Pongal
- Also called:
- Thai Pongal or Ponkal
- Related Topics:
- Makar Sankranti
- jallikattu
Pongal, four-day harvest festival of Tamil Nadu state, southern India. Pongal is also celebrated by the Tamil diaspora in various other regions of southern India and around the world. The festival is observed in mid-January according to the Tamil solar calendar and marks the beginning of Thai, an auspicious month for the Tamil community that falls between mid-January and mid-February.
Traditionally, during the Pongal festival a sweetened rice dish, also named pongal, is prepared and enjoyed. This dish is known as ven (“white”) pongal. A popular variation called chakkara (“sweet”) pongal is made with lentils and jaggery. Though these dishes are closely associated with the festival, they are not reserved for that occasion alone. Pongal can be enjoyed any time of year as a delicious and comforting meal.
Pongal is observed according to the solar calendar. It celebrates the Sun’s transition into the zodiac sign of makara (corresponding to Capricorn) according to sidereal time, which is based on the positions of stars. According to the Gregorian calendar, this festival is usually observed from January 14 to 17 every year. In other Indian states Pongal is known as Makar Sankranti.
History and origin
The word pongal is derived from the Tamil word pongu, which means “to boil over,” symbolizing abundance and prosperity. The origin of this festival can be traced to the Sangam Age, when it was called Thai Niradal in the month of Margazhi (mid-December to mid-January). Some scholars believe that this festival is linked to Vedic first fruit rites, in which the first fruits of the harvest are offered to God.
The Sangam Age was a formative period in southern Indian history, particularly within what is now Tamil Nadu. This age spanned approximately 300 bce to 300 ce. It is distinguished by its rich literary works, known as Sangam literature, which offer profound insights into the sociopolitical, economic, and cultural landscapes of ancient Tamil society.
According to the Hindu calendar, the year is divided into two halves: uttarayana (“northward journey”) of the Sun, from about January 14 to July 16, and dakshinayana (“southward journey”) of the Sun, from about July 16 to January 14. Uttarayana is considered to be highly auspicious, whereas dakshinayana is often regarded as less favorable. Dakshinayana marks the Sun’s journey from north to south, moving from the zodiac sign Cancer to Capricorn. Because this period is traditionally viewed as less propitious, the first day of the Sun’s return northward (uttarayana) is especially significant, and hence it is celebrated as Pongal.
Death is often linked to uttarayana and dakshinayana. Death during dakshinayana is often seen as less desirable than during uttarayana, which is considered spiritually favorable. This belief, rooted in Hindu mythology, is illustrated by the story of Bhishma, the revered warrior-sage from the epic Mahabharata. Despite being mortally wounded and lying on a bed of arrows on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Bhishma chooses to sustain his life by willpower, waiting until the onset of uttarayana to relinquish it.
The first day of uttarayana, known as Makar Sankranti (or simply Sankranti), is celebrated widely. On this day the Sun transitions from the 9th sign of the zodiac (Sagittarius) to the 10th sign (Capricorn, or makara), aligning with the Tamil month of Thai. Historically, this day has been highly significant, especially in Hindu temples, where inscriptions record donations and rituals performed to honor the god Shiva through special abhishekas (ritual bathing ceremonies).
Celebration
Tamils around the world celebrate Pongal with great zeal. The four days of this festival are dedicated to various deities and agents who are believed to help with a good harvest.
Bhogi Pongal
Bhogi Pongal is the first day of the celebration; it is a time for renewal and cleansing. This day honors Indra, the Hindu god of rain (also known as the king of gods). People discard old items and deep-clean their houses to symbolize a fresh beginning. Early in the morning, Tamil women adorn the entryway to their houses with colorful kolam (rangolis made with colored rice powder). People wear new clothes to embrace the joyous spirit of the celebration. Before dawn a bonfire called Bhogi Mantalu is lit using wood. As part of this ritual, old items are burned in the fire. This act represents cleansing the past and making way for fresh beginnings. Families gather around the Bhogi Mantalu to sing and dance as a way of celebration.
Surya Pongal
The second day of Pongal honors the Hindu god of the Sun, Surya, and is called the Surya Pongal. It is the main day of the festival, also marking the first day of the month of Thai. As a way of celebration, people offer boiled milk and jaggery (a kind of sugar) to Surya to seek his blessings and express gratitude for a good harvest. Surya Pongal is a day of abundance, and it starts with Tamil women making colorful kolam designs. Later in the day, the pongal dish is prepared in pots decorated with leaves, flowers, and sugarcane pieces. Newly harvested rice is cooked until it overflows the pots, which is the essence of Pongal, as it suggests prosperity. People happily shout, Pongalo pongal! (“Let the pongal rise up!”) when the pot starts brimming over. After the rice is cooked, it is first offered to the Sun god. Many other sweet and savory dishes are also prepared and enjoyed on this day.
Mattu Pongal
The third day of Pongal honors and worships cattle (Tamil: mattu) for their important role in farming. Cows are honored for their contribution to a good harvest. They are bathed, decorated, and worshipped on this day. Their horns are painted, and they are garlanded with flowers and fruit, taken in ceremonial processions, and allowed to graze freely. In some parts of Tamil Nadu jallikattu, a traditional bull-taming sport, is played. In this sport, a bull is released into a crowd, and participants attempt to tame it. A bull that emerges victorious is often prized and reserved for breeding.
Kaanum Pongal
The fourth and final day of Pongal is Kaanum or Kanum Pongal. This day focuses on fostering community bonds and strengthening relationships. The young seek their elders’ blessing, and families feast on delicious meals. The celebrations on this day resemble Raksha Bandhan, as women pray for their brothers’ well-being and offer rice to birds. Traditional folk dances, such as mayilattam and kolattam, are performed. In addition, people visit Pongal melas (“fairs”) to enjoy games and other activities. In some regions this day is celebrated as Tiruvalluvar day.