PONGALFESTIVAL IN TAMILNADU AND KERALA
Pongal is a multi-day Hindu harvest festival celebrated by Tamils. The
festivalis celebrated over three or four consecutive days, which are named
Bhogi, ThaiPongal, Mattu Pongal and Kaanum Pongal, beginning on the last day of
the Tamil calendar month of Margazhi.
Thai Pongal is observed on the first day of the Tamilcalendar month of Thai and
usually falls on 14 or 15 January in the Gregoriancalendar.
According to tradition, the festival marks the end of winter solstice, and
thestart of the Sun's six-month-long journey northwards called Uttarayana when
theSun enters Capricorn.
It is dedicated to thesolar deity Suryaand corresponds to Makara Sankranti, the
Hindu observance celebrated undervarious regional names across the Indian
subcontinent.
The festival is namedafter the ceremonial "Pongal", which means "boiling
over"or "overflow" in Tamil language and refers to the traditional dish
prepared by boiling rice with milk andjaggery.
Mattu Pongal is meant for celebration of cattle, and thecattle are bathed,
their horns polished and painted in bright colours withgarlands of flowers
placed around their necks and processions on the day.
The festival is traditionally an occasion for decorating withrice-powder based
kolam artworks, offering prayers at home, visiting temples,getting together
with family and friends, and exchanging gifts to renew socialbonds of
solidarity.
Pongal is also referred toas Tamizhar thirunal("festival of Tamils") and is one
of the major festivals celebratedby the Tamil people across various religions.
It is observed by the Tamildiaspora in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, parts of
South India, Sri Lanka andother parts of the world with significant Tamil
population.
Etymology
Thai Pongal is a combination of two Tamil language words:Thai (Tamil: 'தை')
referring to the tenth month of the Tamil calendar and Pongal (frompongu)
meaning "boiling over" or "overflow." Pongal alsorefers to a sweet dish of rice
boiled with milk and jaggery that is rituallyprepared and consumed on the day.
It is also referred to as Tamizhar thirunal("the festival of Tamil people").
History
The principal theme of Pongal is thanking the Sun god Surya,the forces of
nature, and the farm animals and people who support agriculture.The festival is
mentioned in an inscription found at the Veeraraghava SwamyTemple at
Tiruvallur. Attributedto the Chola king Kulottunga I (1070–1122 CE), the
inscription describes agrant of land to the temple for celebrating the annual
Pongal festivities.The ninth century Shaiva Bhakti text Tiruvempavai by
Manikkavacakar details thefestival
Pongal offering toGods
Pongal is a multi-day Hindu harvest festival celebrated byTamils. The three
days of the Pongal festival are called Bhogi, Thai Pongal,and Mattu Pongal.
Some Tamils celebrate a fourth day of Pongal known as KanumPongal. While the
festival is observed for three or four days in Tamil Nadu,but for one or two
days in urban locations and by the Tamil diaspora outsideSouth Asia.
My note- This year threedays till Saturday is Bank holidays in Tamilnadu
Bhogi
Bhogi marks the first day of the Pongal festivities and iscelebrated on the
last day of the Tamil calendar month Marghazhi. On thisday people discard old
belongings and celebrate new possessions. The peopleassemble and light a
bonfire in order to burn the heaps of discards except plastics.Plastics are not
burned .It is kept in waste box to collect and dispose by municipalitiesand
corporations. Houses are cleaned, painted and decorated to give a festivelook.
Prayers are offered toIndra, the kingof Gods with thanks and hopes for
plentiful rains in the year ahead. Kaappu kattu is atradition of tying leaves
of Azadirachta indica, Senna auriculata and Aervalanata in the roofs of houses
and residential areas that is widely practiced inthe Kongu Nadu region. Bhogi
is observed on the same day in the South Indianstates of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka,
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Fruits of theharvest are collected along with
flowers of the season and a mixture of treatsalong with money is given to
children, who then separate and collect the moneyand sweet fruits.
