Pongal

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Pongal is a Tamil festival celebrated during the harvesting time of farms in winter. It coincides with Makarsankranti festival celebrated in north India. The festival lasts for four days and spent in thanking the Sun god for good crop, life and health. All the four days have a unique significance in the celebration.

First day, called Bhogi Pongal starts with discarding of old items and garbage of the house. A bonfire is lit to burn all the useless and trash items of the house. The house is cleaned, decorated, and painted to gear up for the auspicious occasion. Second day is Thai Pongal. The day is marked with people in colorful attire, preparation of a cuisine named kheer. Pongal has the meaning boiling of milk in tamil. Kheer is the main food of the occasion made by boiling, rice, milk and Jaggery. People worship god Sun and eat the Kheer. Third day is for worshipping the cows. They are provided good food and set free from work. In rural areas Jallikatu or taming the bull game is played. Fourth day is marked by visiting of brothers to their married sisters. This is a family union for making the bond stronger between the families.

Pongal is celebrated in Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh with equal enthusiasm. In fact the festival is celebrated throughout India by different names.

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