{"id":30443,"date":"2018-01-15T04:07:39","date_gmt":"2018-01-15T03:07:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/no-problem-mam.com\/?p=30443"},"modified":"2021-01-10T09:30:26","modified_gmt":"2021-01-10T08:30:26","slug":"pongal-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magikindia.com\/en\/pongal-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Pongal, the Tamil Thanksgiving to Nature"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Pongal is the harvest festival<\/strong>, held in mid-January each year in thanksgiving to nature, the sun, the rain and working animals.<\/strong> Agriculture is of immense importance in India, so the harvest is a major event. It is believed that this celebration brings wealth and prosperity.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Where is Pongal <\/strong>celebrated?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The Pongal festival is widely celebrated in South India, especially Tamil Nadu where it is called Thai Pongal<\/em>. <\/strong>
It falls on the first day of the month that is called Thai in the Tamul calendar. In Tamil Nadu<\/a> it is said that “The birth of the month of Thai paves the way to new opportunities”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Women cooking Pongal rice | Photo : thefederal.com<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In North India, this period of time takes other names and it is celebrated in different ways<\/strong>: In Uttar Pradesh, <\/a><\/strong>for instance, it is called Makara Sankranti. It is considered auspicious to take a ritual bath in a sacred river that day, as many do in Allahabad<\/a> <\/strong>and Varanasi.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Gujarat<\/a>,<\/strong> it is called Uttarayana and it is celebrated in magnificent style with a kite flying festival<\/a>.<\/strong> In Punjab, it corresponds to Lohri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pongal corresponds to the festival of Lohri in the Punjab<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Astrological <\/strong>meaning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Pongal marks the start of Uttarayana, the six months of the sun’s southward progression.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pongal has an astrological significance too. Under the name of Makara Sankranti<\/em> it marks the sun’s transition from Dhanur Rasi<\/em> (Sagittarius) to Makara Rasi<\/em> (Capricorn).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are 12 sankranti<\/em> or transitions in the year, one for each month. Makar Sankranti <\/em>is the start of Uttarayana, the six months of the sun’s southward progression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Hinduism, Uttarayana is considered propitious, unlike Dakshinaayana, when the sun is moving southward. Important events are scheduled during Uttarayana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Legend <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Boghi, the first day of the Pongal festival, is associated with the legend of Indra, the god of clouds and rain, and Lord Krishna.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The people of Govardhan would worship Indra in a grand way and because of that Indra became very arrogant, thinking he was the most powerful beings in the Universe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lord Krishna lifting Mount Govardhan on his little finger<\/em><\/em> (frescoe of Bundi palace, Rajasthan)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When Krishna heard of this he concocted a plan to teach Indra a lesson.<\/strong> He persuaded the people to worship the Mount Govardhan instead of Indra. Indra was so furious that he sent heavy downpours of rain to flood the land. To protect people, Lord Krishna lifted Mount Govardhan on his little finger and held it aloft over the inhabitants. The rain continued for three days, until Indra realised he was wrong and acknowledged the divine power of Krishna. He asked for his forgiveness and promised to be humble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then<\/strong>, Krishna allowed the Bhogi celebrations in honour of Indra to continue.<\/strong> That’s why this day is also called Indran<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nandi, the divine bull of Lord Shiva<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Another legend connects Mattu Pongal<\/em>, the third day of Pongal, with Shiva.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One day Lord Shiva sent his mount, the bull Nandi, to tell people on Earth to bathe with oil once a day and eat only once a month. But Nandi got confused and told the people to eat every day and bathe with oil once a month. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shiva cursed Nandi to live on Earth to help humans in the fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Meaning <\/strong>and Symbolism<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\"Pongal\"
Pongal rice overflows as a sign of abundance and prosperity.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The word\u00a0\u2018pongal’ means ‘to boil over’ or ‘to overflow’<\/strong>. People deliberately let the rice boil over as a sign of abundance and prosperity. When it overflows, people shout “Pongalo Pongal!<\/em>“<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pongal\"
Pongalo Pongal !<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pongal has also given its name to an Indian dish<\/strong>, a kind of sweet or savoury pudding.<\/strong> The ingredients vary from region to region. For the sweet version, rice is cooked in milk sweetened with jaggery (palm sugar) or molasses. For the savoury version, see the recipe below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symbolically, pongal (the dish) combines the five elements or ‘Pancha Bhootha’.<\/strong> Rice represents the land or Bhoomi. It is cooked in water: Jalam. The fire it is cooked on represents Agni, sacred fire. Traditionally, it is cooked in the open air \u2013 Vayu (air) and Akasham (the ether).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pongal\"
Ven Pongal | Photo : theindianclaypot.com<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Festival highlights<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Traditionally, the festival lasts four days. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just before the festivities, the houses are cleaned and decorated. Women design kolams,<\/strong> decorative geometric patterns drawn with rice flour, in front of their home. Symbolically, kolams welcome visitors and ensure the household’s prosperity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pongal\"
Kolam, geometrical patterns drawn with rice flour<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1st day: Bhogi<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

People burn or throw out old household articles and buy new ones.<\/strong> This marks the start of a new cycle. This first day is celebrated in honour of Indra, the god of clouds and rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2nd day: Perum or<\/strong> Surya Pongal<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"Pongal\"
Ritual of the arati (offering of flames) during Surya Pongal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It is the most important day of the festival. On that day, the pongal rice is set to boil and allowed to boil over.<\/strong> People also prepare snacks, visit each other and exchange good wishes. Some people pray and make offering to the sun god Surya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3rd day: Mattu Pongal or cow pongal<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This is the day of thanksgiving to the cattle that contributes to a good harvest.<\/strong> The cows and buffaloes are groomed, garlanded and decorated with colours in their honour, and they are given food offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A decorated cow for Mattu Pongal<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

4th day: Kaanum Pongal<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This is a day for spending time with friends and family<\/strong> and sharing meals.<\/strong> Traditional dances like kummi or kolattam are danced on this day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pongal <\/strong>recipe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\u00a0This is the Tamil recipe of ‘Ven Pongal\u2019.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n