Happy Pongal

Wishing You a Happy pongal

By

Santhosh P kumar

Happy Pongal

Gladwin 8 Standara 'D' section from St Mary's High School has sent a Computer paint and Pongal wishes .

Wish you a Happy Pongal.

Click the image to view bigger.

By

Gladwin

8std 'D' sec

st Marys high school

champion reef

K.G.F.

santhosh P kumar

History of Pongal

Pongal is an ancient festival of people in South India particularly Tamils. The history of the festival can be traced back to the Sangam Age i.e. 200 B.C. To 300 A.D. Although, Pongal originated as a Dravidian Harvest festival and has a mention in Sanskrit Puranas, historians identify the festival with the Thai Un and Thai Niradal which are believed to have been celebrated during the Sangam Age.

Observance of Pongal During the Sangam Era (Thai Niradal)The celebrations of Sangam Era led to today's Pongal celebrations.

As part of the festivities, maidens of the Sangam era observed 'Pavai Nonbu' at the time of Thai Niradal which was a major festival during the reign of the Pallavas (4th to 8th Century AD). It was observed during the Tamil month of Margazhi (December-January). During this festival young girls prayed for rain and prosperity of the country. Throughout the month, they avoided milk and milk products. They would not oil their hair and refrained from using harsh words while speaking. Women used to bath early in the morning. They worshiped the idol of Goddess Katyayani, which would be carved out of wet sand. They ended their penance on the first day of the month of Thai (January-February). This penance was to bring abundant rains to flourish the paddy. These traditions and customs of ancient times gave rise to Pongal celebrations. Andal's Tiruppavai and Manickavachakar's Tiruvembavai vividly describe the festival of Thai Niradal and the ritual of observing Pavai Nonbu. According to an inscription found in the Veeraraghava temple at Tiruvallur, the Chola King Kiluttunga used to gift lands to the temple specially for the Pongal celebrations.

Legends of Pongal

Some legendary stories are also associated with Pongal festival celebrations. The two most popular legends of Pongal are stories related to Lord Shiva and Lord Indra. According to a legend, once Shiva asked his bull, Basava, to go to the earth and ask the 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. Another legend of Lord Indra and Lord Krishna also led to Pongal celebrations. It is said when Lord Krishna were in his childhood, he decided to teach a lesson to Lord Indra who became arrogant after becoming the king of all deities. Lord Krishna asked all the cowherds to stop worshiping Lord Indra. This angered Lord Indra and sent forth his clouds for thunder-storms and 3 days continuous rains. Lord Krishna lifted Mount Govardhan to save all the humans. Later, Lord Indra realized his mistake and divine power of Krishna.

Pongal Celebrations

According to Hindu mythology, this is when the day of the gods begins, after a six-month long night. The festival is spread over three days and is the most important and most fervently-celebrated harvest festival of South India. A special puja is performed on the first day of Pongal before the cutting of the paddy. Farmers worship the sun and the earth by anointing their ploughs and sickles with sandal wood paste. It is with these consecrated tools that the newly-harvested rice is cut. Each of the three days are marked by different festivities. The first day, Bhogi Pongal, is a day for the family. Surya Pongal, the second day, is dedicated to the worship of Surya, the Sun God. Boiled milk and jaggery is offered to the Sun God. The third day of Pongal, Mattu Pongal, is for worship of the cattle known as Mattu. Cattle are bathed, their horns polished and painted in bright colors, and garlands of flowers placed around their necks. The Pongal that has been offered to the Gods is then given to cattle and birds to eat.

