After new year the immediate Hindu festival is Boghi and pongal. But yet there is one more special occasion that is celebrated is Kanu Pandigai(Kanu Pongal). Kanu falls on the same day of Maatu Pongal. On this special Occasion, sisters in the family will pray for the welfare of their brothers. This is a special festival for ladies.
Kanu day is not an auspicious day. In tamil, we call it as "Kari Naal" or "Kanu Peedai". Early in the morning, elders will take the turmeric and will mark it in forehead and young girls should seek blessings from the elders. Then they have to follow a ritual of "Kanu Pidi" and then take a bath to come out of "Kanu Peedai". They are not expected to take any food/drinks till they come out of Kanu Peedai.
Kanu Pidi - How and Why ?
In a open place put a kolam in east direction. Wash the turmeric leaves and place it over the kolam. We have to keep upto four rices on the leaves.
1. White rice prepared on the previous day (pongal day)
2. Sarkarai pongal prepared on the previous day (pongal day)
3. Prepare red color rice by mixing small quantity of rice with kumkum.
4. The same way prepare yellow rice by mixing small quantity of rice with turmeric powder.
Take 4 pieces of sugarcane. Place these colored rice and sugarcane pieces in small quantities in the turmeric leaves placed above the kolam.
We have to say the following phrases while keeping the coloured rice in leaves
(* This specific phrase varies from family to family. If you check the comments below form others you will come to know the different variation of this phrase. But the overall concept is same - we are praying for unity within the family)
After chanting this we have to break a coconut, place it in a plate having beetle leaves and beetle seeds along with 2 bananas. We have to show aarthi around the turmeric leaves and we should pray for our brothers.
We have to make sure the rice kept in leaves should be eaten only by crows. On this auspicious occasion we prepare variety rices and ladies should not eat rasam (Don't know why, but this what we follow in our family and told by my mom :-) ). Please find below some of the variety rices for Kanum Pongal.
It is also the day for Cattles. Cows are decorated, their horns are painted and turemeric and aarthi are conducted as cow is revered as Mother. In the villages race are conducted for bulls.
We have to say the following phrases while keeping the coloured rice in leaves
"KakaipidivachenKannupidivachen, Kakka Kootam Kalanchalum Enga Kootam Kalayama Irukkanum"*
(* This specific phrase varies from family to family. If you check the comments below form others you will come to know the different variation of this phrase. But the overall concept is same - we are praying for unity within the family)
After chanting this we have to break a coconut, place it in a plate having beetle leaves and beetle seeds along with 2 bananas. We have to show aarthi around the turmeric leaves and we should pray for our brothers.
We have to make sure the rice kept in leaves should be eaten only by crows. On this auspicious occasion we prepare variety rices and ladies should not eat rasam (Don't know why, but this what we follow in our family and told by my mom :-) ). Please find below some of the variety rices for Kanum Pongal.
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| Coconut Rice | Aviyal |
 |  |  |
| Tamarind Rice | Lemon Rice | Curd Rice |
It is also the day for Cattles. Cows are decorated, their horns are painted and turemeric and aarthi are conducted as cow is revered as Mother. In the villages race are conducted for bulls.
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| Mattu Pongal - Cows are decorated and being worshiped. |
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| Jallikattu - Man vs. Bull |
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| Pongal Festival | Bhogi Festival |