Celebrated with great enthusiasm in Tamil Nadu, Pongal is a Tamil harvest festival. This is a festival where the farmers express their gratitude for the good harvest. People wish each other for peach, good luck and happiness. It is a fest time for the Tamils. And if you are thinking of celebrating Pongal in Tamil Nadu, fret not! We tell you everything about this festival!
1. History and Origin
Pongal, a 4 day festival which either starts on 13th January or 14th January every year, according to the Gregorian calendar. This Tamil harvest festival dates back to the Sangam Age, when this festival was celebrated as Thai Un and Thai Niradal. During this festival, the young girls prayed for prosperity and rain for a good harvest. During this time, all dairy products such as milk and cheese were avoided. It was a rule that women would bathe early in the morning and worship Goddess Katyayani. All these old traditions led to the festival of Pongal and its celebration.
2. Pongal Celebrations
It is believed that celebrating Pongal traditionally will help you prosper and will bring good fortune as well. An important festival for the agriculture community, it marks the end of the harvesting season. ‘Ponga’ means overflowing and this is why there is a custom of cooking rice in a new pot until it overflows. The first day is known as Bhogi, during which people clean up their houses, and in the evening all the unwanted things are thrown in a bonfire. The second day is known as Perum Pongal or Surya Pongal, which is considered very important. On this day the Sun God is worshipped, while the women decorate the courtyards in their homes with beautiful kolams.
The third day is known as Mattu Pongal, when people worship and thank the cows and buffaloes that are used for farming. A bull taming contest, known as Jallikattu is known sport, played by the young. The fourth and the last day is known as Kanum Pongal, people go out for picnics and spend time with family and friends.
3. Pongal Delicacies
Pongal is not just a religious harvest festival, but also a festival of delicious dishes that you get to munch on. Pongal is one dish that is prepared at every house during this festive season. The festival of Pongal is incomplete without this sweet rice dish. Along with pongal, other dishes are prepared at home as well, such as idli, sambhar, paper dosai, boonda, pineapple rasam, rajma curry, milk payasam and bread idli. These well-known South Indian delicacies spice up the Tamil festive season.
4. Traditional Gifts for Pongal
Pongal is a festival where people gift their loved ones religious items and other things that may come to their use. Most of them go for the usual traditional gift items such as an idol or image of the Sun God, decorative items for the house, wooden handicrafts (especially if they are made by you!) and utensils. Others go for home appliances, clothes, jewellery and perfumes.
5. Important Information
Tamil Nadu is a
beautiful place and with Pongal coming up, it’s going to be legendary. However,
Pongal isn’t the only good thing about it! So, before you get all set to visit
Tamil Nadu to celebrate Pongal, keep the following things in mind!
How to Reach: Reach
Chennai by air from New Delhi
Where to Stay: Ginger
Hotel, Vivanta by Taj, Savera Hotel
Major Attractions: Marina
Beach, Valluvar Kottam, Thyagaraja Temple
Enjoy the 4 day festival of Pongal with the South
Indians in their customs and traditions. And who knows? Maybe it turns out to
be the best experience of your life!
