Pongal (பொங்கல்) is the main harvest festival of Tamil Hindus. It is celebrated every year on 14-15 January. Traditionally, it is a festival dedicated to prosperity in which rain, sunshine, agriculture and domestic animals are worshipped to bring prosperity.
Just like Makar Sankranti in North India and Lohri in Punjab, Pongal is celebrated in South India. Pongal is especially a festival of farmers.
When is Pongal festival?
It is a four-day festival celebrated every year around Makar Sankranti. But the main festival is celebrated in the month of Paush. Pongal i.e. the festival of Khichdi Bhog is celebrated at the auspicious time of Uttarayan of the Sun.
Meaning of Pongal
On the first new moon day of Pongal, people pledge to abandon bad practices and accept good things. This act is called 'Pohi' and means 'to go'. Pongal in Tamil means surge or upheaval. The next day of Pohi is Pratipada, like Diwali, Pongal is popular.
Why do we celebrate Pongal festival?
After the paddy harvest in South India, people celebrate Pongal festival to express their happiness and pray to God for the upcoming harvest. To bring prosperity, rain, Sun, Indradev and agricultural and domestic animals are worshipped. Kheer is specially prepared on this day. Sweet and spicy Pongal dishes are prepared on this day. They prepare food with rice, milk, ghee, sugar and offer it to the Sun God. On this festival, great importance is given to the boiling of cow's milk. The reason for this is that just as the boiling of milk is pure and auspicious, similarly the mind of every living being should be bright with pure sanskars. That is why milk is boiled in new utensils.
Mythology behind Pongal festival?
According to the legend, Shiva asks his bull Nandi to go to earth and give a message to humans to bathe in oil every day and eat only one day in a month. Vrishabh gives the opposite message to humans on earth. Angered by this, Shiva curses him and says that from today onwards, you will help humans in agriculture on earth.
Another legend associated with Indra and Lord Krishna states that after lifting the Govardhan mountain, the cowherds resettled their city and grew crops in the fields again with the help of the bulls.
Pongal Rituals and Customs
In South India, people celebrate the festival of Pongal to express their happiness after harvesting paddy. On this day, people worship rain, sunshine, Sun, Lord Indra and farm animals to bring prosperity. This festival lasts for four days. Each day has its own significance.
First Day - Bhogi Pongal
On the first day of Pongal, Indra Dev is worshiped. On this day, gratitude is expressed to Lord Indra for the rain and happiness and prosperity is wished in life. On the first day of Pongal, people burn their old stuff.
Second Day - Surya Pongal
On the second day of Pongal, Surya Pongal is celebrated, the Sun God is worshiped. On this day, gratitude is expressed to the Sun God after the Sun moves north. A special kheer is made, which is called Pongal kheer.
Third Day - Mattu Pongal
On the third day of Pongal, animals are worshiped. It is known as Mattu Pongal. In this, people especially worship Mattu i.e. bull. Cows and bulls are decorated and worshipped. Also, bull race is also organized on this day, which is called Jallikattu.
Fourth day - Kannum Pongal or Tiruvallur Day
The fourth day is the last day of Pongal festival. This day is celebrated as Kanya Pongal. On this day, houses are decorated with flowers and leaves. Rangoli is made on the courtyard and main door of the house. By worshipping Kanya, people congratulate each other on Pongal and wish for happiness and prosperity in life.
