The Pongal Harvest Festival is celebrated in January after the winter solstice. The date of Pongal is determined based on the solar calendar. Pongal days are extremely favorable for Hindus and astronomically important — annually between January 14 and 16, the sun begins its six-month journey north (Uttarayana), passing into the constellation Capricorn.
This is a celestial event and is celebrated in South India under the name Pongal. The festival takes place on the days of flowering of the fields, which is why Pongal is considered, especially in peasant communities, a celebration of prosperity, prosperity and a good harvest.
On this holiday, rice from the first harvest is prepared after a long and harsh winter. The word «pongal» (Pongal) means « sweet rice dish», which is prepared in honor of the holiday. During the festival, peasants also express their gratitude to the Sun God and the cow for getting a good harvest.
This is a very important holiday for all Hindus. According to mythology, on this day the gods come to earth after six months of a long night. The Pongal Festival is one of the main festivals in South India; in North and Central India the festival is called Makar Sankranti.
The holiday lasts four days.
On the first day, called the festival of Gods (Bhogi Festival), the celebration is limited to the family hearth.
The second (main) day is called Surya Pongal in honor of the Sun God. On this day, various rice dishes are brought to the sun. Women decorate the patio centers of their homes with beautiful patterns made from rice flour and red clay.
Third day — Maatu Pongal, or Pongal cattle. Livestock are cleaned and washed, animal horns are polished, painted and decorated. A sweetened rice drink — «pongal» also awaits her. Sometimes games with bulls are held on this day. A bag of money is tied to the bull's horn, and the young men try to remove it from the running bull.
Fourth day — Kanum Pongal. The celebrations end with family and relatives. Everyone exchanges congratulations with relatives and friends. Seeing this holiday as the beginning of the harvest season, everyone hopes that it will bring fertility, good luck, happiness and fun.