Even making an attempt to tell Tamilians what Pongal is would be a futile effort. They know better than anyone else about this harvest festival. What is Baisakhi to the Punjabis, Bihu to the Assamese and Onam to the Keralites, Pongal is to the Tamils. Pongal is celebrated during winter solstice, when, according to Hindu tradition, the Sun which has reached the Southern-most point, turns its journey towards North, called Uttharayanam. Pongal makes the harvest festival a payback time for all who laboured for the harvest. Though it is essentially a farmers' festival, it is celebrated by all with much pomp and gaiety, even in the cities.
The agricultural crop produced after much sweat and toil is brought home to the delight of every member of the family. Their joy knows no bounds and every landlord is liberal in giving away substantial portions of the produce to the labourers who toiled for their sake. The pongal celebrations are spread over four days. The first day is Bhogi, which is celebrated by consigning to the flames old and unwanted products. The second day is Pongal, during which elaborate kolams are drawn and pongal is cooked in mud pots. The third day is mattu pongal, where the farmers thank their cattle that toiled all through the year for a good harvest.
The animals are decorated and special prayers are offered for these animals. The fourth and the last day is when sisters visit their brothers and enquire about their welfare. In the same way, friends visit friends to enquire about their welfare. In one way, it resembles Raksha Bandhan and this day is called Kaanum Pongal.
This is a day of rejoicing for the youngsters in and around Chennai, for they take a holy dip in the beach in the evening. In the villages, the shop owners or employers of firms give gifts to their employees as a token of gratitude for their good work all through the year. So people say Pongal O Pongal.
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