~ Pongal 2013: Indian Thanksgiving And Hindu Harvest Festival ~

[MysteRy]

Pongal 2013:
 Indian Thanksgiving And Hindu Harvest Festival


Pongal is the great Indian harvest festival.
Pongal is well known festival of south India but this festival celebrated in North in the name of ‘Makkar Sankrati’.



Pongal celebrates a plentiful harvest and prosperity across South India.
 There’s no better way to demonstrate this spirit of plenty than tables heaving with Pongal delicacies…

[MysteRy]

When is Pongal in 2013?


According to solar calendar Pongal celebration date remains same every year.
 The Pongal celebrations are spread over four days.
Thai Pongal is celebrated on the first day of the month Thai of the Tamil calendar.
 This year Pongal will be celebrated from 13th to 16th January 2013.
During this four days of celebration Pongal is known in different names in different dates of celebration.

[MysteRy]

Pongal celebration Calendar:

January 13th 2013 Sunday            Bhogi Pongal
January 14th 2013 Monday           Surya Pongal or Thai Pongal
January 15th 2013 Tuesday          Mattu Pongal
January 16th 2013 wednesday      Kannum Pongal or Thiruvalluvar day

[MysteRy]

Significance of Pongal Festival:

Pongal or Thai Pongal is one of the most popular festival of south India.
Though it is called south Indian festival but mainly it is celebrated by Tamilians.
 Farmers celebrate this festival to thank the spirits of nature, the Sun and the farm animals for their assistance in providing a successful harvest.
 It is an ancient festival believed that it was started Sangam Era (200 BC – 300 AD).
The meaning of Pongal is “boiling over” of milk and rice during the month of Thai.



The four days of celebration people celebrate it in different ways.
On the first day which is known as Bhogi Pongal.
 Many people burn and get rid of old household items and purchase new household items on this day. This represent start of a new cycle.



Second day is Surya Pongal or Thai Pongal which is most important day of Pongal.
Many people worship the sun god, Lord Surya by offering prayers on this day.
 During this celebration people wear new clothes, decorate houses with rice flour and red clay.



Mattu Pongal is the third day and includes worshiping cattle because it is believed that cattle help give a good harvest.



The fourth day is called Kanum Pongal, which is when many people go on picnic and spend time with family and friends.
For Pongal, the homes are freshly painted, swept and cleared.
Doorways are marked with kumkum, turmeric and sandalwood paste.
Colorful garlands of flowers and mango leaves are hunged on the doors.
The Pongal festival also includes exchanging gifts, dancing, and buffalo-taming contests.

[MysteRy]

Pongal Food and Recipe




Food is important part of every Indian festival celebrations.
A new metal or earthen pot is filled with milk and set to boil.
When the milk is boiled, newly harvested rice, sugarcane and turmeric is added.
The neck of the pot is tied with tender turmeric leaves.
First prepared is offered to Surya Devta then served to others on fresh Banana leaves.