Pongal is Tamil Nadu’s four-day long festival that celebrates the winter harvest in the month of Thai (or January-February). It coincides with Lohri and Makar Sankranti celebrated in India. It is on these days that the entire nation celebrates the delicious goodies made of sugarcane and jaggery while they prepare for harvesting rice, turmeric and sugarcane. This is what happens in South India during Pongal.
The Reason Why People Celebrate this Festival
Traditionally, the word Pongal means ‘to boil’. It happens to be a dish made of sweetened rice boiled with milk or lentils. It’s customary to organise a thanksgiving ceremony to celebrate the year’s harvest. Therefore, the dish is prepared and served to the guests as a mark of appreciation.
What Happens on Various Days of Pongal?
Day 1: Bhogi Festival
The Bhogi festival is similar to the Lohri celebrated in North India. It’s celebrated in the honour of Lord Indra, who’s the legendary king of Lords, rain and thunder (comparable to Zeus in Greek Mythology).
On the occasion of Bhogi Manthalu festival, the useless, old items of the
household are tossed in a bonfire made of wood and cow dung cakes. People pray and dance around the fire that spreads light and happiness in the environment.
Day 2: Thai Festival
On the second day, that is Thai Pongal, women boil rice and milk in an earthen pot. It’s tied with a turmeric plant and offered to the sun god along with bananas, sugarcane and coconuts. People pray to the Sun god as he transcends from one zodiac to another.
They also paint their floors and entrances with ‘Kolam’ (white rangoli made of lime powder) early in the morning. It’s prepared in the dawn.
Day 3: Mattu Pongal
Mattu Pongal honours the cattle. On this day, the people worship cows and bulls. They bathe their cattle in scented water, adorn them with garlands and trinkets and shower them with delicious goodies as a gesture of thankfulness.
Day 4: Kaanum Pongal
Kanu or Kaanum marks the fourth and the last day of Pongal when the leftover rice dish is consumed. The entire family holds a lavish feast in the courtyard and celebrates the thanksgiving meal together. Women pray for the long life and prosperity of their brothers and conduct various rituals on this day.
So this is how the fun and festivities progress with each day, as people celebrate this colourful harvest festival.
