pongal

Pongal is a Tamil harvest festival celebrated primarily by Tamils in Tamil Nadu, as well as Tamil communities in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, and the wider Tamil diaspora. It marks the harvest season and a thanksgiving to Surya, the Sun God, for agricultural abundance. The festival is tied to the Tamil month of Thai and typically occurs in mid-January, overlapping with Makar Sankranti in the broader Indian calendar.

Pongal is observed over four days. Bhogi Pongal, the first day, involves discarding old belongings and lighting bonfires to shed the old and welcome the new. Thai Pongal, the second day, is the main day. Families clean homes, draw kolam (rangoli) designs, and prepare a dish called Pongal in a new clay pot, allowing the milk to boil over as a sign of prosperity. The meal has two common varieties: Sakkarai Pongal (sweet) made with rice, moong dal, jaggery or sugar, ghee, and cashews; and Ven Pongal (savory) made with rice, moong dal, cumin, pepper, curry leaves, and ghee. Fresh harvest offerings such as sugarcane may accompany the ritual.

Mattu Pongal, the third day, honors cattle and their role in farming. Cattle are washed, decorated, fed, and worshipped as a sign of gratitude for their contribution to agriculture. Kaanum Pongal, the fourth day, is a time for family reunions, visiting relatives and friends, and enjoying community events or outings.

The festival emphasizes gratitude for the harvest, family gatherings, and regional customs that accompany the seasonal change.