Thai Pongal
Thai Pongal is the main festive day, celebrated on the nextday of Bhogi. It is
observed on the first day of the Tamil calendar month ofThai, and usually falls
on 14 or 15 January as per the Gregorian calendar. It is dedicated to the Sun
deitySurya and corresponds to Makar Sankranti, the harvest festival
undervarious regional names celebrated throughout India. According to
tradition, thefestival marks the end of winter solstice, and the start of the
sun'ssix-month-long journey northwards when the sun enters the Capricorn,
alsocalled as Uttarayana.
Dedicated to Surya, it is celebrated with family and friendswith new clothes
worn and the preparation of the traditional pongal dish in an earthen pot.The
pot is typically decorated by tying a turmeric plant or flower garland
andplaced in the sun along with sugarcane stalks. On either side of the pot
sugarcane with leaves are tied andkept . The homes are decorated with banana
and mango leaves,decorative florals and kolams. Relatives and friends are
invited and when the pongal starts to boil andoverflow out of the vessel,
participants blow a conch or make soundswhile shouting "PongaloPongal" ("may
this rice boil over"). In rural areas,people sing traditional songs while the
pongal dish is cooking. The Pongal dish is first offered toSura and Ganesha,
and then shared with the gathered friends and family.
People traditionally offer prayers to the sun in the open andthen proceed to
eat their meal.
Mattu Pongal
Mattu Pongal ("Matu"meaning cow in Tamil) is the third day of the festival
meant for thecelebration of cattle.The cattle are regarded as sources of wealth
as it is a means for dairyproducts and fertilizers, used for transportation and
agriculture. The cattleare bathed, their horns are polished and painted in
bright colours withgarlands of flowers placed around their necks and taken for
processions. Somedecorate their cows with turmeric water and apply shikakai and
kumkuma to theirforeheads. The cattle are fed sweets including pongal, jaggery,
honey, bananaand other fruits. People may prostrate before them with words of
thanks for thehelp with the harvest.
Kanum Pongal
Kanum Pongal or Kanu Pongal is the fourth day of the festivaland marks the end
of Pongal festivities for the year. The word kanum in the context means"to
visit" and families hold reunions on this day.Communities organize social
events to strengthen mutual bonds and consume foodand sugarcane during social
gatherings. Young people visit elders to payrespects and seek blessings, with
elders giving gifts to the visiting children.
Traditions andpractices
Pongal is traditionally an occasion for decorating, offeringprayers in the
home,temples, getting together with family and friends, and exchanginggifts to
renew social bonds of solidarity. It is viewed more as a "socialfestival" since
the contemporary celebrations do not necessarily link it to temple rituals.
However in some temples Pongal isprepared and offered to deity and portions of
the sweet pongal dish (SakkaraiPongal) are distributed as the prasadam in
temples.
Cuisine
Pongal dish made fromrice boiled with cow milk and jaggery
The festival is named after the "Pongal" dish,which forms the festival's most
significant practice. The dish is prepared byboiling freshly harvested rice in
cow milk and raw cane sugar. Additionalingredients such as coconut and ghee
along with spices such as cardamom,raisins and cashews are also used. The
cooking is done in a mud pot that isoften garlanded with leaves or flowers,
mostly tied with apiece of turmeric root. The cooking is done in sunlight,
usually ina porch or courtyard and thedish is dedicated to the Sun god, Surya.
After it is traditionallyoffered to the gods and goddesses first, followed
sometimes by cows, then tofriends and family gathered.
The dish and the process of its preparation is a part of thesymbolism, both
conceptually and materially. It celebrates the harvest and thecooking
symbolizes the transformation of the gift of agriculture into nourishment for
the gods andthe community on a day that when the sun god is believed to start
the journeynorth.
The dish "boiling over" is believed tosymbolically mark the blessing by
Goddess Parvati. It is the ritual dish, along with many other coursesprepared
from seasonal foods for the gathering.
Jallikattu
Jallikattu, a traditionalbull taming event held during Pongal days.
Jallikattu is a traditional event held during the periodattracting huge crowds
in whicha bull is released into a crowd of people, and multiple
humanparticipants attempt to grab the large hump on the bull's back with both
armsand hang on to it while the bull attempts to escape.
