Pongal is
celebrated on the same day as Bihu, Lohri and Bhogi. But Pongal
stretches over four days. The word Pongal literally means "boiling
over" and celebrates the bounteous crops in the fields. This
festival is the biggest event of the year for the Tamils as well as for
the people of Andhra Pradesh.
The
first day, Bhogi-Pongal is devoted to Bhogi or Indran, the rain god. The
day is linked with the famous mythological tale about Krishna lifting
Gobardhan parbat on his little finger. The day begins with a til oil
bath and in the evening there is a bonfire made of old cloths, files,
mats and rugs.
The second day, Surya-Pongal, is dedicated to
the Sun (Surya). On this day, pongal (rice cooked in milk and jaggery)
is bolied by women who offer it to the Sun.
Mattu-Pongal, the
third day, is the day dedicated to the worship and veneration of cattle
(mattu). The horns of the cattle is decorated with turmeric and kumkum,
small bells and flowers are hung around their neck and they are paraded
in the streets. The pongal that has been offered to the local deities is
given to the cattle to eat.
The last day is known as
Kanyapongal. Coloured balls of the pongal are made and are offered to
birds. A kind of bull-fight, called the 'Jallikattu' is held in
Madhurai, Tiruchirapalli and Tanjore in Tamil Nadu and several places in
Andhra Pradesh. Bundles containing money are tied to the horns of
ferocious bulls, and unarmed villagers try to wrest the bundles from
them. Bullock Cart race and cock-fight are also held. In Andhra Pradesh,
every household displays its collection of dolls for three days.
Community meals are held at night with freshly harvested ingredients.
