Pongal is a harvest festival in India. Pongal is celebrated widely by the Tamil community around the world. As per the Tamil solar calendar, Pongal is celebrated in Tai month. The Pongal festival marks the beginning of Uttarayan, the journey of the Sun northward. It is a four-day festival that is dedicated to the Sun God.
The term Pongal is derived from Tamil literature which means to boil. It is an ancient festival of South India, particularly among the Tamils. This festival is a celebration of harvesting rice, sugarcane, turmeric, and other crops during the solar equinox in Tamil Nadu in January-February (Thai).
There are four days of festivities during the Pongal festival
The first day is known as the Bhogi festival
The second day is Thai Pongal
The third day is Mattu Pongal
The fourth day is Kaanum Pongal
This festival dates back to the Sangam Age and is referred to as the Dravidian Harvest festival. However, some historians argue that this festival is at least 2,000 years old. It was celebrated as Thai Niradal.
It is believed that during this festive season, unmarried girls prayed for the country's agricultural prosperity, and for this reason, they observed penance during the Tamil month Margazhi. A ceremonial bath is given in the early morning as part of the ritual of penance.
They abstain from milk and dairy products, and oil their hair throughout the month. They strictly refrain from harsh words.
According to Hindu Mythology, Lord Shiva once asked Basava (Bull) to visit the Earth and ask the Human to have an oil massage and bath every day. In response, Basava (Bull) said he would eat every day and bathe once a month. Consequently, Lord Shiva cursed Basava (Bull) to live forever on Earth and ordered that Basava (Bull) plough the fields to help people grow food. As a result, people celebrate this festival with crops and cattle after harvesting.
Pongal is celebrated to thank the Sun God and Lord Indra for helping farmers to reap better crops. It can be considered as the thanksgiving festival. During the festival, people reject old belongings and welcome new ones.
It is well known that India is a country of agriculture, so most of its festivals are associated with nature. In Hindu mythology, the Pongal is referred as Uttarayan Punyakalam, which holds special significance and is extremely auspicious.
Pongal 2023 in India will begin on Sunday, 15 January, and ends on Wednesday, 18 January.
We hope that the auspicious festival of Pongal brings you everlasting peace and joy. Wishing you good health and prosperity.
This harvest festival may diminish all your worries and fears and fill your heart with calm and health.
Wishing you and your family a very Happy Bogi Pongal, Pongal, Mattu Pongal!
In Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, women draw kolams or muggulu in front of their home entrances every day at the break of dawn to bring prosperity to their homes. White rice flour is traditionally used to draw kolams on flat surfaces of the ground.
It is a delicious South Indian dish made with rice, moong lentils, ghee, jaggery or sugar, cardamoms, and nuts.
A brass pot is used for Pongal, boiling milk, and water, and cooking traditional dishes.
We celebrate many festivals throughout the year in different styles. Every festival is unique, read about the most popular festivals of India like Makar Sankranti History, Date, Pooja Time, Kumbh Mela, Wishes & Lohri Harvest Festival, History, Wishes, Images, Messages, Wallpaper.