PONGAL FESTIVAL

Pongal

India is a land of festival and harvest is the reason why Pongal is widely celebrated in Tamil Nadu. The celebration of prosperity of harvest and crops in the villages across southern part of India lasts for four days. The festival days is marked with variety of food, wishes, and prayers for a good harvest the upcoming year.pongal in 2012 will be celebrated on january 14.

About Pongal

The Pongal days in Tamil Nadu puts the harvesting season to an end. Bogi Festival, Surya Pongal, Mattu Pongal, and Kaanum Pongal are the four days of the agricultural festival in South India. First three days, there are traditional dishes prepared at home and family reunions.

The last of Pongal is thanksgiving to elders and God. The farmers and their families seek blessings from the Sun God and mother Earth. They wish each other on the first day morning of Pongal. They call in their fellow workers in the field who help them in paddy cultivation. The festival is welcomed in the south Indian villages for the break in schedule that it brings.

Pongal celebrations

Though the celebration lasts four days in the year, people start planning much before. On Bhogi festival, they thank Lord Indra. The special Pongal dish is the specialty of the second day celebrations. On Mattu Pongal the farmers worship the animals mainly cattles who plough the land to increase fertility. The high-yield crops are a result of good plough on the land. Reunions and visiting relatives is a custom for the last day of Pongal in India. It is to pay respect to elders for the inheritance of land.