Why Is Pongal Festival Celebrated?

We've all heard the expression "India is a place of diverse culture." 

We also know that, in addition to the many cultures, numerous festivals take place throughout the year. We'll be celebrating one before we know it, and another will be right around the corner. 

Pongal is a harvest festival that is celebrated by people in Tamil Nadu and other Indian states. It is a four-day festival that celebrates the harvest and marks the New Year for the Tamil people. Celebrations take place all across Tamil Nadu, as well as in other parts of India.

Pongal festival is also known as Makara Sankranti, which is celebrated by people from a variety of religions who live in South Asia.

What Is The Pongal Festival?

The term Pongal was derived from two Tamil words: Pon+Kali. Pon refers to boiling/fervent heat while Kali refers to dark/black - thus Pungali or Pongal means ‘a boiling over’.

Pongal is a four-day harvest festival and is a thanksgiving festival that combines several Hindu, Jain, and Zoroastrian festivals.

History Of The Pongal Festival

The festival's origins can be traced back to the Sangam Age when it was known as the 'Dravidian Harvest celebration.' However, other historians suggest that this celebration has been going on for at least 2,000 years. It was known as Thai Niradal at the time. 

According to mythology, unmarried girls prayed for the country's agricultural prosperity during this festival season, and they did so by observing penance during the Tamil month of Margazhi. They didn't drink milk or milk products for the entire month, and they didn't oil their hair. They severely prohibit the use of harsh language. As part of the penance process, a ceremonial bath is taken early in the morning. 

Importance Of The Pongal

It is a harvest celebration or a "thanksgiving" festival since it is held to thank the Sun God and Lord Indra for assisting farmers in growing higher-yielding crops. People reject old possessions and welcome new ones throughout the celebration. 

As we all know, India is a farming country, and the majority of its festivities are centered on nature. The Pongal is also called as Uttarayan Punyakalam, which has unique significance in Hindu mythology and is considered exceedingly fortunate, just like another holiday. 

Pongal Celebrations 

Pongal celebrations include kite flying, family gatherings, cooking up dishes made from freshly harvested rice, and sharing it with friends and relatives. Pongal is also celebrated as Makara Sankranti in other parts of the Indian subcontinent as well as by Hindus around the world including Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

The First Day Of Pongal – Bhogi

The first day of the Pongal Festival marks Bhogi, the burning of old items such as worn-out clothes, used or unwanted gadgets, furniture, and many more. The burning of these items signifies cleansing and the start of a new beginning.

The Second Day Of Pongal - Surya Pongal

The second day of Pongal is called Surya Pongal is the most important day for Hindu devotees and it signifies prosperity and abundance, which is dedicated to those who work in the agriculture sector. This day also marks welcoming the Sun God with a grand ceremony to celebrate his triumph over darkness. On this day people offer worship to cows, sheep, bulls, and other animals that are used for farming purposes.

The Third Day Of Pongal - Maatu Pongal

The day dedicated to cows is known as Mattu Pongal. Farmers paint their cattle on this day to reward them for their hard work and commitment to the agricultural process. The animals are adored and ornamented with bells, maize sheaves, and garlands. 

According to legend, Lord Shiva once sent his bull, Basava, to earth with a message for mortals, instructing them to have an oil massage and bath every day, as well as eat once a month. 

Basava, on the other hand, misquoted Shiva as saying that people should eat every day and take an oil bath once a month. 

Enraged, Shiva cursed Basava, saying he would have to plow the fields to assist people to produce more food. As a result, this day is associated with cattle. 

On the eve of Maatu Pongal and Alanganallur Jallikattu is a traditional and brave game that will be played in various areas. 

Jallikattu is so well-known around the world that it attracts tourists from all over the world. 

The Final Day - Kaanum Pongal

The "Kaanum Pongal" is the last day of the Pongal festival when people travel on short trips or visit relatives' houses or any other location to enjoy themselves as a family and spend time together. 

On this day, a ritual is done in which the leftover sweet Pongal and other food, as well as betel leaves, betel nuts, and sugar cane, are laid out in the courtyard on a washed turmeric leaf. 

The women of the home do this ceremony in the name of their brothers, requesting prosperity for them. 

An Indian Farmer's Plight  

Farmers in India face a difficult existence due to the country's economy. Rice is extremely simple to put on our plates, but it is the result of a lot of hard labor, struggle, pain, worry, and frustration on the part of the farmer. A farmer receives a bank loan, plows the field in the hopes of a bountiful harvest, sows the seed, waters the soil, and carefully checks it to ensure that there is enough water. 

Due to the tropical environment, there may be a shortage of rain, causing the paddy fields to fail, or there may be excessive rain, causing the paddy crops to decay and causing a large loss to the farmers. A farmer, against all obstacles, brings our rice to our plates. Many farmers commit suicide in India because they are unable to repay their loans or because of financial hardship and malnutrition. A farmer who devotes his entire life to feeding individuals like us is unable to feed his own family and perishes.