Pongal is the name of the Harvest Festival celebrated amongst South Indians. Those who trace their heritage to the region of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka celebrate Pongal with a lot of zeal. It is also the name of the dish that is served on this day. Pongal is also referred to as Thai Pongal. It is observed at the start of the month Thai according to the Tamil solar calendar, and this is typically about January 14.
Pongal is a celebration of thanksgiving to nature and all beings who help bring food, a basic necessity of life, to us. It is one of the names of the harvest festival as farmers thank God for their bountiful harvest. The word “Pongal” in Tamil means spilling over or overflowing and its significance is a wish of abundance, fertility, and prosperity.
It is usually celebrated over the course of 4 days.
Day 1: is Boghi - Eve of Pongal.
It is a Spring cleaning day. A bonfire represents all the things you need to discard and start afresh. Outward and inward cleansing is done for the home and for ourselves. It's time to clean your room, your home and to make resolutions, and strike out any bad habits. Start afresh for your home and for yourself.
Day 2: Surya Pongal – Dedicated to the Sun God and is also the first day of the Tamil month Thai
On this day, homes are cleaned and decorated early in the morning. Kolam designs are
drawn and rice is boiled in pots along with milk and jaggery until they overflow and spill. The Sun God is offered this dessert before it's served to the family members on banana leaves. The Sun is thanked on this day for being a source of energy especially for the growing of food on farms.
The two varieties of Pongal are chakarai pongal, which is sweet, and venn pongal, which is savoury with a curry that is made of all the harvested vegetables. It is made apart from all the other preparation for prayers.
1. Savoury version. Milk, water, rice, mung beans, ghee, and a bit of salt.
2. Sweet version. Milk, water, rice, mung beans, ghee, sugar, cashews, raisins, and a bit of salt
Even in these 2 categories, many variations exist. Variations may come from the amount of ghee or type and amount of sugar used as well as whether one loves to add cashews or raisins. There are also variations in the mung beans used. Some use moong dhal (paasi paruppu in Tamil), the yellow mung beans and some prefer the green.
Day 3: Mattu Pongal – Lord Ganesha and Parvati are worshipped
On this day thanks is given to all our bovine friends who help to plough our fields and help
to produce food. The cattle are bathed and dressed up, painted, and revered. In India, they bring them out on walks and street parades.
Bullfights take place in certain towns. Jallikattu is a traditional event in which a bull is released into a crowd of people, and multiple human participants attempt to grab the large hump on the bull's back trying to tame it. There is increasing controversy surrounding this practice with animal rights as the focus.
Day 4: Kaanum Pongal - The final day of Pongal
Kaanum Ponggal and Kanni Ponggal fall on the same day, but the method of celebration is quite different.
Kaanum Pongal is considered an auspicious day to start new bonds and relationships.
A day to visit friends and relatives this festive season.
Kanni Ponggal is celebrated for fertility.
Unmarried women would pray on this day to get a good husband.
* Credits to my cousins Mahalakshmi and Karpagam for their help with this.
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