Pongal is one of the most wonderful and harvest festival of Tamilnadu. India being an agriculture country, where 70% of population of India live in villages and depends on agriculture. Therefore most the big events of fair and festivals are related to cultivation. The festival alike Pongal are celebrated in all over India with different name, identity and rituals. Pongal means “Boiling Over”. The Pongal: a rice pudding made from freshly harvested rice, jaggery and milk.
The 4 days festival celebrated held on 15th January every year, in different means and ideology. First day, "Bhogi Pongal", is a day for the family. The second day is called "Surya Pongal", is dedicated to the worship of Surya, the Sun God. The third day of Pongal, "Mattu Pongal", is for the worship of the cattle. . In several places of Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh a bull fight called Jallikatu, is held. And last and four day is dedicated to birds. During the festivals, people paint and renovate their houses, taking care of cattle, bathing and coloring their horn and bodies, The passion and the enthusiasm of the tamil people come alive during the four day with own individual significance: delicious dishes are made and homes are painted and decorated.
Doorways are coloured with vermilion and sandalwood paste with beautiful garlands of flower and leaves, beautify the outside of the homes of locals also displaying collections of pretty dolls and colourful Rangolis. Pongal is symbolization of destroying devils by cleaning and burning of rubbish.
All over India, Pongal is coinciding with Makra Sankranti also called Pongal Sankranti, Lohri in North of India festival called Lohri, in Assam the festivals is named Bhugali Bihu, In Bengal month Paush, this day thousands of devotes take bath in Gangasagar, where holy river Ganga merges in the sea to wash away all the earthy bad deeds and sins. By and large this wonderful festival is celebrated grandly through out the country.
Bhugali Bihu in Assam while people in West Bengal, celebrate the last day of Bengali month Paush on January 14. Here, thousands of devotees take bath in Gangasagar, the point where the holy river Ganga meets the sea, to wash away all the earthly sins. The festival falls in January month every year, after the winter solstice. The date of the festival (14th January) is derived from Solar Calendar; almost date of festival remains same.
