Pongal (Poṅkal பொங்கல்)
January 13-16, 2025 [1]
Rohit Kumar Parmar [2]
Pongal will be celebrated from January 13 to 16, 2025, as per the Tamil Calendar.[3] The festival is named after the dish, called `Pongal,’ made from rice and lentil (split and washed moong, without the peel/ skin).
Pongal is celebrated for four days in Tamil Nadu, parts of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Pondicherry; and in Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka; and by the Tamil diaspora.
Each day of the celebration has its unique rituals and customs. It is celebrated on the first of the Thai month, of the Tamil (Tamizh) solar calendar.[4] This is one of the few festivals which falls on the same date every year, on January 14 on most years and broadly on January 15 in leap years. [5] Pongal marks the end of winter, and the start of the Sun's six-month-long journey northwards, [6] with the Sun entering the zodiac sign Makara (Capricorn).
The word Pongu/ Pongal in Tamil means `spilling over’ and the festival is named after the tradition of cooking/ boiling, followed by `spilling over’, of freshly-harvested rice in a new clay pot along with milk and jaggery. The `Pongalo Pongal’ call (did the pot boil over), is enquiring, whether the dish of rice and milk has boiled over.
Pongal, (sakkarai/ shakkara pongal) a dish ingredients of which are rice, lentil, milk, jaggery with ghee, sugar, raisins, cardamom and cashews, is first served to Sun God, as gratitude for a good harvest. It is later served on banana leaves to members of the community. Pongal is cooked at sunrise, and in an open space. [7]
Farmers observe this celebration as gratitude to Sun God and nature. They also give sumptuous meals/ food to cows, bullocks and other animals, who play an important part in farming.
The first day of Pongal ‘Bhogi Pandigai’, which is the last day of Margazi month of the Tamil Calendar, is dedicated to Lord Indra, the God of Rain. People clean their homes, discard unused and redundant items, and light a fire of the discarded items. The fire signifies getting rid of impurities and preparing for a year of harmony. After cleaning, the houses are decorated with 'kolams' (designs) made of rice flour paste and (natural) colours.
The second day of festivities, are Thai (Surya) Pongal, considered the most auspicious day, generally coinciding with Makar Sankranti. The `Pongal’ dish is prepared and offered to Surya Dev, (Sun God), thanking him (Surya Dev), for the harvest.
Thai Pongal is traditionally an occasion for decorating the entrance of the house, with rice-powder based kolam (designs) art, offering prayers at home, in temples, getting together with family and friends, to renew social bonds of solidarity, and exchanging gifts.
Thai Pongal is followed by Mattu (cow) Pongal, when cows and oxen are given a bath and decorated with ornaments, especially their horns.
Jallikattu (Bull fights) are also organized on Mattu Pongal day. Jallikattu is derived from the words, Jalli – coins, Kattu – tied. Usually, coins are tied to the horns of the bull, and valorous men try to retrieve them.
Jallikattu, the pride of the Tamil people, is celebrated with enthusiasm. Jallikattu is a traditional sport, around 2,500 years old, and an integral part of Tamil culture. The participants are called `Maadu Pidi Veerargal (cow catchers)’.
Agricultural families also showcase their strong bulls, which are considered a part of the family.
Mattu (cow) Pongal is then followed by Kaanum (to see) Pongal.
Kaanum Pongal, the last day of the Pongal, is dedicated to paying respect to elders and celebrating the joyous time with family and friends. It is usually accompanied by cultural performances, outings, grand feasts, and exchanging gifts.
Kaappu Kattu, a tradition of tying neem (and other) leaves, with medicinal qualities on the roofs of houses and in residential areas is practiced in Kongu (nectar or honey) Nadu. [8]
Festive celebrations include a devotional song playing in the background, either Suprabatham or Skanda Shasti Kavasam.