Pongal in Tamil Nadu

Pongal in Tamil Nadu is celebrated to mark the withdrawal of the southeast monsoons as well as the reaping of the harvest. Pongal is strictly a rural festival. The Sun is worshiped for its rays are responsible for life on earth. It is the biggest harvest festival, spread over four days. The name of the festival is derived from Pongal, a rice pudding made from freshly harvested rice, milk and jaggery. The first day, Bhogi Pongal, is a day for the family. Surya Pongal, the second day, is dedicated to the worship of Surya, the Sun God. The third day, Mattupongal is for worship of the cattle. In Chennai (Madras), a rath yatra procession is taken out from the Kandaswamy Temple. In Madurai, Tanjore and Tiruchirrapalli, where Pongal is known as Jellikattu, bundles of money are tied to the horns of bulls and villagers try and wrest the bundles from them. Community meals are made from the freshly gathered harvest and enjoyed by the entire village.
Pongal in KarnatakaIn Karnataka, the festival is called 'Sankranti', and cows and bullocks are gaily decorated and fed 'Pongal'- a sweet preparation of rice. Special prayers are offered in the temples and houses. In the evening, the cattle are led out in procession to the beat of drums and music. In the night a bonfire is lit and the animals are made to jump over the fire.Makar Sankranti is marked by men, women and children wearing colorful clothing; visiting near and dear ones; and exchanging pieces of sugarcane, a mixture of fried til, molasses, pieces of dry coconut, peanuts and fried gram. The significance of this exchange is that sweetness should prevail in all the dealings. In Karnataka, an interesting tradition is followed. After the pujas, white sesame (ellu) mixed with pieces of jaggery, peanuts, dry coconut and sugar blocks (shakkare achchu) are exchanged. At Gavi Gangadhareshwara (Siva) temple in Bangalore's Gavipuram, a rare phenomenon is witnessed in the evening. The Sun's rays pass through the horns of the Nandi briefly to fall on the Lingam in the sanctum. It is an architectural marvel.

Traditions & Customs

Inspite of immense urbanization, the traditions and customs attached to the harvest festival of Pongal has not diminished. Though the nature of these tradition and customs has changed, the glitter of this festival has not dimmed. The fast changing times notwithstanding, certain things do not change. The way we celebrate the festivals, for instance. The festival of Pongal captures the quintessence of south Indian culture in all its entirety and traditional practices and customs continue to hold their own even today. The spirit is alive and Pongal is still treated as a time to discard the old and welcome the new. The new crop that is harvested is cooked and offered to the Almighty. Celebrated for four days, the various traditions and customs of this harvest festival are:

Bhogi Pongal

The first day of Pongal known as 'Bhogi Pongal' is a day for family gathering and is dedicated to Lord Indra, the king of the deities and God of the Clouds and Rains. Offerings are made to him to please him so that he blesses us for the plentiful harvest. It is also the beginning of the New Year according to the Malayalam calendar and before sunrise, a huge bonfire of useless things in home is lit that is kept burning throughout the night. All the time, boys beat little buffalo-hide drums known as 'Bhogi Kottus'. The houses are then cleaned till they shine and are decorated with Kolams painted using rice four. There are yellow pumpkin flowers are set in cow-dung balls in the middle of these designs.

Surya Pongal

The second day of Pongal known as 'Surya Pongal' is dedicated to the Sun God. The granaries are kept full on this day and Sun God with his rays are painted on a plank as he is worshiped with the birth of the new auspicious month of Thai. Since the word 'Ponga' means 'to boil' representing plentiful and excess yield, a special dish is cooked on this day in a new mud-pot that comes in innovative shapes and have artistic designs on them called 'Pongapani'. The special dish is called 'Sarkkarai Pongal' and is offered to Sun God with sugarcane sticks. It is said that Lord Sundareshwar performed a miracle on this day in the Madurai temple and breathed life into a stone elephant who ate sugarcanes. One can see the depiction of the event in the Meenakshi temple.

Mattu Pongal

The third day known as 'Mattu Pongal' is dedicated to the cattle as cowherds and shepherds pay thanks to their cows and bulls, paint their horns and cover them with shining metal caps. They are fed 'Pongal' and tinkling bells are tied around their neck. Cattle races are conducted and in the game called 'Manji Virattu' groups of young men chase running bulls. Bull fights called 'Jallikattu' are also arranged at some places where young men have to take the money bags tied to the horns of ferocious bulls single-handedly and without the use of arms. Lord Ganesha and Goddess Parvati are also worshiped on this day. At some other places, this day is celebrated as Kanu Pongal when girls feed colored balls of cooked rice to the birds and crows and pray for their brothers' happiness and that they always remember them.

Kaanum Pongal

The fourth day is termed as Kaanum Pongal. On this day, people travel to see other family members. On this day, the younger members of the family pay homage to the elders, and the elders thank them by giving token money. Another thing many do is leave food out on banana leaves for birds to take. Many South Indian people will take the first bit of rice cooked in any given day and set it outside for the crows to take, so this is not necessarily a habit only for Pongal.

