Pongal (festival)
pongal also referred thai pongal multiday hindu harvest festival celebrated tamil observed month thai according tamil solar calendar usually fall january dedicated surya solar deity hinduism corresponds makar sankranti hindu observance celebrated many regional name throughout indian subcontinent festival celebrated three four day bhogi surya pongal mattu pongal kanum pongal observed consecutive day according tradition festival mark end winter solstice start sun sixmonthlong journey northward called uttarayana sun enters capricorn festival named ceremonial pongal mean boil overflow refers traditional dish prepared new harvest rice boiled milk jaggery mattu pongal meant celebration cattle cattle bathed horn polished painted bright color garland flower placed around neck procession traditionally occasion decorating ricepowder based kolam artwork offering prayer home temple getting together family friend exchanging gift renew social bond solidarity pongal one important festival celebrated tamil people tamil nadu part south india also major tamil festival sri lanka observed tamil diaspora worldwide thai pongal portmanteau two word thai tamil தை referring tenth month tamil calendar pongal pongu meaning boiling overflow pongal also refers sweet dish rice boiled milk jaggery ritually prepared consumed day principal theme pongal thanking sun god surya force nature farm animal people support agriculture festival mentioned inscription viraraghava temple attributed chola king kulottunga – ce describes grant land temple celebrating annual pongal festivity thcentury shaiva bhakti text tiruvempavai manikkavacakar vividly mention festival appears tamil text inscription variant spelling ponakam tiruponakam ponkal temple inscription chola period vijayanagara period detail recipe similar pongal recipe modern era variation seasoning relative amount ingredient term ponakam ponkal prefixed variant might also indicate festive pongal dish prasadam religious offering given part meal served free community kitchen south indian hindu temple either festival food pilgrim every day pongal multiday hindu harvest festival celebrated tamil observed month thai according tamil solar calendar usually fall january hence also referred thai pongal dedicated surya sun god corresponds makar sankranti harvest festival many regional name celebrated throughout india according tradition festival mark end winter solstice start sun sixmonthlong journey northward sun enters capricorn also called uttarayana festival observed three four day tamil nadu one two day urban location tamil diaspora outside south asia three day pongal festival called bhogi pongal surya pongal mattu pongal tamil celebrate fourth day pongal known kanum pongal traditionally occasion decorating offering prayer home temple getting together family friend exchanging gift renew social bond solidarity festival named pongal dish form festival significant practice dish prepared boiling freshly harvested rice cow milk raw cane sugar additional ingredient coconut ghee along spice cardamom raisin cashew also used cooking done clay pot often garlanded leaf flower sometimes tied piece turmeric root either cooked home community gathering temple village open space cooking done sunlight usually porch courtyard dish dedicated sun god surya traditionally offered god goddess first followed sometimes cow friend family gathered temple community organize free kitchen prepared volunteer gather portion sweet pongal dish sakkarai pongal distributed prasadam temple dish process preparation part symbolism conceptually materially celebrates harvest cooking symbolizes transformation gift agriculture nourishment god community day sun god believed start journey north dish boiling believed symbolically mark blessing parvati ritual dish along many course prepared seasonal food gathering festival marked colorful kolam artwork kolam form traditional decorative art drawn using rice flour often along natural synthetic color powder includes geometrical line drawing composed straight line curve loop drawn around grid pattern dot first day pongal festival called bhogi mark last day tamil month marghazhi day people discard old belonging celebrate new possession people assemble light bonfire order burn heap discard house cleaned painted decorated give festive look prayer offered indra king god thanks hope plentiful rain year ahead kaappu kattu tradition tying leaf azadirachta indica senna auriculata aerva lanata roof house residential area widely practiced kongu nadu region bhogi observed day state tamil nadu karnataka andhra pradesh telangana fruit harvest collected along flower season mixture treat along money given child separate collect money sweet fruit surya pongal thai pongal second main festive day dedicated sun god surya first day tamil calendar month thai coincides makara sankranti winter harvest festival celebrated part india day mark start uttarayana sun enters tenth house zodiac day celebrated family friend new clothes worn preparation traditional pongal dish earthen pot pot typically decorated tying turmeric plant flower garland placed sun along sugarcane stalk home decorated banana mango leaf decorative florals kolam relative friend invited pongal start boil overflow vessel participant blow conch make sound shouting pongalo pongal may rice boil rural area people sing traditional song pongal dish cooking pongal dish first offered surya ganesha shared gathered friend family people traditionally offer prayer sun open proceed eat meal community pongal event family gather public place ceremonial worship mattu pongal madu meaning cow third day festival meant celebration cattle cattle regarded source wealth mean dairy product fertilizer used transportation agriculture cattle bathed horn polished painted bright color garland flower placed around neck taken procession decorate cow turmeric water apply shikakai kumkuma forehead cattle fed sweet including pongal jaggery honey banana fruit people may prostrate word thanks help harvest day mark ritual visit nearby temple community hold procession parading icon sanctum temple wooden chariot dramadance performance encouraging social gathering renewal community bond event pongal include community sport game jallikattu bull fighting jallikattu traditional event held period attracting huge crowd bull released crowd people multiple human participant attempt grab large hump bull back arm hang bull attempt escape kanu pidi tradition observed mattu pongal woman young girl place leaf turmeric plant outside home feed pongal dish food bird particularly crow pray brother well brother pay special tribute married sister giving gift affirmation filial love kanum pongal kanu pongal fourth day festival mark end pongal festivity year word kanum context mean visit family hold reunion day community organize social event strengthen mutual bond consume food sugarcane social gathering young people visit elder pay respect seek blessing elder giving gift visiting child pongal festival maybe viewed social festival since contemporary celebration necessarily link temple ritual temple cultural center organize ritual cooking pongal dish along fair pongal mela handicraft craft pottery saree ethnic jewelry sale site hold traditional community sport uri adithal breaking hanging mud pot blindfolded pallanguḻi kabbadi well group dance music performance major city town pongala pongala celebrated kerala state share historic cultural overlap tamil chera dynasty according sangam literature ritual including cooking pongal dish social visit reverence cattle observed community observed day tamil pongal celebration include dance kathakali musical performance boy girl well major procession featuring temple goddess attukal bhagavati temple near thiruvanathapuram attukal pongala celebrated month february–march attract large crowd others karnataka festival day similar except dish called ellu decoration social visit also common many part karnataka festivity coincide makara sankranthi maghi bihu celebrated across various part india sri lanka celebration pongal among sri lankan tamil varies slightly custom practice followed india pongal festivity generally last two day essentially focused thai pongal day custom cooking pongal therefore carried first day rather second india thai pongal preceded bhogi pongal one important festival celebrated tamil people tamil nadu part south india also major tamil festival sri lanka observed tamil diaspora worldwide including malaysia mauritius south africa singapore united state united kingdom canada gulf country delegate david bulova introduced joint resolution hj virginia house delegate designate january year pongal day list harvest festival