Discover India

Pongal

Pongal is the harvest festival of the southern state of INDIA, Tamil Nadu. It is celebrated to acknowledge God’s courtesy for a prolific and lavish harvest. It is celebrated on the 14th of January every year and coincidentally falls with Makarsakranti in the North, Bhogali Bihu in Assam, Bhogi in Andhra Pradesh and Lohri in the Punjab demarcating the same reason- Paying Owe to God for a bountiful harvest.

Pongal is a series of celebration conducted mainly for four days. However a four day celebration is more popular in villages whereas in the cities it is generally celebrated on the second day. Bhogi is the first of the festival where people clean their houses and collect all unwanted things. These articles are then put in fire in the evening demarcating ending the past forever. Also, some people reconstruct various parts of their houses like the porch or the elevated gate or even the thatch on their roof.

The second is popularly known as Surya Pongal. Also considered to be the first day of the New Year as per the Tamil calendar, Surya Pongal is the day when majority of the masses celebrate the angelic day. The day starts with women waking up early and making KOLUM (made by colored rice) and spreading it carefully in front of the main door of the house, using one hand and making beautiful designs. Various dishes like the Venpongal and Chakraipongal which are mainly made from rice are cooked. These are considered to be the favorite dishes of all.

Maatu Pongal is the third day of the festival. Maatu means Cattle. As the name suggests the day is celebrated to pay reverence to Cows and Bulls. They are decorated with paints, Kum-Kum on their forehead and pretty bells around their necks. People worship them, bend and touch their feet on order to get blessings. Bull fights which are not too common these days can also be witnessed. The last and the fourth day is Kaanum Pongal when everyone meets their relatives and loved ones, exchange sweets and celebrate the holy day together. The last day is mainly dedicated to outdoors and rambles.

Though celebrated in a very limited area the spirit of PONGAL still remains unchanged.