Jan 14, 2025 · Pongal is one of the most popular harvest festivals of South India, mainly of Tamil Nadu. Pongal falls in the mid-January every year and marks the auspicious beginning of Uttarayan - sun's journey northwards.

Pongal is an ancient festival of people in South India particularly Tamils. The history of the festival can be traced back to the Sangam Age i.e. 200 B.C. To 300 A.D.

What is Pongal? Pongal is the only festival of Hindu that follows a solar calendar and is celebrated on the fourteenth of January every year. Pongal has astronomical significance: it marks the beginning of Uttarayana, the Sun's movement northward for a six month period.

Pongal festival is celebrated for four continuous days beginning from the last day of Tamil month of Maargazhi (December-January) and lasting upto the third day of Thai. The second and the main day of Pongal called Surya Pongal marks the beginning of Tamil month of Thai that corresponds to the month of January - February according to the ...

It is held to honor the Sun, for a bountiful harvest. Families gather to rejoice and share their joy and their harvests with others. The Sun is offered a "Pongal" of rice and milk. Preparations for this festival start early and the first thing that is always found in Hindu homes before the start of Pongal is the 'kolam'.

Pongal in Africa: Mauritius, Reunion, Seychelles And South Africa. Mauritius has a Tamil population of 115,000, the larger bulk from the southern state of Tamil Nadu who arrived there since 1727 to work in the sugar cane plantations. Reunion is an Indian Ocean island being run as a French Department.

While the Kolam is drawn throughout the year in most homes in South India, it is especially significant during Pongal. History of Kolam The colorful Kolam tradition dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization (2500 B.C).

The festival of Pongal captures the quintessence of south Indian culture in all its entirety and traditional practices and customs continue to hold their own even today. The spirit is alive and Pongal is still treated as a time to discard the old and welcome the new.

Bogi festival or Bhogi is the first day of Pongal and is celebrated in honor of Lord Indra, "the God of Clouds and Rains". Lord Indra is worshiped for the abundance of harvest, thereby bringing plenty and prosperity to the land. Thus, this day is also known as Indran.

Four Days of Pongal. Lasting for over four days Pongal, a harvest festival is celebrated in the month of Shravan. Pongal literally means, "boiling over". The Tamil harvest festival is celebrated with decorated cows, processions and decorative Rangoli. Pongal is a sweet porridge made from newly harvested rice and eaten by all, even the animals.