Pongal
India is a land of fairs and festivals. Different state celebrate different festivals in different ways. If the people of Kerala celebrate Onam with great zeal and gust, the people of Tamil Nadu celebrate Pongal in the same way. The word Pongal refers to the "boiling over" of milk and rice during the month of January. Pongal is infact the greatest and the most important festival of the people of Tamil Nadu. It is celebrated in the month of January. It continues for three days.
This festival has a special significance for farmers. The programme of celebrations is mainly connected with agriculture. In Tamil Nadu, there are rains in winter. Rice is the chief agriculture produce of the state. The rice crop needs a lot of rain water. Lord Indra is believed as the god of rain. Therefore, they worship Lord Indra is the special feature of the celebrations of Pongal festival.
The farmers of Tamil Nadu eagerly look forward to this festival. The rice crop ripens and is ready for harvesting by the end of December in the middle of January. The farmers are in a holiday mood after harvesting and hustling the paddy crop. Rice is obtained after husking the paddy. Then the farmers are free to celebrate the festival with utmost gaiety. It is a festival of joy and it is celebrated with great pomp and show.
The first day of the festival is known as Bhogi Pongal. On this day, rice gruel is prepared in almost every home in Tamil Nadu. It is a delicious dish prepared from rice. People invite friends and relatives to a feast of rice gruel.These feasts are held in honour of Lord Indra, the god of rain. It is believed that the rice crop is due to the grace and benediction of Lord Indra. Offering of rice are made to the God and it is considered auspicious to eat rice on that day. So people eat rice in various forms.
The second day of the festival is set apart for the worship of the Sun. It is called Surya Pongal. On this day the people make offerings of boiled rice to the sun. It is a day of thanks giving to the sun. It is believed that the sun plays a vital role in ripening the paddy crop. The sun god is thanked and worshiped for his favour to the farmers. So the offerings of boiled rice are made to appease the sun god. Woman prepare models of the sun on this day.
The third day of celebration is known as Matu Pongal. The farmers of Tamil Nadu regard the cow as their sacred mother and worship her. This day is dedicated to cow worship because cow plays an important in the agriculture. The cows are washed, cleaned and their horns are painted red, green and yellow. Their foreheads are decorated with mocks. They are fed on good things. At night people cook delicious dishes in their homes and invite friends and relatives to a feast.
Pongal has its own santity and religious touch. It is a festival of gratitude to the gods and animals for their help and favour in agriculture.
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