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The auspicious festival of Makar Sankranti is deeply rooted in traditional practices of giving thanks to nature, since the livelihoods of many depend on an agrarian occupation. In Tamil Nadu, the festival – celebrated as Pongal – echoes similar sentiments when it comes to celebrating the harvest cycle of rice and sugarcane crops. The four day-long celebration kicks off with Bhogi Pongal, which falls on the 14th of January each year, marked as a day dedicated to worshipping Lord Indra – who is considered to be the god of rain in Hindu mythology and the sun god – both of whom are believed to be responsible for the abundant harvest.
Rituals & Significance
While most rituals revolve around worshipping the two gods in anticipation for a good upcoming harvest, Bhogi is also the day when bonfires are lit with organic waste like paper, hay, old mats, clothes and miscellaneous objects that might be of no use anymore. Also celebrated in Karnataka, the bonfire – known as Bhogi Mantalu – is revered for reinstating the faith that good triumphs over evil, using fire as a way of ‘burning away the negative energies.’ The burning of these is meant to symbolise getting rid of all negativity from one’s home – and this becomes one of the key communal activities that bring people together, creating a sense of unity.
Women in domesticated households also use a mixture of rice flour and water to paint beautiful patterns on the Pongal paanai – also known as the earthen pot in which newly harvested rice is cooked on the day of Maatu Pongal. These pots are also decorated with fresh flowers and mango leaves before the paanai is ready to be used for cooking. Beautiful floral patterns adorn the entrance of homes around the state, welcoming anyone who’d like to participate in the celebrations with jaggery-based sweets.
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Tall sticks of sugarcane are bundled up and tied at the entrance of homes not just as a decorative detail, but also as a way of welcoming joy and good fortune. Bhogi is also the day when women and children adorn new clothes and visit friends to exchange homemade sweet preparations and wish well for one another. In Karnataka, a sweet delicacy made with rice and recently picked fruit – called the Bhogi Pallu – is also prepared for children to relish on the day. Children below the age of five are also invited into homes, where elders take a handful of the sweet dish to pour over the child’s head, blessing them with prosperity and good health. Families in Andhra Pradesh who also celebrate Bhogi, prepare delicacies like puliohara and bobattlu to be enjoyed for the grand festive feast.