Four Days of Pongal

Lasting for over four days Pongal, a harvest festival is celebrated in the month of Shravan. Pongal literally means, "boiling over". The Tamil harvest festival is celebrated with decorated cows, processions and decorative Rangoli. Pongal is a sweet porridge made from newly harvested rice and eaten by all, even the animals. Each day of this festival has a special significance, however, it is celebrated more grandly in the villages, while the city folk mainly celebrate on the second day only. It is widely celebrated in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.The festival is celebrated for four days. On, the first day, Bhogi, the old clothes and materials are thrown away and fired, marking the beginning of a new life. The second day, the Pongal day, is celebrated by boiling fresh milk early in the morning and allowing it to boil over the vessel - a tradition that is the literal translation for Pongal (in Tamil). People also prepare savories and sweets, visit each other's homes, and exchange greetings. The third day, Mattu Pongal, is meant to offer thanks to the cows and buffaloes, as they are used to plough the lands. Jallikattu, a violent taming the bull contest, marks this day. On the last day, Kanum Pongal, people go out to picnic. During the Pongal season, people eat sugar canes and decorate the houses with Kolam.Even though Pongal was originally a festival for the farming community, today it is celebrated by all. Coinciding with Makara Sankranti and Lohri of the north, it is also called Pongal Sankranti and thus celebrated in some form in various parts of India

Wishing you a Happy pongal

by

santhosh P kumar

Mysskin to release Nandhalala original Track!

After a long time, an original sound track of a Tamil film will be available in the market in the CD format. The film is none other than Nandhalala with the magical music score of Maestro Ilayaraja. Director Mysskin revealed this in an interview recently. The director is joining hands with the maestro for the first time and says, "working with Ilayaraja is a totally different experience." He further says, "When I worked for my first two films, I was very interactive with my music director. But with him, as he knew everything, there was not much for me to explain. So I gave suggestions only in areas where I felt like having something different. Once Ilayaraja saw the film, he suggested the idea of using musicians from abroad for the score." "So we flew in symphony musicians from the Budapest orchestra and we've introduced rarely-used instruments like Oboe for the score. The last 50 minutes of the film will have no dialogue and it is only the score that'll carry the film forward."

"We do have a plan of releasing the OST (original soundtrack) as an album but we'll wait till the film's release. There are three songs in the film and I believe that at least two will turn out to be even greater hits than my previous film songs."

By
Santhosh P Kumar

Nan Kadaval

The Movie Nan kadaval is yet to relies on The Pongal day (14-jan-2009) after three years of magical creations in Tamilnadu and kasi
The movie is expected for many National awards. This is directed by Bala starring by Arya and Pooja.
Music by The Great Maestro Isaighani Dr Illayaraja , the music is creating waves in music stores, for some background scores Illayaraja has joined hands with Music composer Uttam Singh he has composed music for a block buster Dil to pagal hai.

We wish the Nan Kadaval team the Best wishes.
Happy Pongal.

By
Santhosh P Kumar.

36th Foot (2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment) - Short History in India

The flag of the 2nd Battalion colours in 1930.

The WR Badge

The 36th Regiment Belt plate.

Lord William, Viscount Charlemont.

Officer of the 36th Foot (1792)
36th John Bryant grave.

Whiting Hip Flask Thumb.

ww1 postcard Thumb.
Rawalpindi India in 1939. x-mas menu in India 1943.

7th battalion c company visit at x-mas in India (1943).

C company x-mas dinner in India 1943.

Sialkot 1940 lieut col Deakin India.

Waziristan 1940 lieut peter roose.

The 36th Regiment

When I came across for search British forces on India and especially searching about old news of kgf, I came across to this “The 36th Regiment” I felt very interesting about this so I started to collect information about The 36th Regiment in India, They have ruled the whole World by I want to publish some incident which took placed in India.

The History begins now.

The 36th Regiment bore on the Regimental Colour and appointments The word "Firm" also the word "Hindoostan" (Hindustan) in commemoration of its distinguished services in the several actions in which it was engaged in India from 1790 to 1798, and The words "ROLEIA," "VIMIERA," "CORUNNA," "SALAMANCA," "PYRENEES, "NIVELLE," "NIVE," "ORTHES," "TOULOUSE" and "PENINSULA" in testimony of its gallantry in the several actions fought during the war in Portugal, Spain and the South of France from 1808 to 1814.

