Pongal fills every nook of southern India with fun. This festival is all about joyous celebration that expresses gratitude towards the God sun and Lord Indra too for bountiful harvest. The festival does not only fill everyone with a true sense of enjoyment but also encourages people to remember the unconditional contribution of cows in nourishing our lives.
The castles, especially cows and bullocks are worshiped and pampered by the folks. The festival Traditional Pongal Kolam is all about showing your love and dedication towards nature, sun and cattle. Pongal is a four-day long festival that holds special significance in the lives of people in South India. Pongal is celebrated with contentment and revelry throughout South India mainly in Tamil Nadu.
Four Days of Pongal Celebration
| Observed by | Tamil people |
| Type | Tamil festival |
| Significance | Thanksgiving for cattle and farming livestock |
| Celebrations | Feasting |
| Date | Second day of the month of Thai in the Tamil calendar |
The four day celebration is connected with the end of winter and many other festivals that have their roots in the legends. Willing to know why it is celebrated for four days? Read on to know what this 4-day long festival actually is. Also people makes pongal rangoli designs to celebrate this festival.
Bhogi Pongal Celebration – First Day
first day of pongal known as ‘Bhogi Pongal’ celebration. This day symbolizes a fresh start and fills people with enthusiasm. The day begins by keeping waste and unwanted things out from the house. The house is whitewashed and a bonfire is lit to keep the evil spirits away from the house.
The Bhogi festival is celebrated in honor of Lord Indra who is also known as the god of rain. Lord Indra is adored by numerous farmers as he is expected to bring prosperity and happiness to the earth. In addition, farmers in the cult of the Indra countryside to receive a good crop, thus bringing wealth and prosperity.
Surya Pongal Celebration – Second Day
The second day, Surya Pongal Day is celebrated in the honor of sun and its blessed sunshine. The newly harvested rice, moong dal, and jaggery is cooked in ‘Pongapani’, which is a traditional decorated pot. The entire family cheers “PongalO Pongal” and expresses thanks for the good harvest.
The second day is the main day in Pongal and is celebrated like Surya Pongal. Today, the Sun God is honored. Colorful decorative patterns called columns are drawn at the entrance to the house, and each household cooks a jar of fresh rice with milk at convenient times.
Mattu Pongal Celebration – Third Day
The cattles are worshiped on the third day. The Mattu Pongal is dedicated to providing the cattles with respect. People celebrate the Mattu Pongal by decorating cows and the bullock for reaping a magnanimous harvest.
On Mattu Pongal’s day, the cattle are washed, their horns painted and decorated with brilliant metallic caps. Multicoloured beads, ringing bells, corn sheaths and floral garlands are tied around the neck.
Kaanum Pongal Celebration – Fourth Day
Kaanum Pongal lets you enjoy visiting family and friends. At the last of Pongal, people gather at panic spots to enjoy and rejoice the festivity.
The sun and earthen pot symbolizes the great joy of the festival. There is also a great significance of kolams. The Kollam is the decorative artwork that has a great importance during the festival. This artwork is done with rice flour, yellow pumpkin flowers and other beautiful colors. Coming of Pongal means coming of joy. Now, be ready to have fun and feel the vibes of energy and love in the air during this 4 day festival.
