As the winter Sun climbs higher in the southern sky and the land turns generous after months of cultivation, South India, particularly Tamil Nadu awakens to one of its most cherished festivals-Pongal. Celebrated over four days in mid-January, Pongal is not merely a harvest festival; it is a profound expression of thanksgiving-to the Sun (Surya), the earth, the farmer, and the cattle that sustain agrarian life.
Rooted in ancient Tamil civilization and aligned with the solar transition of Uttarayan and Makar Sankranti, Pongal embodies a timeless philosophy: that human prosperity is inseparable from harmony with nature.
The Origin of Pongal: An Ancient Tamil Thanksgiving
The word Pongal comes from the Tamil verb “ponga”, meaning to boil over-a symbolic gesture of abundance, prosperity and overflowing joy. The festival’s origins can be traced back more than two millennia, referenced in classical Tamil literature, including Sangam texts, which celebrate agriculture, seasonal rhythms and Sun worship.
Pongal is believed to have emerged as a Dravidian harvest observance, long before its later assimilation into broader pan-Indian solar festivals. Over time, it became closely associated with Makar Sankranti, marking the Sun’s northward journey and the end of the winter solstice.
In ancient Tamil society, where agriculture was central to survival and culture, Pongal served as a communal pause-an opportunity to acknowledge nature’s benevolence and reaffirm collective responsibility toward land and livestock.
Significance of Pongal: Gratitude as a Way of Life
At its heart, Pongal is a festival of gratitude. It celebrates not conquest or mythic triumph, but the quiet miracle of sustenance-the grain that ripens, the cattle that plough, the Sun that nourishes.
Spiritually, Pongal honors:
– Surya, the life-giving Sun
– Bhumi Devi, the fertile Earth
– Mattu (cattle), partners in agriculture
– Farmers, custodians of food security
The festival reinforces the Tamil worldview that prosperity must be acknowledged, shared and respected-not exploited.
The boiling of Pongal rice until it spills over the pot is accompanied by joyful cries of “Pongalo Pongal!”, invoking abundance in homes, fields and hearts.
The Four Days of Pongal: Rituals and Observances
Bhogi Pongal: Renewal and Release
The festival begins with Bhogi Pongal, dedicated to renewal. Old possessions, broken tools and discarded items are ceremonially burnt, symbolising the shedding of negativity and stagnation.
Homes are cleaned, walls freshly decorated, and intricate kolams (rangoli) drawn at entrances using rice flour-both an aesthetic and ecological act, as they feed birds and insects.
Bhogi honors Indra, the deity of rain, acknowledging the water that sustains crops.
Thai Pongal: The Festival of the Sun
The second and most important day, Thai Pongal, is dedicated to Surya. Families prepare the sacred dish-Pongal-using newly harvested rice, milk and jaggery, often outdoors under the open sky.
As the pot boils over, prayers are offered to the Sun, thanking him for warmth, light and life. The dish is first offered to the deity before being shared among family and neighbours, reinforcing the spirit of community.
Mattu Pongal: Honoring the Silent Workers
Mattu Pongal is a moving tribute to cattle-bulls, cows and buffaloes-acknowledging their indispensable role in agriculture. Animals are bathed, decorated with garlands, bells and painted horns, and fed special meals.
In villages, this day reflects a deep ethical tradition-recognizing labor beyond the human. It also coincides with traditional events such as Jallikattu, a centuries-old sport celebrating valor and cattle rearing, now regulated and symbolic of cultural identity.
Kaanum Pongal: Community and Kinship
The final day, Kaanum Pongal, is devoted to social bonding. Families visit relatives, exchange gifts and enjoy picnics near rivers or fields.
Women offer prayers for the prosperity of their brothers, echoing themes of protection and familial harmony. The day emphasises that harvest celebrations are incomplete without human connection.
Food, Kolams and Cultural Expression
Food lies at the heart of Pongal, not as indulgence but as ritual. Variants such as Sakkarai Pongal, Ven Pongal and sugarcane delicacies dominate festive tables.
Kolams drawn with mathematical precision reflect Tamil Nadu’s unique fusion of art, science and spirituality. Folk songs, rural games and temple festivities add vibrancy, ensuring that Pongal is celebrated as much in the streets as in the home.
Pongal in Contemporary Times
While urbanisation has transformed lifestyles, Pongal remains deeply relevant. Cities celebrate with community feasts, cultural performances and eco-conscious practices. Schools and institutions use the festival to reconnect younger generations with agrarian values.
