Celebration

Pongal is the main festival celebrated by Tamil people, especially by farmers. Pongal is mostly celebrated in the southern part of India and Sri Lanka. It's the same as Thanksgiving Day in Canada. Farmers celebrate this festival to give thanks to the sun and bull. Other Tamil people celebrate this festival to say thanks to farmers and the Sun God. This festival is celebrated in the middle of January, the 14th or 15th - the date changes according to the stars. This is the time the farmers harvest the rice, which is planted six months before. Rice is the staple food of Sri Lankan and India.

The Pongal festival is celebrated for four days. The first day is called “Pogi Pongal”. On this day the people put old things in a fire. It means every person should destroy the bad habits from the mind and character. Most of the people decorate their houses for the next day’s celebration.

On the second day, they celebrate the “Thai Pongal”. On this day people get up early in the morning before the sunrise. Every woman in the house cleans a place in front of the house, which is open so they can see the sky. They take the cow dung and add a little water to make it as a paste. They cover the entire place where they cleaned in front of the house. Then they paint beautiful colors or plain art in that place. In the middle of the art they place three stones and are ready to cook the sweet “pongal” in a new clay pot, which is made with a colored design on it and tied with a young ginger plant around the neck of the pot.

Pongol is the celebration’s “namesake” dish made with integral rice, dal, jaggery, dry fruits, sugar and milk. People place plantain leaves on the floor then they place the cooked rice, sweet, fruits and sugarcane on these leaves. They light a lamp and place it near the leaves. They do this while the sun is rising in the sky. They sing a prayer song and pray to the Sun. After finishing the prayer they distribute the sweet “pongal” and candies around the neighborhood. Finally they eat their sunrise meals with their families. Most of the children and younger generation light firecrackers and fly kites on their farms. Most of them make the kites at home but some buy them. On this day they go to the temple to worship their God with all family members.

The third day celebration is called Mattu (cattle) Pongal. This celebrates cattle which is the animal helpful to the farmers in the field. They give complete rest for them. The farmer gives a bath to the cattle, decorate them and paint their horns different colors. They cook the sweet “pongal” and offer it to the cattle to eat and say a prayer for them. On this day the people also play a game called Jalli Kattu. In this contest a group of men try to control a bull and take the money, which is tied to the horns of the bull, without using any weapon. This contest is meant to show the bravery and boldness of the Tamil people. After finishing the contest they all eat their delicious food together.

On the fourth day the celebration is called Kanum Pongal. On this day the people visit their relatives and friends at home or go out together somewhere like the beach or a temple. They do this to show their affection and to make their relationship strong. While visiting they wear their cultural dress. The younger generation gets a blessing from the adults by touching their legs while lying down on the floor. Some people offer gifts to children and young people. This four day celebration is very important to Tamil people as a festival and for their religious beliefs.