2012 Tamil Festivals Thus Far...

Ponggal came first; the harvest festival; the thanksgiving.

Although, through my lenses, I see superabundance of calories above all else!!!

Dinner at grandma's place.
Look closely, notice a total of 11 side dishes, a snack and a dessert!!!
Courtesy of Aunt #4.

Ponggal; the day centers around expressing gratitude to God for the food (rice/harvested paddy) that He has given us by preparing sweet porridge cooked with palm sugar and fresh cow's milk and presenting it to Him in the alter... It really is more of a cultural tradition rather than a religious plus it is one that is (if correctly put) associated to the Tamils rather than Indians or Hindus (common misconception). Not all Hindus and/or Indians celebrate Ponggal.



Then came Thaipusam; the celebration for Lord Muruga; the homage and penance.

Again, it is focused to the Tamil community simply because it is the celebration (Pusam) for Lord Muruga (a Hindu deity) in the month of "Thai" according to the Tamil calendar (hence, 'Thai' + 'Pusam'). Not all Hindus and/or Indians observe Thaipusam.

Through my lenses however, it is the amalgamation of;
loud infectious Tamil folk music;
the amazing array of colour palettes on women's traditional oufits;
the adorable machas (and the over-dressed and ugly ones too);
the beautiful kavadis (and the ludicrously extravagant ones too);
and;
definitely not the least, the amazing vibrations of the holy day that is felt only on such special occasions!

The beautiful silver chariot!!!

I love being TAMIL!!!