Towards the end of his troubled reign William of Orange was forced to raise more regiments to support the cause of his Dutch subjects. War was brought nearer when on the death of James II in France, Louis immediately proclaimed his son, James III. War was on the eve of being declared when " the little gentleman in black velvet " brought about the accident that led to the death of William on 8th March, 1702.In the previous year a Royal Warrant had been issued to William, Viscount Charlemont to raise a regiment in Ireland. Charlemont's original service was in The Earl of Kingston's Foot, a regiment raised in March, 1689, in Warwickshire though most of the officers were Irish. It served throughout the Irish Campaign and lost heavily at the Siege of Limerick, and was disbanded at the Peace of Ryswick. The only definite record we have of Charlemont's service is from a List of Infantry reviewed at Dundalk Camp, 18/28 October, 1689. Charlemont, Captain of the 13th Company, is shown as absent—no doubt with leave.For his services on behalf of William, Charlemont was appointed Colonel of a newly raised regiment of foot in Ireland, 23rd April, 1694. The regiment was disbanded in 1697 and Charlemont and his officers were placed on half pay. When he was given a Royal Warrant to raise another regiment he soon gathered his officers from those who had been placed on half pay at the same time in his own regiment and others. The men mostly came from the Northern Irish counties of Armagh and Tyrone, in which counties he was well known and respected.


INDIA

The regiment embarked in three freight ships at Queenstown in August. Two ships arrived in Calcutta in November and the third a month later. The regiment was to relieve the 48th in Lucknow where they arrived, after several stops, in January, 1864. An epidemic of cholera attacked the regiment during the hot weather and 28 men died. The number would no doubt have been greater but for the care taken to isolate and move the companies as and when they were attacked. In consequence of this epidemic the regiment moved by wings to Moradabad and Shahjehanpore. In 1867 cholera again broke out in both places. The wings marched out into camp, frequently moving the sites and the epidemic subsided. When the 36th left Shahjehanpore for Peshawar in October some friends presented a silver cup to the Officers' Mess. In 1948 this cup was handed over on loan to the Herefordshire Regiment T.A. until such time as the 36th should be raised again.The regiment arrived at Meean Meer on 22nd December where they were inspected by the Commander of the Lahore Division. He commented very favourably on the smart appearance of the regiment after nearly two months marching. Christmas was spent on the march and the regiment arrived at Peshawar on January 23rd, 1868. The regiment remained here throughout the year. During this year the Colonel, General Scott died and was succeeded by Major General Basil Brooke. General Brooke died after only one month as Colonel and was succeeded by Major General A. A. T. Cunynghame, C.B. who had been A.Q.M.G. to the 1st Division in the Crimea. He was now commanding a Brigade in Dublin. In 1896 a detachment of 200 men under Lt. Colonel Hunter took part in an expedition towards Kohat Pass to punish some troublesome tribes who disappeared into the hills and the expedition returned. However, the tribesmen were driven into the arms of another force advancing from Kohat and severely handled. In September cholera again broke out seriously. The regiment moved into camp but it was some time before the scourge abated. To the great sorrow of the regiment Surgeon Hill was among the victims, along with one sergeant and 115 rank and file. In November the 36th moved to Rawalpindi

In 1870 a Regimental Dinner Club was established with Captain Carr, commanding the Depot, as honorary secretary. Sixty-four retired officers joined and at the first dinner held on the Wednesday of Ascot Week, twenty-four Officers attended. In December, 1872 the regiment left Rawalpindi for a camp of exercise at Hassan Abdul. After the manoeuvres the regiment returned to Rawalpindi until relieved in 1875, when they marched to Meean Meer. They left behind in the churchyard the graves of one officer, Quarter Master John Bryant, and 28 other ranks. The Q.M.'s tombstone and those of five other ranks were still standing and recognisable in 1938. In October, 1875 the regiment marched for Bombay where on November 13th they sailed for home in H.M.S. Euphrates. They landed at Devonport, after trans-shipping at Portsmouth, in December

The Worcestershire Regiment dates back to 1694 when Colonel Thomas Farrington, an officer of the Coldstream Guards raised a new regiment in London. It was then the custom for Regiments to be named after their Colonels, and this new Regiment was named Farrington’s Regiment of Foot. This method of naming regiments led to confusion, as regiments were re-named with each Colonel, and it was possible for more than one Colonel, and therefore more than one regiment, to have the same name. Until 1751, the Regiment had eight different Colonels, and therefore eight different names. In 1751 regiments were given numbers, and the Regiment was numbered 29.