Importantly, Pongal has evolved into a symbol of Tamil identity and pride, transcending religious boundaries and uniting people across communities.
A Festival Rooted in Humility and Harmony
Pongal endures because it celebrates the fundamentals of life-food, family and gratitude. In a world increasingly disconnected from nature, the festival serves as a gentle reminder that prosperity is not self-created, but co-produced by sun, soil, rain and labour.
As pots boil over and kolams bloom at dawn, Pongal quietly teaches an enduring lesson: to receive with humility, to share with joy, and to live in harmony with the earth that sustains us.
Tag: Pongal
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Pongal: Tamil Nadu’s festival of gratitude to the sun, soil and sustenance
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Makar Sankranti
Makar Sankranti is an important Hindu festival celebrated in different forms in India and Nepal. The festival is celebrated when the sun enters into Makar rashi in Pausha month. It is celebrated every year either on 13, 14 or 15 january because on these dates the sun leaves Dhanu rashi and enters into maker rashi. The festival is also known as Uttarayni because on this day the sun starts to move towards north.
The festival is celebrated in different states of India in different ways. In south India, It is known as Pongal festival in Tamil Nadu while it is celebrated as Sankranti in Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. In north India, it is celebrated as Lohri in Punjab and Haryana. In Uttar Pradesh, it is a day of giving and donation.
It is believed that on this day, people take bath in the holy Ganga river and then donate the things. The sweets made of Til seasame is also offered to brahamins and elders. Fares are also organised on the banks and ghats of river Ganga.
In Bihar, the festival is known as Khichdi festival. There is a tradition of distributing Urad, rice, til, chiwada, woollen clothes, blankets etc.
Believe goes that Makar Sankranti is the most auspicious day of the year and has a very sacred mythological story associated. It marks the end of an inauspicious phase that begins around mid-December. Further, it is also believed that any sacred Makar Sankranti ritual can be performed from this day onwards. The auspicious day of Makar Sankranti also marks the beginning of warmer and longer days as compared to nights. Now let’s know what mythology says about this lucky day.
Mata Mahishasurmardini – a powerful form of Goddess Durga, had descended with the purpose of destroying Mahishasur. The Goddess had first set foot on earth, in the Kataraaj ashram of Rishi Kardam and Devahuti.
It is also believed that on this day Lord Sun visits God Shani who is the owner of the constellation Makar. Since Shani is the foster child of Sun, they do not share a good relation. However, it is Shani’s responsibility to take care of his father. Hence, this day signifies the priority of responsibilities.
Even in the epic of Mahabharata, an episode mentions how people in that era also considered the day as auspicious. Bhishma Pitamah even after being wounded in the Mahabharata war lingered on till Uttarayan set in so that he can attain heavenly abode inauspicious times. It is said that death on this day brings Moksha or salvation to the deceased.
History of Makar Sankranti
The great savior of his ancestors, Maharaj Bhagirath, did great Tapasya to bring Gangaji down on the earth for the redemption of 60,000 sons of Maharaj Sagar, who were burnt to ashes at the Kapil Muni Ashram, near the present-day Ganga Sagar. It was on this day that Bhagirath finally did tarpan with the Ganges water for his unfortunate ancestors and thereby liberated them from the curse. Thus Makar Sankranti marks the start of good luck and fortune for all endeavors.
Another legend says that any boy or girl who takes a bath at any of the holy places will be blessed with a charming and beautiful partner. Another belief associated with the holy dip is that Lord Vishnu himself comes down to take a dip in the Triveni Sangam and therefore anyone who bathes there is blessed with his grace.
Culture and Festivity of Makar Sankranti
Makar Sankranti is celebrated differently at different places and has a variety of rituals associated.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra takes the limelight when it comes to the celebration of Makar Sankranti. People here come together to exchange sweets especially laddus made of Til (Sesame seeds) and Jaggery. Women who are married get together to exchange utensils and put Haldi Kumkum on their forehead. Hindus wear ornaments made of ‘Halwa’ on this day.
Orissa
In Orissa, families get together to prepare some authentic delicacies on the eve of Makar Sankranti. They prepare a special dish called ‘Ghantaa’ which is a curry made of different cereals and vegetables. They also prepare some sweet dishes. Many of Orissa celebrate the day of Sankranti by lighting bonfires, dancing and eating their particular dishes sitting together. The Bhaya tribals of Orissa have their Magh yatra in which small home-made articles are put for sale.