Lyrics of Suprabhatam
Kowsalya supraja Rama poorva sandhya pravarthathe
Uthishta narasardoola karthavyam daivamahnikam
Kowsalya supraja Rama poorva sandhya pravarthathe
Uthishta narasardoola karthavyam daivamahnikam
Uthishtothishta Govinda uthishta garudadhwaja
Uthishta kamalakantha thrilokyam mangalam kuru
Uthishtothishta Govinda uthishta garudadhwaja
Uthishta kamalakantha thrilokyam mangalam kuru
Mathassamasta jagatham madukaitabhare
Vakshoviharini manohara divyamoorthe
Sree swamini srithajana priya danaseele
Sree Venkatesadayithe thava suprabhatham x 2
Thavasuprabhathamaravindalochane
Bhavathu prasanna mukhachandra mandale
Vidhisankarendra vanithabhirarchithe
Vrishasaila nathadavithe davanidhe
Athriyadhi saptharushay ssamupasya sandyam
Aakasa sindhu kamalani manoharani
Aadaya padhayuga marchayithum prapanna
Seshadrisekhara vibho Thava suprabhatham
Panchananabja bhava shanmukavasavadhya
Tryvikramadhi charitham vibhudhasthuvanthi
Bhashapathipatathi vasara shuddhi marath
Seshadri sekhara vibho thava subrabhatham
Eeshathprapulla saraseeruha narikela
Phoogadrumadi sumanohara Balikanam
Aavaathi mandamanilassaha divya gandhai
Seshadri shekara vibho thava suprabhatham
Unmeelya nethrayugamuththama panjarasthaa
Paathraa vasishta kadhaleephala payasani Bhukthvaa
saleelamatha keli sukha patanthi
Seshadri sekhara vibho thava suprabhatham
Thanthree prakarsha madhuraswanaya
vipanchyaa Gayathyanantha charitham
thava naradopi Bhashasamagrama sakruthkara sara ramyam
Seshadri sekhara vibho thava suprabhatham
Brungavaleecha makaranda rashanuvidda
Jhankara geetha ninadaissa sevanaya
Niryathyupaantha sarasee kamalodarebhyaha
Seshadri sekhara vibhol thava suprabhatham
Yoshaganena varadhadni vimathyamaane
Ghoshalayeshu dhadhimanthana
theevraghoshaaha Roshaathkalim
vidhadhathe kakubhascha kumbhaha
Seshadri sekhara vibho thava suprabhatham
Padmeshamithra sathapathra kathalivargha
Harthum shriyam kuvalayasya nijanga Lakshmya
Bheree ninadamiva bibrathi theevranadam
Seshadri sekhara vibho thava suprabhatham
Sreemannabheeshta varadhakhila lookabandho
Sree Sreenivasa Jagadekadayaika sindho
Sree devathagruha bhujanthara divyamurthe
Sree Venkatachalapathe thava suprabhatham x 2
Sree swamy pushkarinikaplava nirmalangaa
Sreyorthino hara viranchi sanadadhyaha
Dware vasanthi varavethra hathothamangaha
Sree Venkatachalapathe thava suprabhatham
Sree seshasaila garudachala venkatadri
Narayanadri vrishabhadri vrishadri mukhyam
Akhyam thvadeeyavasathe ranisam vadanthi
Sree Venkatachalapathe thava suprabhatham
Sevaaparaashiva suresa krusanudharma
Rakshombhunatha pavamana dhanadhi nathaha
Bhaddanjali pravilasannija seersha deSaha
Sree Venkatachalapathe thava suprabhatham
Dhateeshuthevihagaraja mrugadhiraja
Nagadhiraja gajaraja hayadhiraja
Swaswadhikara mahimadhika marthayanthe
Sree Venkatachalapathe thava suprabhatham
Sooryendhubhouma bhudhavakpathi kavya souri
Swarbhanukethu divishathparishathpradanaa
Twaddhasa dasa charamavadhidaasa daasa
Sree Venkatachalapathe thava suprabhatham
Thwathpadadhulibharita spurithothha manga
Swargapavarga nirapeksha nijantharanga
Kalpagamakalanaya kulatham labhanthe
Sree Venkatachalapathe thava suprabhatham
Thvadgopuragra sikharani nireekshmana
Swargapavarga padaveem paramam shrayantha
Marthyaa manushyabhuvane mathimashrayanthe
Sree Venkatachalapathe thava Suprabhatham
Sree bhoominayaka dayadhi gunammruthabdhe
Devadideva jagadeka saranya moorthe
Sreemannanantha garudadibhirarchithangre
