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Pongal is a Tamil harvest festival. It is same as Thanksgiving Day. In an agriculture based civilization, harvest plays an important role. The farmer cultivating the land depends on his cattle, timely rain and the Sun. Once a year, he expresses his gratitude to everything which symbolizes the harvest celebration. With the end of the wet month of Margazhi (mid December to mid January) the new Tamil month of Thai heralds a series of festivals. The first day of this month is a festival day known as "Pongal Day". Pongal means the "boiling over" of milk and rice during the month of Thai.
As one stand on the threshold of the harvest season, everyone exchange Pongal wishes, hoping that it brings the harbinger of good luck, good fortune and good cheer. People wish each other good times, happiness, peace and prosperity. They also greet each other saying "Pongalo Pongal" and "Pongum Mangalam Engum Thanguga" in Tamil.Tamils wish each other to start the New Year with mutual respect, understanding, trust and sincere cooperation.
Pongal also referred to as "harvest festival", is observed by the people of Tamil Nadu, located in the Southern part of India. The idea behind celebrating this day is the gratification of people towards God Sun, for bringing about the season of harvest, which is a boon for them! The festival is celebrated on 15th January every year by the Hindu community.
People show their gratitude by offering cooked rice to the Almighty!! All genres of people during this season become busy in reaping the harvest in the field. And on the particular day they cook rice in the courtyard of their houses as the food which is meant to be offered to God is considered to be inauspicious if cooked it is cooked in the kitchen.
Few day before the Pongal arrives, people particularly the lady of the home, cleans and decorates the whole house with flowers and strings of flowers. They use Swastik and kumkum to embellish big earthen vessels. The pit is filled with water and rice by either the youngest or the oldest member of the family. As per the traditions it is of paramount importance to add some milk to water in which rice is cooked which is to be offered to the God Sun. People who get involved in cooking rice for the God has to take utmost care of cleanliness. They are supposed not to step over the Rangoli which has been designed for decoration.
Pongal also referred to as "harvest festival", is observed by the people of Tamil Nadu, located in the Southern part of India. The idea behind celebrating this day is the gratification of people towards God Sun, for bringing about the season of harvest, which is a boon for them! The festival is celebrated on 15th January every year by the Hindu community.