Uttar Pradesh
In Uttar Pradesh, Sankranti is called ‘Khichiri’. Taking a dip in the holy rivers on this day is regarded as most auspicious. A big one-month long ‘Magha-Mela’ fair begins at Prayag in Allahabad on this occasion. Apart from Triveni, ritual bathing also takes place at many places like Haridwar and Garh Mukteshwar in Uttar Pradesh, and Patna in Bihar.
Bengal
The famous Ganga Sagar river witnesses a huge Mela every year during Makar Sankranti. This is the place where river Ganga is believed to have divided into the nether region and vivified the ashes of the sixty thousand ancestors of King Bhagirath. This meal is attended by a large number of pilgrims from all over the country.
Tamil Nadu
Pongal is the festival which is very similar to Makar Sankranti and is one of the major festivities of South India. Rice and pulses cooked together in ghee and milk are offered to the family deity after the ritual worship. In this, they worship the Sun God.
Andhra Pradesh
The people of Andhra celebrate it for three long days and call it ‘Pedda Panduga’ meaning big festival. The whole event lasts for four days, the first day Bhogi, the second day Sankranti, the third day Kanuma and the fourth day, Mukkanuma.
Gujarat
For the Gujurati’s, the festival is more about socializing and show your love for your relatives. They exchange gifts, arrange dinners and perform Puja together. The Gujarati Pundits on this auspicious day grant scholarships to students for higher studies in astrology and philosophy. This festival thus helps the maintenance of social relationships within the family, caste, and community.
Punjab
Punjab celebrated this occasion as Lohri. This period being the coldest of the year they lit huge bonfires and participate in entertaining activities. Sweets, sugarcane, and rice are thrown in the bonfires, around which friends and relatives gather together. The following day, which is Sankrant, is celebrated as MAGHI. The Punjabi dance their famous Bhangra dance and eat sumptuous dinner together.
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Lohri – The Bonfire Festival
India, the land of festivals, and Lohri is the harvest festival of the breadbasket of India, i.e. Punjab. Lohri falls in the month of Magh and during the auspicious period of Uttarayan when the Sun moves northwards from the Tropic of Capricorn towards the Tropic of Cancer. It is usually celebrated on January 12 or 13 as per the Gregorian calendar.
Lohri marks the culmination of the winter season and is celebrated by worshipping the fire which is symbolic of the Sun God. This festival is also celebrated in Delhi, Haryana and parts of Himachal Pradesh. Natives of these states celebrate this festival with great fervour, gaiety and splendour. During this time, the fields of these Northern states gleam with the harvest of wheat, the main crop of this region, and the festival honours the elements of nature like the fire and the sun as a mark of gratefulness.
The festival is named Lohri because of the following reasons:
– Some believe that the name is derived from Loi, wife of the Sufi Saint Sant Kabir.
– Loh in Punjab means the pan used for making rotis during community feasts. Since Lohri is a community festival, the name has been derived from the word Loh.
– Lohri was also the sister of Holika.
– The main ingredients used for making sweets in this festival are gajak and rewri, or til and rohri. Thus the name Lohri is a combination of these two words.
The Origin of Lohri
The history of the celebration of Lohri finds its roots back in the era of Akbar. As per legends, Dulha Batti was a Muslim robber, who during the rule of Akbar, would steal from the rich and distribute the loot among the underprivileged of the society. He was indeed the Robin Hood of that era for he also helped girls who were being taken away against their wish. Dulha Batti, was contemporary in his thinking and would arrange inter-caste marriages between Muslim girls and Hindu boys. Thus the people of Punjab loved and respected him and sang songs in his praise to express their gratitude. These songs are still sung during the celebration of Lohri.
Customs and Traditions
The joyous occasion of Lohri is marked by many age-old customs and traditions. Some of them include:
The celebrations start a few days prior to Lohri with young girls of the village going from house to house collecting cow-dung cakes which act as the fuel for the bonfire to be lit on the day of the festival. The young girls sing a song asking for the cow-dung cakes.
– On the day of the festival an idol of goddess Lohri is decorated and the bonfire is lit before this idol. Songs are sung in the praise of Goddess Lohri.
– January is the time to harvest sugarcane and thus the products made from sugarcane like jaggery find an important place in the celebrations.
– The bonfire is symbolic of the most important element of nature – the Sun God – and is lit after sunset. It is believed that sun is the source of all life on the earth and represents both the physical as well as the spiritual energy in man. The bonfires can be seen burning in the wheat fields as well as at the porches of houses where people get together as a community to celebrate Lohri.
