- Gujarat Tamils begin Pongal celebrations across the state on Sunday
GOWRI MANICKAVASAGAM
AHMEDABAD, JAN 14
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday offered prayers at Lord Jagannath temple in Ahmedabad in Gujarat and flew kites along with supporters here as part of Uttarayan celebrations.
जय जगन्नाथ
आज उत्तरायण के पावन अवसर पर अहमदाबाद के श्री जगन्नाथ जी मन्दिर में दर्शन व पूजन कर महाप्रभु से देशवासियों के कल्याण व समृद्धि की कामना की। pic.twitter.com/uRCztok1VC
— Amit Shah (Modi Ka Parivar) (@AmitShah) January 14, 2024
Tamil Nadu, the South Indian state, also celebrates the harvest festival in a grand manner. The festival is known as Pongal and the Tamils celebrate Pongal, also Tamil New Year, for a period of four days.
નગરજનો સાથે ઉત્તરાયણની ઉજવણી…
માનનીય કેન્દ્રીય ગૃહ અને સહકાર મંત્રી શ્રી @AmitShah જીએ સાબરમતી વિધાનસભાના કાર્યકર્તાઓ અને નગરજનો સાથે પતંગ ચગાવી ઉત્તરાયણના પર્વની ઉજવણી કરી. pic.twitter.com/GMp0mtNd5r
— BJP Gujarat (@BJP4Gujarat) January 14, 2024
The four days of the Pongal festival are called Bhogi Pongal, Surya Pongal and Maattu Pongal and Kaanum Pongal. The festival is named after the ceremonial ‘Pongal’, which means “to boil, overflow” and refers to the traditional dish prepared from the new harvest of rice boiled in milk with jaggery (raw sugar).
Gujarat Tamils began their celebrations across the state on Sunday with usual pomp and gaiety to mark Bhogi. However, Gujarat Tamils miss the bull-taming or jallikkattu.
The celebrations kicked off with Bhogi or burning of old and unwanted items like old clothes, mats and broom sticks in the belief that new things will usher into their lives. People in villages and towns began the day with Bhogi and prayers.
Sri Balamurugan Devasthanam, Sri Muthumariamman Devasthanam in Hatkeshwar area and Sri Muthumariamman Temple in Khokhra, various temples in Sabarmati, Meghaninagar areas of Ahmedabad have organized special poojas to mark this harvest festival.
Many Karthikswamy temples in Vadodara, Surat, Jamnagar, Gandhinagar, and Kalol have also joined in this celebration.
Political leaders and other public figures celebrated Uttarayan festival by flying kites along with kin and friends, with many people being seen on the terraces of buildings.
Shah visited Lord Jagannath temple in Ahmedabad and offered prayers along with family members and then flew kites in Vejalpur. He also took part in Uttarayan celebrations in two Assembly seats in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.
“Best wishes to everyone on the auspicious festival of Uttarayan. May this auspicious festival bring happiness, prosperity and good health in your life,” Shah said in a post in Gujarati on X, formerly Twitter.
માનનીય વડાપ્રધાન શ્રી નરેન્દ્રભાઈ મોદીએ અયોધ્યા ખાતે તા.22 જાન્યુઆરીએ યોજાનાર ભગવાન શ્રી રામના ભવ્ય મંદિરની પ્રાણપ્રતિષ્ઠાના પવિત્ર અવસરના સંદર્ભમાં તા.14 થી 22 જાન્યુઆરી દરમિયાન દેશભરના તમામ ધર્મસ્થાનો ખાતે સ્વચ્છતા જનઅભિયાન હાથ ધરવાના કરેલ આહવાનને ઝીલીને મુખ્યમંત્રી શ્રી… pic.twitter.com/wySi2QjMNa
— CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) January 14, 2024
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel began the day by launching a week-long drive to clean religious places in the state to mark Makar Sankranti. He cleaned the premises of a temple near Gandhinagar as part of the drive.
In his message on X, CM Patel said, “The auspicious occasion of the prana pratistha (consecration) of the magnificent temple of Lord Shri Ram at Ayodhya is to be held on January 22, regarding which honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendrabhai Modi has called upon countrymen to undertake a campaign to clean all small and big places of worship across the country.
“Taking this call of the Honorable Prime Minister, we should make all the religious places in Gujarat clean and tidy. A state-wide public cleanliness campaign has been launched from January 14 to 22,” he added.
Patel said on Makar Sankranti he got an opportunity to participate in the cleaning work of the Dholeshwar Mahadev temple premises near Gandhinagar.
Many South Indian restaurants and star hotels in major town of Gujarat also offer Pongal menu on Monday to mark Pongal.
In Ahmedabad, Courtyard By Marriott in Ramdev Nagar has announced Pongal Delights. One can iIndulge in the celebration of Pongal, where the warmth of tradition blends harmoniously with the flavors of festivities. Savor the spirit of abundance, togetherness, and joy of the season. Revel in a feast of gratitude and happiness at MoMo Café of Courtyard By Marriott Ahmedabad.
The Pongal feast will be offered from 7 pm to 11 pm and priced at Rs 1,375+ Taxes
For reservation, call: +91 9978908933, +91 8081551651
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