Kumari Palany & Co

Bhogi with lesser smoke and better city

Posted on: 14/Jan/2016 10:26:12 AM
Bhogi, as most of us know, it marks the beginning of the four day Pongal festival. As per the Gregorian calendar, it falls to be on the 13th of January at most of the times, but at rare cases, it is celebrated on the next day - the 14th January. The difference in dates depends on the last day of Tamil month of Margazhi.
 
The festival is widely celebrated in southern states of India, particularly in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. This day is considered as a day of transformation by getting rid of old thoughts. Symbolizing this, people have got the practice of disposing old items from their home and burn it as a sign of waving bye. Thus they turn pure, fully transformed and begin life all new from the day of Thai Thirunaal - Pongal.
 
When it is Bhogi, the city roads, especially during early morning hours are smoky polluted because of burning items. One can find clogs of waste items put outside each and every home on the day of Bhogi.
 
In the recent years, people seem to have got changed in thoughts, realizing the importance of bringing a transformation in their mind rather than merely symbolizing with burning of objects. This is evident from the significant decrease in smoke in these three states celebrating the festival.
 
This reduction in smoke doesn`t just indicate the extent to which people have understood the festival, but also their understanding about the bad need for keeping the city and environment clean without pollution.