Pongal

Pongal is Important festival of southern Indian specially Tamil Nadu as well as for the people of Andhra Pradesh. The festival falls on the same day (14th January) when the whole country celebrates the festival of Makar Sankranti, Bihu, Lohri and Bhogi. The word Pongal literally means "boiling over" and celebrates the bounteous crops in the fields.

First day of Pongal, called Bhogi Pongal, marks the offering of Pongal (The delicious rice dish) to lord Indra in order to thank them for giving rain for harvesting. The day 2nd and 3rd, the Pongal is offered to lord Sun and Mattu (there family cattles), and are called Surya Pongal and Mattu Pongal, respectively. The Pongal Festivl main activity of the 3-days running fiesta of Pongal is, indeed, the gathering of people from all over the village to enjoy the community feast. According to Hindu mythology, this is when the day of the gods begins, after a six-month long night.

In the morning the girls burn their old clothes and wear new ones after an oil massage and bath. Then follows Pongal Panai. The harvest festival of Pongal symbolizes the veneration of the first fruit. The crop is harvested only after a certain time of the year, and cutting the crop before that time is strictly prohibited. Even though Pongal was originally a festival for the farming community, today all celebrates it.