Pongal - The harvest or thanks giving festival of south India is a very very important festival for people of Tamilnadu. It is the first major festival of any calendar year. The first day of the month of Thai is celebrated as Pongal and this is also called as Thai Pongal. Pongal normally means bringing the milk to boil. The first day of Thai is the day when the Sun moves towards North.
Pongal is generally celebrated for 4 days. The last day of the month of Margazhi is celebrated as Bhogi Pongal when people throw off the old ones and bring in the new ones. The second day (the first day of the month of Thai), is the Thai Pongal or Perum Pongal. The third day is Kanu Pongal and Maatu Pongal (to thank the cows and bulls that help the farmers). The fourth day is Kaanum Pongal.
The people prepare the house for the festival almost for a month. People clean the house and white wash it. On the day of Pongal the people clean the front of the house and decorate it with Rangoli made of white flour. This is to welcome the guests and all good things that is to follow. In general people buy new clothes and wear it after doing Pooja to the Sun God.
This Year Pongal falls on:
Bhogi - 14th January
Pongal - 15th January
Maatu Pongal - 16th January
Kaanum Pongal - 17th January
Find recipe to make Sarkarai Pongal and Ven Pongal the two dishes that people make during Pongal.