Pongal is a multi-day harvest festival celebrated by the Tamil people in India and Sri Lanka. Depending on the earth’s orbit around the sun in a particular year, the festival is observed on either the 14th or 15th of January every year. According to the Tamil solar calendar, the start of a month is called "Thai," which is why pongal is also called Thai pongal in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. Pongal coincides with "Makar Sankranti," a harvest festival that is celebrated all over India under different regional names.
Pongal has been identified with two festivals celebrated in the Sangam age, namely Thai Un and Thai Niradal between 200 BC and 300 AD. Pongal has also been mentioned in the Sanskrit Puranas. In the Sangam era, as part of the festivities, young unmarried girls observed Pavai Nonbu during Thai Niradal in the reign of the Pallavas between the 4th and 8th centuries AD. During the festival, these young girls prayed for rain and prosperity during the Tamil month of Margazhi between December and January. They would avoid milk and milk products and would also refrain from oiling their hair. Harsh words wouldn’t be spoken at this time, and the goddess Katyayani was worshipped.
Pongal is dedicated to the sun god, Surya, and signifies the end of the winter solstice and the beginning of the sun’s six-month long journey to the north when the sun enters Uttarayana, or Capricorn. The three days of the Pongal festival are Bhogi Pongal, Surya Pongal, and Mattu Pongal. However, some Tamil people also observe a fourth day, namely Kanum Pongal. The word "pongal" in the Tamil language means "to boil, overflow" and refers to a traditional dish made with some newly harvested rice in milk with jaggery. The dish is first offered to various deities, including the sun god Surya. Then on the day of Mattu Pongal, cattle, or cows to be specific (also called Madu in Tamil), are worshipped. The cows are bathed, then their horns are polished and painted with bright colors. Then the cows are garlanded with flowers, and the Pongal that was offered to the many gods is then offered to the cows and then shared by the family.
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There are a few legends associated with pongal:
- Basava the bull was asked by Lord Shiva to go to Earth and tell the mortals to have an oil massage, bathe every day, and eat once a month. Basava finally said that people should eat every day, take a bath, and get a massage once a month. Lord Shiva was very angry about this, so he cursed Basava and sent him to earth, where he had to help the people, or "mortals," make more food by ploughing the fields.
- Another legend states that when Lord Indra became arrogant after becoming the king of all deities, Lord Krishna decided to punish him by asking all the cowherders to stop worshipping Lord Indra. An angry Lord Indra sent his thunderstorm clouds and made it rain for three continuous days. Lord Krishna had to lift Mount Govardhan to save the humans. Upon realizing his mistake, Lord Indra stopped the rains and accepted Lord Krishna’s power.
Let us look at a few dishes that make the occasional pongal memorable.
- Ven or Khara Pongal: This is a light and savoury dish that is made with rice, mung lentils, clarified butter, cashew nuts, raisins, and mild spices. Usually preferred to be eaten for breakfast, this dish traces its origins to around five thousand years ago when someone accidentally oiled rice and mung lentils together. This dish became so popular that in around 200 BC, during the Indravizhya festival in Poombuhar, it started being called Pongal.
- Sakkarai Pongal: Made with green gram, rice, and jaggery, this is usually prepared for special occasions like pongal. It follows the same procedure as ven or khara pongal.
- Melagu Pongal: This spicy Pongal variation is made with rice, moong lentils, and pepper, and is also known as melagu in Tamil.
- Vada: A savoury fried dish made with soaked and ground legumes, this dish was popular with ancient Tamil people between 100 BCE and 300 CE. It also finds mention in a 12th-century Sanskrit encyclopedia named "Mansollasa," compiled by the kind Someshvara III. Vada is also mentioned in early literature from states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
- Murukku: The word "murukku" means "twisted" in Tamil and refers to a savory and crunchy snack that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Made with deep-fried rice flour or urad lentil flour, this is a snack that’s usually eaten with tea or served for special occasions like pongal.