NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI/HYDERABAD/AMARAVATI, JAN 13
People across Tamil Nadu and Telugus in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh states celebrated Bhogi” festival on the eve of the harvest fete “Pongal” by lighting bonfires with old material and useless household articles as a mark of the beginning of the harvest season.
On the occasion of Bhogi, the Tamil Nadu government requested the public to not burn plastics and other non-eco-friendly items in the bonfire.
However, still some parts of Tamil Nadu especially Chennai was surrounded by smoke and fog due to the burning of articles.
Flight operations here were unaffected, airport sources said. Residents here said early on Thursday, the smog was mild and some areas briefly witnessed drizzle as well.
In keeping with the tradition, people lit bonfires and youngsters beat drums early in the morning in front of their houses. The celebrations signify fresh aspirations, hope and a new beginning on the eve of Pongal and the start of Tamil month, “Thai” on the day of harvest festival.
Though things that are not needed were discarded in the past as part of Bhogi celebrations, nowadays it is largely symbolic. The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, underscoring the “Smoke-free Bhogi festival” slogan had appealed to the people to not burn tyres or items like plastic to protect the environment. “Our ancestors celebrated Bhogi festival before Pongal festival traditionally based on hope by discarding negative thoughts and cheering the positive thoughts so as to celebrate the Pongal festival,” Tamil Nadu Environment Minister Siva V Meyyanathan had said. Such celebrations in olden days had not caused pollution as only things made of natural raw materials were discarded in bonfires, he had said on Wednesday.
Spiritually, the Bhogi festival is celebrated in honour of Lord Indira, who is the rain god, seeking her blessings to bring good rains and help the farmers with their harvest. The farmers also pray for their wealth and prosperity.
However, the Bhogi festival is also celebrated as a mark of the end of the winter season and as a welcome to the beginning of the harvest season. Bhogi also marks the first day of the four-day Pongal celebrated in Tamil Nadu. In the four-day festivity, the people also thank the Sun god and other forces of nature during this period.