Kakka pidi/ Kanu Pidi
Kanu Pidi is atradition observed on Mattu Pongal by women and young girls
where they place a leaf ofturmeric plant outside their home, and feed pongal
dish and food to the birds,particularly crow and pray fortheir brothers' well
being. Brothers pay special tribute to theirmarried sisters by giving gifts as
affirmation of their filial love.
Pongal by Tamilcommunity in Kerala
Pongal is observed by Tamil community in Kerala, and it is alocal holiday in
Idukki, Palakkad, Pathanamthitta, Thiruvananthapuram, andWayanad districts.[37]
In Attukal Temple near Thiruvanathapuram, AttukalPongala is celebrated in the
month of February–March. This similarly namedcelebration of Pongala includes
dance (Kathakali) and musical performances, andprocessions featuring the temple
goddess.
Pongal festivitiescoincide with Makara Sankranthi, Maghi and Bihu celebrated
across various parts of India.
Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, Pongal is celebrated by the Sri Lankan Tamilsand the Pongal
festivities last twodays, essentially focused on Thai Pongal day. The custom of
cookingPukkai, a dish similar to Pongal, and made of red rice, mung beans and
milk, iscarried out on the first day.
Other parts of theworld
Pongal is one of the major festivals celebrated by Tamilpeople across various
religions in Tamil Nadu. It is also celebrated in otherparts of South India
including Puduchchery and is a major Tamil festival in SriLanka. It is observed
by the Tamil diaspora worldwide includingthose in Malaysia, Mauritius, South
Africa, Singapore, United States, UnitedKingdom, Canada, and the Gulf
countries.
In 2017, Delegate David Bulova introduced a joint resolutionHJ573 in the
Virginia House of Delegates to designate January 14 of each yearas Pongal Day.
Pongal and Uttarayanam.
The four-day event that is dedicatedto the Sun God marks the Sun’s journey
northward, Uttarayanam. ThaiPongal on January 14 corresponds with the Makara
Sankranti, the harvest festival that iscelebrated across India under various
regional names.
What is Pongal?
Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated by the Tamilcommunity. It is a
celebration to thank the Sun, Mother Nature and the variousfarm animals that
help to contribute to a bountiful harvest. Celebrated overfour days, Pongal
also marksthe beginning of the Tamil month called Thai, which is considered an
auspiciousmonth. It usually falls on the 14th or 15th of January each year.
Thereis a saying in Tamil- “Thaipiranthal vazhipirakkum” meaning a solution
will be found for issueswhen the auspicious month Thai starts.
Pongal celebration byTamil Brahmins in Kerala
Tamil Brahmins in Kerala celebrate Pongal with key ritualslike making Sarkkarai
Pongal, decorating homes with kolams and mango/bananaleaves, offering it to the
Sun God (Surya), and observing KanuPongal for ancestral welfare, but they focus
on the sweeter, spiritual aspects, oftenusing pre-harvest grains, as it's a
minor harvest festival inKerala compared to Tamil Nadu's focus on the major
harvest. They performSurya Narayana prayers and share the dish, emphasizing
gratitude to nature andancestors, with the overflowing pot symbolizing
prosperity.
Key Celebrations:
Sarkkarai Pongal (SweetPongal): The maindish of rice, jaggery, milk, ghee, and
cashews is prepared, often in newearthen pots decorated with turmeric,
symbolizing sweetness and abundance.
Sun Worship: The Pongal dish, sugarcane, andother offerings are placed in the
sun, with prayers offered to the Sun God (Surya) for prosperity andlonger days
(Uttarayana Punya Kalam).
Kolams & Decorations: Homes are decorated with colorfulkolams (rangoli) in the
courtyard, and banana/mango leaves adorn doorways.
Kanu Pongal(Brother-Sister Bond):Observed the day after Pongal, women prepare
curd rice and othersimple dishes, offering them to crows for the happiness of
their ancestors andbrothers, a practice distinct from the cash gifts in Tamil
Nadu.
Community & Family: Families gather, wear new clothes,and share the festive
meal, with shouts of "Pongalo Pongal!" andconch shell blowing when the Pongal
boils over.
