If you are born in India, you will find numerous reasons to celebrate life! The diverse culture that exit here is probably the reason, the entire calendar is all packed with festivals. To your surprise, even if we are not done with one, the preparation for the next starts.
We have just completed many celebrations and entered into New Year 2023. Falling in the first month of the year, Pongal essentially is the festival that gives a great start to a cheerful year ahead.
Every part of the country has its own traditions and Pongal festival belongs to Tamil Nadu state of South India. If you belong to North India, you probably do not have knowledge of the traditions and preparations to make for Pongal 2023.
Indians have numerous reasons to celebrate what they celebrate! Pongal, which is celebrated in Tamil Nadu as a four-days-long festival. Like every celebration has a story associated with it, Pongal, which is celebrated in January or February month also has a reason.
Pongal is celebrated in essentially the month when turmeric, rice, and sugarcane are harvested. This festival is celebrated as a means of showing your gratitude to God for the harvest of the year. The literal meaning of term Pongal is “to boil”, and is known with different names in different parts of the country.
Pongal also is the name of a dish that is consumed as a part of the festival celebration. It’s basically prepared sweetened rice and lentils boiled together.
Pongal 2023 is going to be celebrated in the month of January. According to the Hindu calendar Pongal 2023 is going to be celebrated on January 15th 2023.
| Names For Pongal | State Name |
|---|---|
| Bhogali Bihu | Assam |
| Kicheri | Uttar Pradesh |
| Lohri | Punjab |
| Makar Sankranti | West Bengal, Bihar |
| Pongal | Tamil Nadu |
But, despite these different names the festival is considered an auspicious occasion to start new things. And, is considered a way of thanking God for the harvest of the season.
Known with the name Pongal in Tamil Nadu, the occasion is observed within four days. Here’s how each of these four days are observed and what each of these days are called separately.
The Bhogi festival or the first day of Pongal is observed to celebrate the existence of Lord Indra, the lord of rain. On this day, bonfire is made from wood and cow dung cakes in which the unused items of the home are burnt.
On this day of Pongal, according to a unique custom milk and rice are boiled together in an earthen pot. And, it is offered to the Sun by tying a turmeric plant to it. Kolam at the entrance of the home are also designed on this day.
This day of Pongal is particularly to celebrate cows and their holiness. And, Cow is ornamented on this day with garlands, bells, and sheaves of corn and are then worshipped.
This is the last day of Pongal! On this day, women of the household perform a special kind of ritual. According to this ritual, the Sweet Pongal leftover are placed on a turmeric leaf in the courtyard.
You have now all the knowledge about the festival and it's time to start the preparations for Pongal 2023. Wish everyone a happy and prosperous Pongal 2023!!
