Pongal, also referred to as Thai Pongal, is One of The Most Important Festivals celebrated in Tamil Nadu & Other Parts of South India. It is also a Major Tamil Festival in Sri Lanka & observed by Tamil Diaspora worldwide. It is celebrated in Month of Thai according to Tamil Solar Calendar, usually on 14 or 15 Jan. It is dedicated to Surya, Solar God of Hinduism.
Festival marks End of Winter Solstice & Beginning of Sun's 6 Month Long Journey Northwards called Uttarayana. Thai Pongal is a Portmanteau of 2 Words: Thai (Tamil: "தை") referring to 10th Month of Tamil Calendar & Pongal (from Pongu) meaning "Boiling Over" or "Overflow". Pongal also refers to a Traditional Sweet Dish of Rice boiled in Milk with Jaggery, usually prepared & consumed on the day.
Pongal is a Multi - Day Hindu Harvest Festival celebrated by Tamils. Festival is observed for 3 or 4 Days in Tamil Nadu but for 1 or 2 Days in Urban Locations & by Tamil Diaspora outside South Asia. First 3 Days of Pongal Festival are called Bhogi Pongal, Surya Pongal & Mattu Pongal. Some Tamils celebrate a 4th Day of Pongal known as Kanum Pongal. It is traditionally an occasion for Decorating, Offering Prayers in Home, Temples, Getting Together with Family & Friends, & Exchanging Gifts to Renew Social Bonds of Solidarity.
The Festival is named after "Pongal" Dish, Festival's Most Significant Practice. The Dish is prepared by Boiling Freshly Harvested Rice in Cow Milk & Raw Cane Sugar. Additional Ingredients are Coconut, Ghee, Spices such as Cardamom, Raisins & Cashews. Cooking is done in a Clay Pot, often Garlanded with Leaves or Flowers, sometimes Tied with a Piece of Turmeric Root. It is either cooked at Home or in Community Gatherings such as in Temples or Village Open Spaces. Cooking is done in Sunlight, usually in a Porch or Courtyard. Dish is dedicated to Sun God, Surya. Traditionally, it is First Offered to Gods & Goddesses, followed by Cows, then to Family & Friends Gathered. Temples & Communities organize Free Kitchen prepared by Volunteers to serve all those who gather. Portions of Sweet Pongal Dish (Sakkarai Pongal) are distributed as Prasadam in Temples.
Festival is marked with Colorful Kolam Artwork, a Form of Traditional Decorative Art, drawn by using Rice Flour often along with Natural or Artificial Color Powders. It includes Geometrical Line Drawings composed of Straight Lines, Curves & Loops, drawn around a Grid Pattern of Dots.
1st Day of Pongal Festival is called Bhogi, Last Day of Tamil Month Marghazhi. On this day, People Discard Old Belongings & Celebrate New Possessions. People Assemble & Light a Bonfire in order to Burn Heaps of Discards. Houses are Cleaned, Painted & Decorated for Celebration. Prayers are Offered to Indra, King of Gods with Thanks & Hopes for Plentiful Rains in Year ahead. Kaappu Kattu is a Tradition of Tying Leaves of Azadirachta Indica, Senna Auriculata & Aerva Lanata in Roofs of Houses & Residential Areas, Widely Practiced in Kongu Nadu Region. Bhogi is observed on Same Day in States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh & Telangan. Fruits of Harvest are Collected along with Flowers of Season.
Surya Pongal or Thai Pongal is 2nd & Main Festive Day, dedicated to Sun God, Surya. It is 1st Day of Tamil Calendar Month Thai, marking Start of Uttrayana, when Sun Enters 10th House of Zodiac, & celebrated with Family & Friends with New Clothes Worn & Preparation of Traditional Pongal Dish in an Earthen Pot. Pot is typically Decorated by Tying a Turmeric Plant or Flower Garland & Placed in Sun along with Sugarcane Stalks. Homes are decorated with Banana & Mango Leaves, Decorative Florals & Kolams.
Relatives & Friends are Invited & when Pongal Starts to Boil & Overflow Out of Vessel, People Blow a Conch or Make Noises while Shouting "Pongalo Pongal" ("May This Rice Boil Over"). In Rural Areas, people Sing Traditional Songs while Pongal Dish is Cooking. Pongal Dish is 1st Offered to Surya & Ganesha, & then shared with gathered Family & Friends. People Traditionally Offer Prayers to Sun in Open & then Proceed to Eat their Meal. Community Pongal is an Event where Several Families Gather at a Public Place for a Ceremonial Worship.
Mattu Pongal ("Madu" meaning "Cow") is 3rd Day of Festival meant for Celebration of Cattle. Cattle is regarded as Sources of Wealth as it is a Means for Milk Products & Fertilizers, Used for Transportation & Agriculture. Cattle are Bathed, their Horns are Polished & Painted in Bright Colors with Garlands of Flowers placed around their Necks & taken for Processions. Some Decorate their Cows with Turmeric Water & Apply Shikakai & Kumkuma to their Foreheads. Cattle are Fed Sweets including Pongal, Jaggery, Honey, Banana & Other Fruits. People may Prostrate before them with Words of Thanks for Help with Harvest.
Kanum Pongal or Kanu Pongal is 4th Day of Festival & marks End of Pongal Festivities for the Year. Word "Kanum" means "To Visit" & Families hold Reunions on this day. Communities organize Social Events to Strengthen Mutual Bonds & Consume Food & Sugarcane during Social Gatherings. Young People Visit Elders to Pay Respects & Seek Blessings, with Elders Giving Gifts to Visiting Children.
Pongal is a Celebration of Sun, Mother Nature & Farm Animals that Help with Harvest.
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