– People circle the fire as a mark of respect and offer sesame seeds, jaggery, sugar-candy, puffed rice, popcorn and rewaries to the sacred fire.
– The prasaad of til, gajak, jaggery, peanuts, and popcorn are then exchanged among family and friends along with gifts and wishes.
– People chant the words ‘Aadar aye dilather jaye’ which literally means “May honour come and poverty depart”.
– Popular folk songs are sung and people perform the Bhangra and the Gidda, the traditional folk dances of Punjab to the beats of Dhol.
– The dying embers and ashes of the sacred bonfire are taken home by the people as ithey are considered to bring in wealth and prosperity.
– The til is of great significance in this festival. As the people throw sesame seeds into the fire, they pray for as many sons in the family as the number of sesame seeds offered to the sacred fire. Sons are important especially in the agrarian culture of rural Punjab as they are expected to act as farmhands and eventually take over the farms.
– Lohri is also considered to be the beginning of the financial year by the Sikh community.
The First Lohri
The first Lohri after a wedding or the birth of a child is of great importance. The new bride and groom, and the new born baby are showered with gifts by family and friends. A grand celebration is organised with a feast as family and friends gather to wish the newly-wed couple or the newborn.
The Modern Version
With changing times and more awareness among people about the ongoing global warming, Lohri has now donned a contemporary outlook. With the aim towards a green and a clean environment, people have started planting saplings to replenish the trees that are cut for wood that serves as fuel to the sacred bonfire. Today, the people are indeed very conscious about the environment and in order to sustain it they are working towards growing more trees as a community.
Be it Lohri, or Makar Sankranti, or Pongal, these festivals are indeed a celebration of life and are markers of the common man’s gratitude towards the various forces of nature. Happy Lohri!!
Religious Fact
As per the Hindu calendar, in the mid-January, the earth starts its journey towards the sun bringing end to Paush, the coldest month of the year. According to the Shrimad Bhagawad Gita, Lord Krishna manifests his full divinity during the period of Lohri. A day later, the auspicious Makara Sankranthi helds which marks the end of the winter season. Thousands of Hindus bath in the Ganges to nullify their sins.
Social Fact
Wheat is the main winter crop in the northern parts of India. This winter (rabi) crop is sown in the months of October and harvested in March or April. Farmers and their families celebrate Lohri during January (rest period) before the cutting of crops. Thus, Punjabis and Haryanavis celebrate Lohri as the “harvest festival”. Most farmers from rural Punjab consider the day after Lohri as the starting of new financial year. The Sindhi community popularly call Lohri as “Lal loee”. On the festive day, children request their grandparents and aunties for wood sticks which are burnt in the bonfire.
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Pongal: The harvest festival of South India
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 festival lasts for four days. This four days long festival of Tamil Nadu is celebrated for showing gratitude to nature. The literal meaning of Pongal is “spilling over” and it had been named so, because of the tradition of boiling rice in a pot until it starts overflowing. Other traditions of the celebration include drawing of Kolam, swinging & cooking of delicious Pongal.
History of Pongal
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. Although, Pongal originated as a Dravidian Harvest festival and has a mention in Sanskrit Puranas, historians identify the festival with the Thai Un and Thai Niradal which are believed to have been celebrated during the Sangam Age.
Observance of Pongal During the Sangam Era (Thai Niradal)
The celebrations of Sangam Era led to today’s Pongal celebrations. As part of the festivities, maidens of the Sangam era observed ‘Pavai Nonbu’ at the time of Thai Niradal which was a major festival during the reign of the Pallavas (4th to 8th Century AD). It was observed during the Tamil month of Margazhi (December-January).During this festival young girls prayed for rain and prosperity of the country. Throughout the month, they avoided milk and milk products. They would not oil their hair and refrained from using harsh words while speaking. Women used to bath early in the morning. They worshiped the idol of Goddess Katyayani, which would be carved out of wet sand. They ended their penance on the first day of the month of Thai (January-February). This penance was to bring abundant rains to flourish the paddy. These traditions and customs of ancient times gave rise to Pongal celebrations.
Andal’s Tiruppavai and Manickavachakar’s Tiruvembavai vividly describe the festival of Thai Niradal and the ritual of observing Pavai Nonbu. According to an inscription found in the Veeraraghava temple at Tiruvallur, the Chola King Kiluttunga used to gift lands to the temple specially for the Pongal celebrations.