EAST INDIES. "MYSORE", "HINDOSTAN." (Hindustan)

The 36th now had their first taste of service in India. Their first campaign was against Tippoo (Tippu), the Muslim King of Mysore, who was put in order and made to stop imprisoning British subjects. From 1785 to 1788 the 36th occupied cantonments keeping the peace much as their descendants did in later years. In 1789 Tippoo (Tippu) again started to make trouble trying to expand his boundaries at the expense of his neighbours who were under British protection. In March, 1799 a large force, including the 36th, assembled at Trichinoply (Trichinapally) and in May proceeded to advance into enemy territory. The 36th had the privilege of serving under that great soldier Colonel Floyd of the 19th Light Dragoons. Several skirmishes took place between the opposing cavalry. The 36th came under fire at Sattimungulum and played a decisive part in breaking through Tippoo's (Tippu’s) forces. It is recorded that the 36th, which bore the brunt of the battle, were without food for two days "excepting a supply of tobacco found by one of the officers in a native tent." It was said that the enemy excused their defeat by saying that they could not stand up to a regiment wearing the colour of the Prophet, green, that being the facings of the 36th. No doubt it was a good excuse and saved them being dealt with harshly. The army chased the enemy who were a little too swift for them.In March, 1791 the fortress of Bangalore was stormed. The 36th led the way and received a number of casualties. It was after the taking of the fort that Lord Cornwallis referred in a general order to the firmness of the 36th. Some people have thought this to be the origin of the regimental motto but from other evidence it seems to have been merely a reference to the motto already held. His Lordship spoke very highly of 36th and the troops who led the assault. Tippoo was now forced back on his fortress of Seringapatam. It was too near the rains in the year to start a siege so the Army returned to Bangalore. In August the army marched again. The flank companies of the 36th and 71st (H.L.I.) were detached for the siege of Nundydroog, which having been accomplished, not without loss, they rejoined the main body.

SERINGAPATAM

In January, 1792 the army commenced its advance against Setingapatam which was assaulted on February 6th and 7th. The 36th took a leading part in this rather bloody assault. The final victory did not come until February when peace was signed. Tippoo (Tippu) had to hand over his two young sons to Cornwallis as hostages for his good behavior.In 1793 the Revolutionary element in France had declared war on Great Britain, and so in June the 36th took part in the siege of the French possession of Pond cherry. The fort surrendered after the French troops had shown strong republican sentiments, rioting and threatening to hang the Governor, who sent for help to the British. From 1794 to 1798 the 36th were in cantonment in the neighborhood of Trichinopoly (Trichinapally). Towards the end of 1798 the fit men were drafted into the 74th and 76th regiments and the rest sailed for home from Madras. So the 36th missed the final, and more famous, assault on Seringapatam in 1799 when Tippoo (Tippu) was killed.



The Details of photographs

The 1st photo is The flag of the 2nd Battalion colours in 1930.
The 2nd photo is the WR Badge
The 3rd photo is The 36th Regiment Belt plate.
The 4th photo is Lord William, Viscount Charlemont.
The 5th photo is Officer of the 36th Foot (1792)
The 6th photo is 36th John Bryant grave.
The 7th photo is Whiting Hip Flask Thumb.
The 8th photo is ww1 postcard Thumb.
The 9th photo is Rawalpindi India in 1939.
The 10th photo is x-mas menu in India 1943.
The 11th photo is 7th battalion c company visit at x-mas in India (1943).
The 12th photo is C company x-mas dinner in India 1943.
The 13th photo is Sialkot 1940 lieut col Deakin India.
The 14th photo is Waziristan 1940 lieut peter roose.


By
Santhosh P Kumar

Happy New Year

I wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year

by

santhosh