Pongal is a harvest festival – the Tamil equivalent to Thanksgiving. In an agriculture based civilizations of the harvest plays an important role. By the farmer cultivating his land depends on cattle, timely rain and sunshine. Once a year, thanked them during the harvest festival. To wet Margazhi (mid-December to mid January), the new Tamil month of Thai heralds a series of festivals. The first day of this month is a holiday as “Pongal Day” known. Pongal means “boiling” milk and rice during the month of Thai.
According to the program based on the solar year is divided into two halves following the apparent motion of the Sun and from north to south. The farmer and the latter is called Uttarayanam Dakshinayanam. The first day of the Thai, the Sun leaves the zodiac sign of Sagittarius and enters Capricorn, which is known as Makaram. The event is celebrated as Pongal.
The four-day celebration of Pongal marks a period of abundance, peace and happiness. This is a Tamil saying: “Thailand peranthal Perakum Vali.” This means that paraphrased earlier this month in Thailand, no peace, happiness, prosperity, brightness and harmony in our lives. We honor the sun for a good harvest. Families gather to rejoice and share their joy and their harvests with others. The Sun is offered a “Pongal” of rice and milk.
The preparations for this party started early and the first thing is still in Hindu homes before the start of Pongal is the “Kolam”. It is a form of decoration for Indian households. This decor is made with rice flour and is usually drawn on the floor in front of the door. The Kolam as a symbol of welcome to visitors at the entrance of the house. The center of the Kolam is a piece of cow dung, which is a pumpkin flower with five petals symbol of fertility and an offering of love to the presiding deity.
The houses are cleaned and decorated to make Pongal. For the festival, the Hindu women buy new clothes and prepare sweet home. There is also a belief in the Hindu festival of the harvest will bring a wealth and goodness of his house. The four days of Pongal have their own significance as separate deities are worshiped by every day.
The first day is celebrated as Pongal Bhog and is generally intended for domestic activities and of being together with family members. This first day is celebrated in honor of the Lord Indra, supreme ruler of clouds that give rains. The second day is known as “Pongal” the most important day of the festival, where they offer prayers to the sun. On this day, the sun gives great importance, so the day is called Surya Pongal.
The third day is Mattu Pongal known as the day of Pongal for cows. The cattle are washed, their horns are painted and covered with shining metal caps. Kanu Pongal, celebrated the same day Maatu Pongal is celebrated by sisters for the sake of his brothers. This festival is reminiscent of Raksha Bandhan and Bhai Dooj of North India.
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