What is Pongal in Tamil Nadu?

Pongal is mostly celebrated at the beginning of the Tai month according to the Tamil solar calendar, which generally falls on January 14. Pongal means ‘to boil over or overflow’ in reference to the dish that is traditionally prepared on this day. The dish involves a new harvest of rice, milk and jaggery.

How does North India celebrate Pongal?

Other popular traditions in the celebration of Pongal include the drawing of rangolis and cooking of the Pongal dish, which is a Tamil preparation of rice boiled with milk and jaggery. The first day of Pongal is called Bogi, or Bhogi Pongal, and is celebrated in honour of Lord Indra.

How is Sankranti celebrated in North India?

Common Rituals of Makar Sankranti Folk songs and dances around bonfires, which is called “Bhogi” in Andhra Pradesh, “Lohri” in Punjab and “Meji” in Assam. Harvesting of crops like new paddy and sugar cane. People bathe in holy rivers, especially the Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri.

Is Pongal celebrated by Tamilians?

Pongal or Thai Pongal is one of the biggest festivals for Tamilians and is celebrated not only in India but across the world with great pomp. Indian diaspora is the largest in the world out of which the major portion are the Indian Tamilians.

How is Pongal festival celebrated in Tamilnadu?

To mark the festival, the pongal sweet dish is prepared, first offered to the gods and goddesses (goddess Pongal), followed sometimes with an offering to cows, and then shared by the family. Festive celebrations include decorating cows and their horns, ritual bathing and processions.

Why do we celebrate Pongal in Tamilnadu?

The festival is known by different names across several parts of India. In Tamil Nadu, Makar Sankranti is known as Pongal. It is usually celebrated as it is calculated in the solar calendar. It is an auspicious celebration as it marks the sun’s entry to the tropic of Capricorn (Makaran Rashi) from the Tropic of Cancer.

What is Pongal called in North India?

Makar Sankranti
It is known as Pedda Panduga in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Makara Sankranti in Karnataka and Maharashtra, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Magh Bihu in Assam, Magha Mela in parts of central and north India, as Makar Sankranti in the west, Maghara Valaku in Kerala, and by other names.

How is Sankranti celebrated in Tamilnadu?

Many people take a dip in places like Ganga Sagar and pray to the Sun God (Surya). It is celebrated with pomp in southern parts of India as Sankranti in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka (Pongal in Tamil Nadu), and in Punjab as Maghi.

Where is Pongal celebrated India?

Tamil Nadu
Pongal is one of the most important festivals celebrated by Tamil people in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Puducherry in India. It is also a major Tamil festival in Sri Lanka.

Why do we celebrate Pongal in Tamil?

It is basically a harvesting festival or it can be considered as the ‘thanksgiving’ festival’ because this festival is celebrated to thank the Sun God and Lord Indra for helping farmers in getting better-yielding crops. During the festival, people reject old belongings and welcome new stuff.

How many festivals are there in Tamilnadu?

7
How many Festivals are there in Tamil Nadu? The pride of the Tamils lies in their 7 famous festivals of Tamilnadu which are celebrated worldwide by the people with Tamil origin.

Why do we celebrate Pongal in Tamil Nadu?