Pongal Festival:
Pongal is an important harvest festival of South India, especially celebrated in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is a thanksgiving festival that shows gratitude to nature for a good harvest.
When is Pongal Celebrated?
Pongal is celebrated every year in mid‑January, usually from 14 January to 17 January. It marks the beginning of the Uttarayan period, when the Sun starts moving northward and the days become longer.
Why is Pongal Celebrated?
Pongal is celebrated to thank the Sun God, Mother Nature, and farm animals for helping farmers grow crops. It marks the end of the harvest season, especially the harvesting of rice, sugarcane, and other crops. The word “Pongal” means “to boil over”, symbolizing prosperity and abundance.
Who Celebrates Pongal?
Pongal is mainly celebrated by:
- Tamil people in Tamil Nadu
- Tamil communities in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, and other parts of the world
- Farmers and agricultural families, though today people from all walks of life celebrate it
It is one of the most important festivals for the Tamil community.
How is Pongal Celebrated?
Pongal is celebrated over four days, each having special importance:
1. Bhogi Pongal
Old things are thrown away and homes are cleaned
Bonfires are lit, symbolizing new beginnings
1.The 1st Day of Pongal festival- Bhogi
This first day is celebrated as Bhogi festival in honour of Lord Indra, the rain god. People clean homes and all the rubbish is thrown to burn. A bonfire is prepared and the unwanted items form the field and the homes are thrown into it. This symbolizes a new beginning. A special sweet, Poli, is prepared with flour and jaggery on this day. The flour is rolled like a stuffed roti(flat bead) with jaggery in the middle. This is similar to the Lohri & Bihu festival.
Villages and rural towns in Tamil Nadu are festooned with colourful flowers, garlands and buntings. There is an air of celebration and bonhomie everywhere. It is the Pongal festival. It is one of the most important festivals in Tamil Nadu. There is folk music playing from the loudspeakers, flashy and ostentatious decorations all over the town and groups of boisterous youngsters roaming around village fairs. Farmers are dressing up their cows and getting ready for the festival. It is certainly the time of the year that villagers look forward to. The landowners and the peasants come together in the village to celebrate this festival. Further, families come together during this time of the year.
2. Thai Pongal. Thai is the month in which the festival is celebrated.
Main day of the festival
A sweet dish called Pongal is cooked using freshly harvested rice, milk, and jaggery
People pray to the Sun God for prosperity The 2nd day is the Pongal festival. In addition, homes are decorated with Rangoli or kolam. It is done with white rice powder and coloured powders. People are attired in new clothes. Sugarcane, coconut and bananas are offered to the God.
Sankranthi Pongal
For instance, in the state of Andhra, the rangoli is known as Sankranthi Muggulu. The Sankranthi Muggulu are rangoli designs on the floor with coloured powders. Muggulu is Rangoli in Telugu language.
Pongal Dish
As a matter of fact, Pongal, is also the name of the dish cooked on that day. Rice, lentils and milk are boiled on earthen pots over wood or coal in the courtyard. A turmeric plant is tied around the pot. The whole family gathers around the pot and cries “Pongalo Pongal” while clanking pots & pans, when the water boils over the pot. This symbolically refers to “ Let the food be bountiful and let our lives overflow with joy and happiness.”
Further, a sweet dish with Pongal is also made by adding a bit of jaggery & milk to it. Turmeric and sugarcane is also placed together. Rice cakes that are made in the state of Assam for Bihu are similar.
3. Mattu Pongal
Dedicated to cattle which help farmers in farming
Cows are decorated and worshipped
This is the auspicious day for cows. People worship the cows with garlands & colourful bells. The cows are brought to the village centre and paraded on the roads. Cattle race is part of the show.Jalli Kattu (taming of the bull) is a big sport that is practiced in some areas. There is a money tied to the horn of the bulls and they are let loose by the owners. Young men chase the bull to retrieve the money. However, there is no physical harm done to the animal in this sport although there is a continuing controversy about playing this sport as compared to other sports. People do claim that it is cruelty to animals. It is a rural sport and there are several people lobbying to retain the sport.
4. Kaanum Pongal
Families visit relatives, friends, and enjoy picnics
Time for social gatherings and enjoyment
Homes are decorated with kolams (rangoli), people wear new clothes, and festive meals are shared.
Kanu Pongal or Kanum Pongal is celebrated on the forth day.
The turmeric leaf is washed and placed on the ground. Left over pongal, sweet pongal, turmeric rice and curd rice are all placed on the leaf, along with sugarcane and banana. Further, all the women gather around and call out to the birds. and feed them. They pray for the well being of their brothers and their families. The saying goes that as birds flock together, families should remain close together always. Hence the celebration. It is an occasion when married women visit their maternal homes to meet with their brothers and parents and seek their blessings. They are warmly welcomed with gifts.
Special gifts are given to girls on Pongal.
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