Pongal 2023: Importance Of This Traditional South Indian Festival

Dedicated to the Sun God, Pongal is the very first festival of South India that marks the beginning of the new year. Similar to other harvest festivals, Pongal is celebrated in order to thank the deities for the new year’s harvest. Just like Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Bihu and Maghi, people exchange delicious foods and organize a big feast, in which they invite their near & dear ones. (Images courtesy: Canva)

Also known as Thai Pongal, the name of this festival literally means ‘to boil’ and ‘overflow’ which suggests abundance and affluence. It is celebrated on the first day of Tamil month Thai when the Sun enters the Makara Rashi (Capricorn) and it is for this reason that this festival is known as Makar Sankranti in Northern India. This signals the end of winter and the onset of spring throughout the northern hemisphere. For the next six months, the days are longer and warmer. According to the legends, the Devas wake up after a six-month-long break during this period and it is referred to as Uttarayan Punyakalam. Also, it is believed that those who pass away during this period attain salvation and in fact, Bheeshma is believed to have waited for the dawn of Uttarayana before he gave up his life.

During the season, food ingredients like sugarcane, rice and turmeric are harvested in Southern India and prominently used in the Pongal feast.

This popular South Indian festival is known to be a four-day affair, where the first day is known as Bhogi, the second day as Perum Pongal, the third day as Mattu Pongal, and the last day is called Kaanum Pongal. Each day has its own importance and different kind of foods are prepared during this period. The first day of Pongal honours Lord Indra and is celebrated by cleaning and decorating homes. On the second day, a special prayer is performed to honour the sun god. The third day is dedicated to cows and they are decorated, fed, and taken around the village. While the fourth day is kept for birds, who are worshipped through a ritual where they are fed different food items served on a turmeric leaf.

On the day of Pongal, a dish called ‘Pongal’ is prepared in a new earthen pot under the sun, preferably early in the morning just after sunrise using the best of rice from the new harvest. Apart from rice, milk, jaggery, ghee, raisins and dry fruits are used to make this dish. When the milk boils and overflows, people shout ‘Pongalo Pongal’, which is believed to bring prosperity into the household.

This festival has its roots in the Chola Period, which is roughly identified from the 6th century BC to the 2nd century AD. Legends say that the Pongal celebration is not less than 2,000 years old.

Some of the important delicacies prepared during the festival are: Sakkarai Pongal, Ven Pongal, Pongal Kootu, Kara Murukku, Khara Pongal, Medu Vada, Payasam, Lemon Rice, Coconut Rice, Curd Rice, Idli Sambhar, Kesari, Til Gud Ke Laddoo, Badam Halwa, Peanut Laddoo, and Bisi Bele Bath.