull which draws the plough in the fields are very valuable and
therefore the farmers honour their dumb friends by celebrating it as a
day of thanks-giving to them. The cattle are washed, their horns are
painted and covered with shining metal caps.
Multi-coloured beads,
tinkling bells, sheaves of corn and flower garlands are tied around their
necks. They are fed with pongal and taken to the village centres. The
resounding of their bells attract the villagers as the young men race
each other's cattle. The entire atmosphere becomes festive and full of
fun and revelry.
Arati is performed on them, so as to
ward off the evil eye. According to a legend, once Shiva asked his bull,
Basava, to go to the earth and ask the
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mortals to have an oil massage
and bath every day and to eat once a month. Inadvertently, Basava
announced that everyone should eat daily and have an oil bath once a
month.
This mistake enraged Shiva who then
cursed Basava, banishing him to live on the earth forever. He would have
to plough the fields and help people produce more food. Thus the
association of this day with cattle.
A festival called Jallikattu
is held in Madurai, Tiruchirapalli and Tanjavur on this day. Bundles of
money are tied to the horns of ferocious bulls which the villagers try
to retrieve. Everyone joins in the community meal, at which the food is
made of the freshly harvested grain. This day is named and celebrated as
Tamizhar Tirunal in a fitting manner throughout Tamil Nadu.
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