Things to tell your kids about Pongal festival

Like Makar Sankranti, Pongal is a festival to celebrate the harvesting of crops by farmers and to mark to the onset of Spring season. The sun moves from the south to the north starting the Uttarayan period which is considered very auspicious. It is one of the most important festivals of south India, where prayers are offered to the Sun god. 

The word ‘ Pongal ‘ means boiling over and signifies prosperity. Hence, rice and milk are boiled over and offered to the Sun god.  Pongal (Telugu: Sankranthi), a four-day festival, is significant in Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Sri Lanka, and other Tamil-speaking nations. It is a harvest celebration that takes place from the 14th to the 16th of January. (vide Gregorian Calendar). On 14 January, the Tamil month Margazhi ends, and the first day of Thai -15 January begins. It correlates to Makara Sankranthi, India's winter harvest festival, and is also known as Thai Pongal. Thai is a customary month for weddings and family gatherings.

The first day is called Bhogi Pandigai. Bhogi is another name for Lord Indra, the god of thunder and rain. Hence the first day is dedicated to Indra.  

The 2nd day is called Perum Pongal. Legend has it that a sage called Hema prayed to Lord Vishnu. On Pongal, the lord is believed to have taken the form of Sarangapani and blessed the sage. 

The 3rd day is called Mattu Pongal, celebrated to glorify cattle that help farmers in so many ways. Cows are bathed and decorated with vermilion and garlands and fed a special meal.  

The 4th and last day is called Kaanum Pongal. On this day, families gather on the riverbanks and have a picnic together. They also dance the traditional dances Kummi and Kolattam. 

It is a custom to clean every nook and corner of the house a few days before the festival. On Pongal, wearing new clothes is customary. Special dishes made during Pongal include “Sarkarai Pongal”, “Ven Pongal”, Dosai and Sambhar, Vadai and Payasam (kheer). Elaborate rangolis made with rice powder adorn every doorstep. Rice powder is used so that insects can feed on it. It is a beautiful way of keeping insects out of the house while ensuring they get their food. Plus, it adds to the beautification of the home entrance. At the centre of it, a lump of cow dung holds a five-petal pumpkin flower, which is regarded as a symbol of fertility and an offering of love to the presiding deity.

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