What is Pongal?
Pongal is the festival of Hindu celebrated in the month of January every year on 14, this festival marks the beginning of the movement of the sun towards northwards for 6 months. This festival is also known as Makarsankrati which considered the best time to start up any occasion or particular events.
Pongal festival refers the end of farming season which gave rest to the farmers from their daily routine. In this festival farmers used to pray for their crops.
Read about Pongal Festival
History of Pongal
Pongal is the festival celebrated by the people of south India mainly the Tamils. Pongal festival is related to Lord Shiva and lord Indra. On this day people used to draw Rangoli outside their house and also prepare sweets at their home. Pongal is also considered the thanks giving festival. The history of Pongal states that lord Shiva asked his bull to go and have bath everyday and eat in once but the bull told every people that eat everyday and take bath once in a month. This mistake made angry to Shiva and then he ordered his bull to plough the field and help the people. Thus this day is related to cattle and celebrates the day as Pongal.
How Pongal is celebrated
People used to go to temples for prayers along with performing the ritual part. Many types of dishes are prepared on this great day especially rice which is cooked in a new pots. They offer vegetables, sugar cane and spices to the god. This festival is celebrated for 4 days. On the first day people used to throw all old clothes and buy the new one in order to begin a new life. Then in the second day people used to celebrate Pongal by boiling milk early in the morning and also prepare sweets in homes. On the third day people used to thanks all buffaloes and cows as they helped them to plough the land and on the last day people used to celebrate the pongal by going to picnic and temples. Pongal is the festival which is meant for farmers. In other states this festival is celebrated as makarsankranti and Lohri.