Pongal

Pongal

Pongal is a harvest festival of the state of Tamil Nadu. People pray to the Sun God on this occasion. The sun is very powerful and helps in the growth of paddy and other crops. The first harvest of the year comes around the mid-January every year. So the farmers pay their obeisance to the Sun God and show their gratitude towards him.

It is the first chain of festivals to be celebrated every year. The date of this festival is calculated by the solar calendar (Western calendar). So, it remains constant every year, on the 14th of January. However, the festival is celebrated for four days, from the 13th to 16th of the month.

Each day of this festival has a special significance. The first day is called 'Bhogi'. On this day, people clean their homes and dispose of worn-out and useless things. Old materials of the house are replaced with the new ones. People then light bonfires and burn their old clothes and broken goods. This marks the end of the Tamil month 'Margazhi'.

The second day is called 'Thai Pongal' and is the main day of celebration. It falls on the first day of the Tamil month Thai. On this day, people worship the Sun God. Women wake up early in the morning and make 'kolam' in front of their houses. Kolam is a rangoli created with coloured rice flour placed on the ground. Kitchen is cleaned and old utensils are replaced by new. People take bath and wear new dresses, and assemble at one place to.celebrate the festival. As soon as the sun rises, women draw a picture of the Sun God in an open space. The Sun God is shown moving in a chariot, driven by seven horses. A small sun is drawn at the centre of the chariot. Devotees adorn the picture with turmeric powder and sandalwood paste. Two or three bricks are placed on the ground, with firewood between them. A gentle fire is then kindled. Sugar canes are placed on both sides of the bricks. Women decorate earthen pots in colourful patterns and keep them on the fire. After this, people worship the fire and the pots.

In Tamil language, 'Pongal' literally means boiling over. Women boil the new rice with fresh milk and jaggery, and allow it to overflow the pots. As soon as the people see this overflowing of rice, they shout in joy, “Pongal o Pongal!” These words are nothing but an expression of happiness that the new harvest is here and we should enjoy it! Children dance and sing to the tune of these words. The sweet dish thus prepared is first offered to the Sun God. Some people also cook brinjal sambar (stew), vadai, idli, and spicy curry. They also like to chew sugar cane.

The third day is called 'Maattu Pongal'. Maattu refers to cattle. On this day, people thank their cattle for providing milk and pulling the plough. Cows and Bulls are decorated with colours. Their horns are beautifully painted. Jingling bells are placed around their neck. In some villages in south India, people play bull-fighting. It is called Jallikattu.

The fourth and final day is called 'Kaanum Pongal1. The word 'kaanum' literally means 'to view'. On this day, people travel far and wide to see their relatives. Some families visit the beaches and theme parks for entertainment. Pongal is also known as 'Tamizhar Thirunal1 or The Festival of Tamils. On the same day when Pongal is celebrated in South India, similar festivals are celebrated in other states. All these festivals have different names. In Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, the harvest festival is called 'Sankranti'. In North .India, it is called 'Makar Sankranti'. In Maharashtra and Gujarat, it is called 'Uttarayan’, and is celebrated as the annual kite-flying day. In Punjab and Haryana, this harvest festival is known as Lohri.

There is an astronomical significance of these harvest festivals. They mark the beginning of 'Uttarayana', the Sun's northward movement for a period of six months. In Hinduism, 'Uttarayana' is considered auspicious, as opposed to 'Dakshinayana' when the sun moves southward for a period of six months. On the occasion of Pongal, people sing the song 'Thai Pirandhal Vazhi PirakkunT, which means that the birth of the month of Thai will pave way for new opportunities. This festival indeed marks the emergence of new ideas and invokes fresh life.