Pongal
Pongal is one of the most popular festivals of South India, mainly of Tamil Nadu. Pongal is celebrated to mark the withdrawal of the Southeast monsoons as well as the reaping of the harvest. It falls in the month Thai which means fourteenth of January every year and is strictly a rural festival.
The name of the Pongal festival is derived from Pongal, a rice pudding made from freshly harvested rice, milk and jaggery.
Pongal is a four-days-long harvest festival. The first day, "Bhogi Pongal", is a day for the family. "Surya Pongal", the second day, is dedicated to the worship of Surya, the Sun God. The third day of Pongal, "Mattu Pongal", is for the worship of the cattle.
The Fourth day is known as Knau or Kannum Pongal day. During the final day, Kaanum Pongal people visit beaches and theme parks. They also chew sugar cane and decorate their houses with kolam.
Each day of this festival has a special significance; however, it is celebrated more grandly in the villages, while the city folk mainly celebrate on the second day only. Today there is an increase in the number of households celebrating Pongal, as north Indians too.
Pongal is one of the most popular festivals of South India, mainly of Tamil Nadu. Pongal is celebrated to mark the withdrawal of the Southeast monsoons as well as the reaping of the harvest. It falls in the month Thai which means fourteenth of January every year and is strictly a rural festival.
The name of the Pongal festival is derived from Pongal, a rice pudding made from freshly harvested rice, milk and jaggery.
Pongal is a four-days-long harvest festival. The first day, "Bhogi Pongal", is a day for the family. "Surya Pongal", the second day, is dedicated to the worship of Surya, the Sun God. The third day of Pongal, "Mattu Pongal", is for the worship of the cattle.
The Fourth day is known as Knau or Kannum Pongal day. During the final day, Kaanum Pongal people visit beaches and theme parks. They also chew sugar cane and decorate their houses with kolam.
Each day of this festival has a special significance; however, it is celebrated more grandly in the villages, while the city folk mainly celebrate on the second day only. Today there is an increase in the number of households celebrating Pongal, as north Indians too.