Sree Venkatachalapathe thava suprabhatham
Sree Padmanabha Purushothama Vasudeva
Vaikunta Madhava Janardhana chakrapane
Sree vathsachinha saranagatha parijatha
Sree Venkatachalapathe thava suprabhatham
Kandarpa darpa hara sundara divya murthe
Kanthaa kuchamburuha kutmialola drishte
Kalyana nirmala gunakara divyakeerthe
Sree Venkatachalapathe thava suprabhatham
Meenakruthe kamatakola Nrusimha varnin
Swamin parashvatha thapodana Ramachandra
Seshamsharama yadhunandana kalki roopa
Sree Venkatachalapathe thava suprabhatham
Elaa lavanga ghanasaara sugandhi theertham
Divyam viyathsarithi hemaghateshu poornam
Drutwadhya vaidika sikhamanaya prahrushta
Thishtanthi Venkatapathe thava suprabhatham
Bhaswanudethi vikachani saroruhani
Sampoorayanthi ninadai kakubho vihangha
Sree vaishnavassathatha marthitha mangalasthe
Dhamasrayanthi thava Venkata Subrabhatham
Bhramadayassuravarasamaharshayastthe
Santhassa nandana mukhastvatha yogivarya
Dhamanthike thavahi mangala vasthu hasthaa
Sree Venkatachalapathe thava suprabhatham
Lakshminivasa niravadya gunaika sindo
Samsarasagara samuththaranaika setho
Vedanta vedya nijavaibhava bhakta bhogya
Sree Venkatachalapathe thava suprabhatham x 2
ltnam vnsnacnala pamerlna suprabhatham
Ye manava prathidinam patithum pravrutha
Thesham prabhatha samaye smruthirangabhhajam
Pragnyam paraartha sulabham paramam prasoothe x 2
[1] The dates of celebration sometimes differ. The dates January 13-16, 2025 are obtained from https://www.prokerala.com/festivals/pongal.html . The author is not promoting the source/ site.
[2] Author, Freelance, Indian Economic Service, Senior Economic Adviser (Retired), Government of India, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and former Adviser (P 4) UNDP, Yemen has in posts
on his website (https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site),
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can be reached at rohitkparmar@yahoo.com.
[3] The Tamil calendar is a sidereal calendar started in 550 AD. It follows the 60 year circle, five times the duration Jupiter takes to revolve around the Sun. The Tamil calendar is based on the 12 lunar months determined by the 12 phases of the full moon.
[4] Vikram is a lunar calendar, and the Tamil Calendar is a sidereal solar calendar. A sidereal calendar is with respect to a distant star/s, i.e., constellations or fixed stars, not just the sun or satellite of a planet.
[5] The dates of Pongal in January, over seven years are - 2020 (15), 2021 (14), 2022 (14), 2023 (15), 2024 (15), 2025 (14) and 2026 (14).
[6] The earth revolves around the Sun, which is static compared to Earth. However, due to the axial tilt of the earth, during the six months commencing December 21 or 22, the Sun/ shine becomes stronger in the northern hemisphere, so the metaphor that Sun moves to the northern hemisphere.
[7] Atukul Pongal celebrated in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala in the compound/ outside the Attukal Bhagavathy temple, also has pots boiling with milk and rice, fuelled with wood. https://rohitkparmar.wixsite.com/site/post/attukal-pongala-07-03-2023-rohit-kumar-parmar
[8] Kongu Nadu or Kongu Mandalam, is the geographical region comprising the western and north-western part of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in some instances, parts of south-eastern Karnataka and eastern Kerala.
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