India
being an agricultural land, most of the festivals here are related to
the agricultural activities of the people. Pongal is one of such highly
revered festivals celebrated in Tamil Nadu as well as in Andhra Pradesh
to mark the harvesting of crops by farmers. Held in the middle of
January, it is the time when the people get ready to thank God, earth
and their cattle for the wonderful harvest and celebrate the occasion
with joyous festivities and rituals.
This four-day festival of thanksgiving to nature takes its name from the
Tamil word meaning "to boil" and is held in the month of Thai (Jan-Feb)
during the season when rice and other cereals, sugar-cane, and turmeric
are harvested. The festivities of Pongal usually take off in mid-January
and continue for many days ending in mid-February.
Pongal is celebrated on the same day as Bihu, Lohri and Bhogi. But
Pongal stretches over four days. The first day, Bhogi-Pongal is devoted
to Bhogi or Indran, the rain god. The day is linked with the famous
mythological tale about Krishna lifting Gobardhan parbat on his little
finger. The day begins with a til oil bath and in the evening there is a
bonfire made of old cloths, files, mats and rugs. The second day,
Surya-Pongal, is dedicated to the Sun (Surya). On this day, pongal (rice
cooked in milk and jaggery) is bolied by women who offer it to the Sun.
Mattu-Pongal, the third day, is the day dedicated to the worship and
veneration of cattle (mattu). The horns of the cattle is decorated with
turmeric and kumkum, small bells and flowers are hung around their neck
and they are paraded in the streets. The pongal that has been offered to
the local deities is given to the cattle to eat.
The last day is known as Kanyapongal. Coloured balls of the pongal are
made and are offered to birds. A kind of bull-fight, called the 'Jallikattu'
is held in Madhurai, Tiruchirapalli and Tanjore in Tamil Nadu and
several places in Andhra Pradesh. Bundles containing money are tied to
the horns of ferocious bulls, and unarmed villagers try to wrest the
bundles from them. Bullock Cart race and cock-fight are also held. In
Andhra Pradesh, every household displays its collection of dolls for
three days. Community meals are held at night with freshly harvested
ingredients.
People generally go for sightseeing, shopping and exchanging
pleasantries with relatives and friends. The farmers, during this point
of time, are generally flushed with money having sold their produce. On
all the four days during Pongal festival, people make it a point to
visit temples and invoke the blessings of the God for a good and
prosperous beginning to the year. Even though Pongal was originally a
festival for the farming community,today it is celebrated by all. In the
south, all three days of Pongal are considered important. However, those
south Indians who have settled in the north usually celebrate only the
second day. Coinciding with Makara Sankranti and Lohri of the north, it
is also called Pongal Sankranti.
