Pongal

Pongal is the famous festival celebrated for the sun’s movement towards northwards for six long months called as Uttarayana.  The process starts every year at around January 14^th. The day is considered auspicious for Hindus as the time is the beginning of the sun’s movement towards the zodiac Capricorn.

The festival is celebrated for four days, where each day has its own significance. Bhogi, the first day of the festival is celebrated by people through burning old household items and purchasing the new one on the same day. The second day, Perum also known as Surya Pongal is an important day when people pray Lord Surya and wear new clothes. On the day people also decorate their house with rice flour and red clay. On the third day of the festival which is called as Mattu Pongal cattle is worshipped being the reason for the good harvest.The fourth day is called as Kanum Pongal is meant to have fun and spend time with families and friends. People also celebrate the day through dancing, buffalo taming and exchanging gifts.

Pongal is celebrated with different names all over the country. Some of the religious variations in the name of the festival are Makar Sankranti, Lohri, Bihu, Hadaga and Poki. The day is also celebrated as the religious holiday in some parts of the county.