Pongal: Date, Celebrations, Puja and more
One of the most significant festivals in India and Sri Lanka is Pongal. Pongal is a Tamil harvest festival dedicated to the Sun God, thanking him for a bountiful harvest. It is celebrated grandly over four days in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in India.
The festival also signals the end of the cold winter season and the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Known as Makar Sankranti in Northern India, it’s celebrated as Pongal in Tamil Nadu and its neighbourhoods. This period, Uttarayana Punyakalam, is considered auspicious, as it’s a time when Devas wake up. This year, Pongal falls between January 1, 2024 and January 18, 2024
Let us tell you more about the history of Pongal.
Pongal History
Pongal is linked to Bhagwan Krishna in Gokula. Seeking to teach Indra, the rain god, humility, Krishna suggests villagers worship Govardhana Parvat and their cattle on Indra Maha Day. Indra, angered by this deviation from traditional worship, floods the village. In response, Krishna lifts Govardhana like an umbrella to protect the villagers. After 7 days, Bhagwan Indra admitted defeat, acknowledging Krishna’s extraordinary power. Realising his duty to provide rain selflessly, Indra understood his mistake. Krishna, upon seeing Indra’s realisation, announced the celebration of ‘Bhogi Pongal’ each year to honour him.
One of the most famous stories is of Shiva and his biggest devotee, Nandi. Shiva instructs Nandi to tell people to eat once a month and bathe daily. However, Nandi conveys the message incorrectly, urging people to eat daily and bathe monthly. Enraged, Shiva instructs Nandi to assist humans in agriculture, ensuring they eat daily. This tale highlights the origins of Pongal, celebrating harvest, divine intervention, and the importance of humility.
Astrological Significance of Pongal
The festival signals the end of the winter solstice and the Sun’s journey northward for six months (Uttarayanam) when it enters Capricorn. Named after the ceremonial dish “Pongal,” meaning “to boil, overflow,” it involves preparing rice boiled in milk with jaggery from the new harvest. This aligns with the Sun entering Capricorn in the zodiac, marking this significant time.
Pongal Preparations and Celebrations
Day 01 – Bhogi Pongal
People joyfully burn old household items to symbolise new beginnings on this day. A special puja is conducted by cutting paddy as part of the celebrations.
Day 02 – Surya Pongal
During the Pongal festival, people worship the Sun God. Women create decorative Kolam patterns at their home entrances and prepare a pot of fresh rice with milk at auspicious times. They let the milk and rice boil freely in a clay pot, chanting, “Pongalo Pongal!” As a tradition, the cooked Pongal is then offered to the Sun God, and the family enjoys a special feast.
Day 03 – Maatu Pongal
The third day of Pongal focuses on worshipping cattle. Cows are cleaned and decorated with colourful beads, flowers, and bells. Mattu Pongal includes Jallikattu, a traditional bull-taming sport in Tamil Nadu villages. In this game, a bull is released, and anyone can attempt to calm and tame it. Winning bulls are often kept for breeding.
Day 04 – Kaanum Pongal
On this day, women prepare various colourful rice dishes and place them in separate pots on the terrace to feed crows, symbolising ancestor worship. After this ritual, families celebrate with traditional Indian folk dances like Mayilattam and Kolattam.
On this day, people also perform Surya Narayan Puja, among others. In order to know more about it, how you can do it or any other aspect of Pongal, you can speak to expert astrologers and pundits at NamoAstro.
Special Food Items for Pongal
Ven Pongal
A healthy South Indian dish made with broken rice, moong dal, ghee, and pepper pods. It’s typically served with sambar or coconut chutney.
Puran Poli
This sweet flatbread is a special and traditional dish for Pongal. Prepared with coconut and Bengal gram dal with ghee, it’s enjoyed in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Maharashtra, and other parts of West and South India.
Murukku
A crunchy and coiled snack made with urad dal, Murukku is a delightful addition to Pongal feasts, perfect for the winter season.
Sakkarai Pongal
Among the various Pongal dishes, Sakkarai Pongal stands out. Made with green gram, jaggery, and rice, it offers a unique flavour for the festive celebration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Pongal the same as Makar Sankranti?
A: In India, the celebration of the new harvest is known by different names like Makar Sankranti, Uttarayan, Khichdi, Lohri, Paush Parbon, Bhogali Bihu, and many more. Pongal specifically refers to how Tamil people celebrate this festival.