Differences fromTamil Nadu:
Harvest Focus: In Kerala, it's more spiritual, whereas inTamil Nadu it's deeply
tied to the major harvest, using newly harvested grains.
Ritual Focus: Kerala Tamil Brahmins focus more onancestral prayers and the
celestial significance (Uttarayana), less on the agriculturalharvest.
In essence, Tamil Brahmins in Kerala adapt the Pongaltraditions, honouring
nature and family, while maintaining their specificcultural nuances within the
Kerala context
Celebration by theTamil Community in Kerala-addition
In Kerala, Pongal is primarily celebrated by the Tamilcommunity and other
settled communities that have strong cultural ties to thefestival. The
celebration is a private, family affair, involving traditionalrituals in homes
or local temples, and often lacks the large-scale publicfestivities seen in
Tamil Nadu.
For the Tamil diaspora and families settled in districts likeIdukki, Palakkad,
Pathanamthitta, Thiruvananthapuram, and Wayanad, Pongalremains a significant
four-day harvest festival. Their celebrations largely mirror those in Tamil
Naduand center on expressing gratitude to the Sun God (Surya) and farm animals
fora successful harvest.
Key aspects include:
Traditional Cooking: Families prepare the "Pongal"dish (sweet rice boiled in
milk and jaggery) in new clay pots, often outdoorsin their front yards or
courtyards. The moment the dish boils over is a joyousoccasion, greeted with
chants of "Pongalo Pongal!" as a symbol ofabundance and prosperity.
Home Decorations: Houses are cleaned, painted, and adornedwith elaborate kolam
(decorative patterns made with rice flour) at theentrance. Turmeric plants and
sugarcane stalks are also used for decoration,emphasizing the harvest theme.
Rituals and Offerings: Thecooked Pongal is first offered to the Sun God on a
banana leaf. Subsequent days involve prayers forcattle (Mattu Pongal) and
family reunions (Kaanum Pongal).
Community and Family: Celebrations focus on strengtheningfamily and social
bonds, exchanging gifts and sweets, and sharing meals withfriends and
relatives.
Celebration by OtherCommunities in Kerala
Beyond the Tamil populace, theobservance of Pongal is limited among native
Malayali communities, as theirprimary harvest festival is Onam, which occurs at
a different time ofthe year.
Mannan Community: A specific instance of Pongal beinga significant festival is
within the indigenous Mannan community in areas likeChinnar. For them, it is a
deeply spiritual, annual observance tied to regionaldeities and clan lineage,
involving unique rituals, traditional performances(Mannan Koothu), and
offerings of a specific Pongal payasam.
Kakkapoti
The term "Kakkapoti" is not the name of a festivalitself, but a local
orcolloquial reference to a ritual performed by women during the Kaanum
Pongal(or Kanu Pongal) day. This day is the fourth and final day of the
four-dayPongal harvest festival celebrated by Tamil people, including Tamil
Brahmins.
What is the Kakkapotiritual?
The ritual involvesoffering colourful balls of cooked rice to crows (referred
to as kakka in Tamil) and other birds, along with otheritems, typically on a
banana leaf/Turmeric leaf. The core belief is that as a group of crows
neverseparates, the family, too, should remain united and live together always.
The women of the house, particularly sisters, perform thisceremony for the
well-being and prosperity of their brothers and theirfamilies. A common recital
during the ritual is "Kakka podi vechen Kannu podi vechen Kaakaikkum,
Kurivikkum kalyanam.Kurivikellam Seemantham" (meaning, roughly, "I placed balls
for thecrows and birds, for their wedding and well-being").
When is it celebrated?
The Kakkapoti ritual is performed on Kaanum Pongal (alsoknown as Kanu Pongal or
Mattu Pongal in some regions), which is the fourthday of the Pongal festival.
The Pongal festival typically falls in mid-January, in theTamil month of Thai.
Kaanum Pongal usually falls on January 16th (or sometimesJanuary 17th) of the
Gregorian calendar.
Compiled from various websites and posted by R. Gopalakrishnan15-1-2026
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