Pongal is one of the popular festivals that are celebrated by the people of Tamil Nadu. The festival also marks the commencement of a new year. There are four days of the festival and each day has separate significance. Kolam or rangoli is drawn in front of every house of Tamil Nadu to mark the festival.
Pongal is one of the most important and popular festival that is celebrated in Tamil Nadu. The festival is celebrated to honor the reaping of the harvest and also the withdrawal of the southeastern monsoon. Pongal lasts for four days and it also marks the journey of the sun to the north direction for six months. It is celebrated during the month of January.
About Pongal Celebration
Pongal is celebrated in Tamil month called Thai. This month is considered to be very auspicious by the people. It is also the biggest of all the festivals related with harvesting. Sun is worshiped in the festival. The four days of Pongal are Bhogi, Pongal, Mattu Pongal and Kanum Festival. The festival also marks the beginning of a new year.
Bhogi Pongal is celebrated on 13th January, Pongal on 14th January, Mattu Pongal on January 15th and Kanum is celebrated on 16th January. All the four days of the festival have separate significance.
Legends about Pongal Celebration
There are many interesting facts and legends behind the celebration of Pongal. One of the legends that are closely related with the first day of the Pongal festival is the lifting of Govardhan Mountain by Lord Krishna on his little finger to shelter the people from rain.
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Pongal Celebration
On the first day of Pongal, Indra, who is considered to be the ruler of rain giving clouds, is prayed. People pay respectful deference to God Indra for copiousness of harvest. On this day, people get rid of their old clothes by throwing them in fire made by cakes of cow-dung and wood. This ritual of burning of the old things imply that everything bad and evil have to be destroyed in the commencement of a new year.
On the second day, which is called Pongal, rice along with milk and jaggery is boiled in an earthen ware outside the homes and is offered to Sun God. A turmeric plant is tied around the earthen pot where rice is boiled. Two sticks of sugarcane, bananas and coconut in a dish are the other things that are given in the offerings.
The third day is Pongal for cows, which help in the process of harvesting. Cows are bathed and decorated with tinkling bells, colored beads, flower garlands and corn sheaves and after that they are worshipped.
On the fourth day Kaanum is celebrated. On all the days of the festival kolam or rangoli is given in front of the homes. Women pray for the welfare and long life of their brothers on this day.
Pongal Receipes
Many special recipes are made by the people of Tamil Nadu during Pongal. Traditional dishes that are prepared during this time include payasam, vadas, Ven pongal, sweet rice called Pongal, Chackra Pongal and Sakkarai Pongal. During Pongal festival gifts are given to all near and dear ones.
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