Quintessentially, Pongal is the harvest festival celebrated in the state of Tamil Nadu in South India. This festival is celebrated for more than over thousand years. The word ‘Pongal’ in Tamil means ‘boiling over or spill over’ which is an act that is considered to denote good wishes for the family. Pongal is like a thanksgiving on which the farmer pay their respect to the nature that is their farm and their cattle for being helpful during the harvest.
Pongal is celebrated on a large basis in Tamil Nadu because it is this day that marks the beginning of Tamil New Year where the first month called 'Thai'. Pongal coincides with the festival of Makara Sankranthi and is considered an important and auspicious day. Farmers keep boiling rice mixed with fresh milk with jaggery in earthen pots as this symbolizes good luck for them. As the rice boils over and bubbles out of the pot, the tradition is to shout of "Ponggalo Ponggal!" accompanied by blowing a conch which is a custom practiced since ages for bringing good luck to the land.
Pongal usually starts in the month of January and is a four days long festivity that starts usually from 14th or 15th day. Pongal largely associates itself with nature and so during Pongal celebrations house are washed, cleaned and decorated beautifully. People wear new clothes and make various sumptuous sweet dishes. Guests visit and wish each other and there are social get-togethers with family, friends and relatives. Gifts are exchanged and there is singing, dancing and more celebration.
Pongal is celebrated more lavishly in villages because it is mainly a harvest festival. People in the villages chew sugar cane and decorate their houses with kolam. Pongal is indeed one of the biggest festivals in Tamil Nadu.
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