Pongal the Harvest festival

Festival of Pongal is celebrated every year on 14th or 15th of January(தை மாதம் முதல் தேதி) in Tamilnadu and other parts of India. It's also known as Shankaranthi in other parts of India. This year Pongal falls on 14th of January 2017 and celebrated for 4days from 13th Jan 2017 to 16th Jan 2017

Bhogi Pandigai:

Its the first day of Pongal festival in honour of Lord Indra who is the god of clouds and rain. On this day old/broken household are thrown away or burnt in fire. The houses are cleaned and decorated. Bonfire is lit with wood and cow dung cakes and the unwanted materials are thrown in the bonfire.

"பழையன கழைதலும் புதியன புகுதலும் போகி பண்டிகை" which translates to "Getting rid of the unwanted things and bringing in the new ones". On this day the unwanted households are thrown and burnt,  which symbolizes that we have to get rid of  anger, grudge and revenge from our hearts and let love, tolerance, mercy and charity flourish in our hearts and minds.

When you say Bhogi one can't refrain from remembering the song sequence( காட்டு குயிலு மனசுகுள்ள) from the movie Thalapathi where Rajinikanth walks in style around the bhogi Bonfire.

Pongal or Surya Pongal:

It's the second day of the festival and also marks the first day of Tamil month 'Tai(தை)' in honour of the sun god. On this day its traditional to cook rice in new decorated pots, when the sun rises. "தை பிறந்தாள் வழி பிறக்கும்" which is obvious that prosperity comes after the harvest. The most important is biting sugarcane. During Pongal you can find sugarcanes stalked along the roadside for sale. Women do colorful Rangoli in-front of their houses.

Filmmaker and Film Director R.Parthiban says "இருப்தை போட்டு இல்லாதவர்களுக்கு கொடுப்பது" which means Make Pongal with the rice and dhal u have at home and give to those who don't have.. very thoughtful and new dimension of Pongal.

Maattu Pongal or Thiruvalluvar day:

The third day of the Pongal festival is Maattu Pongal. On this day farmers decorate their bulls with garland, beads & bells and take them as procession around the village. In some parts of Tamilnadu Jallikattu is conducted, where young men compete to take control of bulls specially trained for Jallikattu. The winner gets rewarded with gold coins and prize money. Currently Jallikattu is banned by supreme court. #we_do_Jallikattu

This day is also commemorated as Thiruvalluvar day in remembrance of the great Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar who wrote Thirukural.

Kannum Pongal or Ullavar Thinam:

The fourth day of Pongal festival is kannum Pongal. Its also known as Kari naal in southern districts of Tamilnadu. On this day every one go with their family and friends on picnic to near by rivers, reservoirs and various other place. Large crowds gather in these place which looks like திருவிழா with lot of shops, Eateries and Entertainment.

Pongal is a thanks giving festival for getting good sunlight, enough rain during their cultivating season. Pongal is generally not related to any religion. It's well known as Tamilian festival irrespective of the religion and celebrated around the world.

Every year controversies surround these four days of Pongal festival, which include Ban on burning unwanted households due to air pollution, Ban on Jallikattu and this year, cancellation of public holidays for Pongal, Land and environment pollution after the kannum Pongal.

Despite all these controversies Pongal is a very special festival for farmers and for the entire country.

I wish all the readers and their families a Very happy Pongal... may the Pongal bring great yield and happiness.

பொங்கலோ!! பொங்கல்!!

Picture courtesy: Honorable Mr. Internet

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                                                                                                   Blog Article by: Allwyn Chellakumar