Legends of Pongal
Some legendary stories are also associated with Pongal festival celebrations. The two most popular legends of Pongal are stories related to Lord Shiva and Lord Indra.
According to a legend, once Shiva asked his bull, Basava, to go to the earth and ask the mortals to have an oil massage and bath every day and to eat once a month. Inadvertently, Basava announced that everyone should eat daily and have an oil bath once a month. This mistake enraged Shiva who then cursed Basava, banishing him to live on the earth forever. He would have to plough the fields and help people produce more food. Thus the association of this day with cattle.
Another legend of Lord Indra and Lord Krishna also led to Pongal celebrations. It is said when Lord Krishna were in his childhood, he decided to teach a lesson to Lord Indra who became arrogant after becoming the king of all deities. Lord Krishna asked all the cowherds to stop worshiping Lord Indra. This angered Lord Indra and sent forth his clouds for thunder-storms and 3 days continuous rains. Lord Krishna lifted Mount Govardhan to save all the humans. Later, Lord Indra realized his mistake and divine power of Krishna.
Pongal Celebrations
According to Hindu mythology, this is when the day of the gods begins, after a six-month long night. The festival is spread over three days and is the most important and most fervently-celebrated harvest festival of South India. A special puja is performed on the first day of Pongal before the cutting of the paddy. Farmers worship the sun and the earth by anointing their ploughs and sickles with sandal wood paste. It is with these consecrated tools that the newly-harvested rice is cut.
Each of the three days are marked by different festivities. The first day, Bhogi Pongal, is a day for the family. Surya Pongal, the second day, is dedicated to the worship of Surya, the Sun God. Boiled milk and jaggery is offered to the Sun God. The third day of Pongal, Mattu Pongal, is for worship of the cattle known as Mattu. Cattle are bathed, their horns polished and painted in bright colors, and garlands of flowers placed around their necks. The Pongal that has been offered to the Gods is then given to cattle and birds to eat.
FOUR DAYS OF PONGAL
Bogi Festival
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. On Bhogi all people clean out their homes from top to bottom, and collect all unwanted goods. This day is meant for domestic activities and of being together with the family members.
All the houses from the richest to the humblest are thoroughly scrubbed and whitewashed. Homes are cleaned and decorated with “Kolam” – floor designs drawn in the white paste of newly harvested rice with outlines of red mud. Often pumpkin flowers are set into cow-dung balls and placed among the patterns. Fresh harvest of rice, turmeric and sugarcane is brought in from the field as preparation for the following day.
A special puja is performed on the first day of Pongal before the cutting of paddy. Farmers worship the sun and the earth by anointing their ploughs and sickles with sandalwood paste. It is with these consecrated tools that the newly-harvested rice is cut.
Mattu Pongal
The third day of Pongal is dedicated to cattle and is called Mattu Pongal. People offer prayers to the bulls, cows and other farm animals. Cows and bulls have always held a special place in India. Cows give nourishing milk while bulls and oxen help plough the fields. Thus, Maatu Pongal is a day when cattle are given a well deserved day of rest and are given pride of place. Therefore the farmers honor their cattle friends by celebrating it as a day of thanks-giving to them.
On this day, Lord Ganesh and Goddess Parvati are worshiped and Pongal is offered to them in the ‘puja’. According to a legend, once Shiva asked his bull, Basava, to go to the earth and ask the mortals to have an oil massage and bath every day and to eat once a month. Inadvertently, Basava announced that everyone should eat daily and have an oil bath once a month. This mistake enraged Shiva who then cursed Basava, banishing him to live on the earth forever. He would have to plough the fields and help people produce more food. Thus the association of this day with cattle.
Surya Pongal
The second day of Pongal is known as ‘Surya Pongal’ and is dedicated to the Sun God. It is the day on which the celebration actually begins and is also the first day of the Tamil month Thai. On this day the granaries are full, the sun shines brightly, trees are in full bloom, bird-songs resound in the air and hearts overflow with happiness that get translated into colorful and joyous celebrations.
Thiruvalluvar Day / Kanum Pongal
The fourth day of the three-day Pongal celebrations is called Kaanum Pongal. In few places this day is also known as Karinaal or Thiruvalluvar Day. It is dedicated to the sun god, Surya and has its roots in ancient Brahminical tradition. Since Pongal is a rural, agrarian based festival that celebrates the harvests, the sun is a vital part of the proceedings. This is because the Sun is the symbol of life on Earth. Without the Sun, crops cannot sprout and grow. Without the Sun, harvests will not be plentiful.