Pongal is a four-day Hindu harvest festival celebrated in south India. The festival is dedicated to the Sun god and usually falls on January 14th or 15th every year. Pongal marks the end of winter and the beginning of Sun’s journey towards north, also referred to as Uttarayana, when it enters the Capricorn, which is celebrated as Makar Sankranti. The Pongal celebrations typically include cooking the traditional Pongal dish, wearing new clothes, sending wishes, and worshipping the Sun. Pongal is also known as Thai Pongal, as it marks the beginning of the Tamil month Thai, regarded as an auspicious month.
Pongal festival 2024
Date: January 15 to 18, 2024
Day: Monday to Wednesday
How is Pongal celebrated?
Pongal is an important festival for local farmers in Tamil Nadu as this is the time of the harvest of the winter crop. The festival is marked by four-day celebration, with each day having a special significance.
- Day 1: Bhogi Pongal
- Day 2: Surya Pongal
- Day 3: Mattu Pongal
- Day 4: Kaanum Pongal
Day 1: Bhogi Pongal
The first day of the Pongal festival is known as Bhogi. The day is observed by cleaning the house to eliminate negative energies and discarding old things, signifying a new start. People wear new clothes and decorate their houses. On this day, people also thank Lord Indra, the god of rain and ruler of clouds, for a good harvest season. People light bonfires and girls perform dance while hymns are sung in honour of Lord Indra.
Pongal Kolam – Rangoli
People decorate their entrances with beautiful Pongal Kolam designs. In the evening, Bhogi Mantalu is observed.
See also: Pongal kolam designs for your home
Day 2: Surya Pongal
The second day of Pongal is the most significant as it is marked by feasting and offerings to the Sun god. On this day, women gather outside to cook the traditional Pongal dish. Fresh rice with milk is cooked in an earthen pot at the auspicious muhurat. As the milk boils, family members chant ‘Pongalo Pongal’. The dish was offered to the Sun god and Lord Ganesha. It is also offered to bulls and oxen and later distributed among family members. The pot is decorated, and turmeric leaves or garlands are placed around it. Besides the Pongal dish, offerings made to Sun god include sugarcane, coconut, and bananas.
Decoration
On the second day of Pongal festival, people decorate their homes with banana leaves and Pongal kolam. People worship the Sun, perform Suryanamaskar and chant sacred mantras.
Day 3: Mattu Pongal
The third day of the Pongal is observed by worshipping cattle (Maatu) to recognise the work they do. On this day, cows are bathed and decorated with flowers, multi-coloured beads and bells. The significance of worshipping cattle is that cows give milk, while bulls and oxen help plough the fields during the harvest season. A pooja is also performed to drive away evil energies.
Day 4: Kaanum Pongal
Kaanum Pongal, the fourth day of the Pongal festival marks the last day of Pongal celebrations. It is celebrated by visiting friends and family, signifying the strengthening of bond. Families come together for meals. Young members seek the blessings of elders. A traditional south Indian custom known as Kanu Pidi is observed on this day. It involves washing turmeric leaves and placing them on the ground. The leftover Pongal and other food offerings are laid out on these leaves and kept outside. This is given to birds to thank them for their contributions for the harvest season.
Pongal festival: Mythological significance
According to mythology, Nandi, the bull, was sent to Earth by Lord Shiva to tell people to have an oil massage and bath daily and eat only once a month. However, the bull wrongly conveyed Lord Shiva’s message that they must eat every day and have an oil massage and bath once a month. This made Lord Shiva angry and cursed the bull to live on Earth forever and help people plough fields and grow more crops.
Pongal festival: Home decoration ideas
Here are simple ways to decorate the home for Pongal.
Kolam
The festivities begin by cleaning the house and surroundings. Traditionally, women wake up early in the morning and decorate their homes. Kolam designs are made, which are rangoli made with rice flour paste and water, or milk. One can also include colours to make the design interesting. Design Kolam at the entrance and living areas, including the pooja room. This brings fortune and prosperity to the house.
One can choose unique designs for Kolam with images of farmers, bull, flowers, sun, sugarcane, a pot of Pongal, etc.
Floral decoration
Flowers are used for worshipping Sun on Pongal. Moreover, flowers are traditionally used to decorate the house. You can use flower garlands to deck up doorways and living room and to create rangoli designs.
Read also: Top Pongal decoration ideas for home
Earthen pot decoration
An earthen pot is used for cooking Pongal dish as part of the celebration. The pot is decorated for the festival with traditional designs like banana leaves, sugarcane, etc.
Sugarcane Pongal decoration
Sugarcane is an important element for Pongal celebrations. Sugarcane is known for its sweetness and used in decorations. The sugarcane stalks are placed at the entrance, or they can be made to create a tent-like structure for placing the pot of Pongal.
Gift items for Pongal
During the Pongal festival, people greet each other and exchange gifts. Some traditional gift items are an idol or image of the Sun god, sweets, wooden handicrafts, utensils, and other household, or décor items.
FAQs
How do people celebrate Pongal?
Pongal festival is celebrated by worshipping the Sun god and cooking the traditional dish Pongal.
Why should we celebrate Pongal?
Pongal is celebrated by farmers to thank the Sun god and Lord Indra for the harvest.
Why do we boil milk on Pongal?
The literal meaning of Pongal is to boil over or overflow. Thus, the Pongal festival is celebrated, marking the abundant harvest and thanking the Sun god.
Which dance is related to Pongal?
Kummi is a traditional dance in Tamil Nadu associated with the Pongal festival.
Where is Pongal celebrated?
Pongal is widely celebrated in south India, especially Tamil Nadu.
When was Pongal celebrated for the first time?
Pongal is celebrated since ancient times, during the Sangam period dating back to 200 BC to 300 AD.
What is Pongal made of?
Pongal is a traditional south Indian dish made of rice and moong dal (green gram). It can be made as a sweet dish called Chakkara Pongal, or a savoury dish called Ven Pongal or Khara Pongal.
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