Native cattle breeds on display at Isha Yoga Center

Isha Yoga Center is celebrating Mattu Pongal at Adiyogi today, on January 16 with a cattle exhibit of native breeds. Mattu Pongal is traditionally a day of thanksgiving for farm animals responsible for bountiful harvest. Cattle breeds from Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat, Maharashtra and various other states are reared at Isha Yoga Center and are kept open for the public who can visit the cattle stalls and also learn about the breeds.The event is on till January 17.
To add to the festivities, tribal and rural communities have joined the visitors from overseas and also the general public in the traditional preparation of pongal in mud pots. Cultural performances by Isha Samskriti, Isha Home School and Isha Vidhya as well as traditional games are part of the celebrations.
Jaggi Vasudev, founder of Isha Foundation, urged people to value traditions that define them and said, “Pongal is a celebration of the farmers. Our Tamil tradition is about being in touch with the soil, growing food for ourselves and living off it. We should not forget this. People living in urban areas should visit the villages on Pongal day. It is my wish and blessing that this new year be healthy, loving and most importantly successful to all of you.”