Pongal - A Festival of South India

Pongal, also known as Tai Pongal, is a Hindu harvest festival celebrated by Tamils in India and Sri Lanka over several days. According to the Tamil solar calendar, it is marked at the beginning of the month Tai, which is usually around January 14.

It is devoted to Surya, the sun god, and correlates to Makar Sankranti, the harvest festival celebrated throughout India under several regional names. Bhogi, Surya, and Mattu are the names of the three days of the festival. Kanum is the fourth day of Pongal celebrated by some Tamils.

Celebration

Pongal is their thanksgiving festival celebrated throughout southern India this word is derived from Tamil literature and its little meaning is to “boil” also the name of a rice-based dish that is prepared for this festival it is basically a harvest festival and the only festival to follow the solar calendar this festival is celebrated on 14th of January every year which mark the initiation of Sun movement to what the north for 6 month period it is considered very of auspicious as an opposed to the southern movement of the sun is signify the event when the sun enters the zodiac sign Capricorn and thus the name Makar Sankranti.

Facts / Significance

According to Hindu mythology and astrology, the festival mark a very auspicious occasion as the day when god begins after a 6 month-long night the celebration for this festival is spread across 3 days the first day is marked by special pooja performed by cutting on the paddy the farmers worship the sun and earth by smearing their pluff and stick with sandalwood paste each of 3 days had different festivity.

The first day is a day to be with your family and is also known as bhogi the second day is dedicated to the Surya worship that is called Surya Pongal on this day boiled milk with jaggery is offered to the Sun god the third is Mattu Pongal is a day for worship of cattle also known as Mattu with bright color and their garden with flower the offer to the god later offers to the cattle and Bird.

Pongal is a three-day Hindu festival celebrated in South India. It is observed during the winter solstice, when the Sun has reached its southernmost point, according to the old Hindu calendar. On January 14, it returns to the north and enters the sign of Makara (Capricorn).

The Origins

Pongal is an old holiday, with roots dating back to the Sangam Age, which lasted from 200B.C. to 300 A.D. Pongal was a Dravadian-era festival, and it is described in the Sanskrit Puranas. Some historians still associate it with the celebrations of the Sangam period.

Pongal was celebrated as Thai Niradal during the Sangam period, according to certain historians. It is also thought that during this time, unmarried girls prayed for the agricultural prosperity of the country and performed penance for this purpose. These young unmarried girls would fast as well, believing that it would bring them good fortune.

a strong crop, great wealth, and prosperity to the country for the year ahead.

Pongal’s Legends

Festivals in India are constantly associated with legends, significance, and myths. While there are many legends associated with Pongal, the following two are the most well-known.

The first legend

According to tradition, Lord Shiva once told his bull, Basava, to go down to the ground and tell the people to eat once a month, get an oil massage, and take a bath every day. Basava mistakenly proclaimed that everyone should take an oil bath once a day and eat every day. Lord Shiva’s fury was so great that he banished Basava to live on Earth indefinitely.

Here on Earth, he would be expected to assist the People to generate more food, which benefits them. This could explain why cattle are still associated with death.

The second legend

This legend tells the story of Lord Krishna and Lord Indra. According to tradition, Lord Krishna resolved as a kid to teach Lord Indra a lesson after becoming the king of all deities and getting haughty. Lord Krishna had enraged Lord Indra by instructing the cow herders to cease worshipping Lord Indra.

He then sent his devastation clouds to cause thunderstorms and floods. Lord Krishna then lifted Mount Govardhan, offering shelter for all beings and demonstrating his divinity to Lord Indra. Lord Indra’s false pride was shattered as a result of this, and he apologized to Lord Krishna.

Three-day importance

The festivities commence on The first day of Bhogi Pongal is marked by the arrival of fresh harvests of rice, sugarcane, and turmeric from the fields. Old and useless household items are dumped and burned along with cow dung as part of the Bhogi Mantalu rite, which also represents new beginnings.

The second day of the celebration, known as Surya Pongal or Thai Pongal, is dedicated to the Sun God and also marks the beginning of the Tamil month Thai.

Women rise up early on this day to clean their homes and decorate them with beautiful kolam designs. On this day, freshly harvested rice is cooked in pots with milk and jaggery till it overflows and spills. The ceremony encapsulates the meaning of the word.

Pongal is a Tamil word that means to boil or overflow. This dessert is offered to the Sun God before it is served to the family members on banana leaves. Mattu Pongal is the third day of Pongal when Lord Ganesha and Parvati are worshipped and Pongal is served to them.

The term mattu means “bull,” and on this day, bulls are bathed, their horns painted, and their horns capped with gleaming metal caps. Flower garlands and bells are also used to embellish them.

Kaanum Pongal, the fourth and last day of Pongal, is also regarded as an auspicious day to begin new alliances and partnerships.

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— DT Next (@dt_next) December 29, 2022