HAPPY PONGAL GREETINGS 2024
India is the second largest nation in terms of population and seventh largest in terms of area in the world.
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The top 10 rice producing countries in the world today are India, China, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam Burma, Philippines, Cambodia, and Pakistan. These countries are also among the top rice consumers of the world, and combine to account for around 90% of the world’s rice consumption.
There are six seasons in Tamil Nadu, India as shown below:
S.No. | Season | Tamil Months | English Period (In between) | Characteristics |
1. | Spring (Ila-venil kalam) | Chithirai and Vaikasi | APR-JUN | Temperature around 25-30 degrees |
2. | Summer (Muthu venil kalam) | Aani and Aadi | JUN-AUG | Very hot upto 40 degrees temperature and farmers gear up for rice planting |
3. | Monsoon (Kar kalam) | Avani and Purattasi | AUG-OCT | Very hot, very humid and heavy monsoon rains |
4. | Autumn (Kulir kalam) | Aippasi and Karthikai | OCT-DEC | Mild temperature |
5. | Pre-winter (Mun Panikkalam) | Margali and Thai | DEC-FEB | Very pleasant temperature (20 – 25 degrees) farmers reap rice |
6. | Winter (Pin Panikkalam) | Maasi and Panguni | FEB-APR | Quite cold but very pleasant during occasional sunshine temperature may be below 20 degrees. |
The agriculturists in Tamil Nadu start their farming activities during rainy season which starts in the month of Aadi i.e. in July.
The farmers use Bulls for ploughing of field for rice cultivation activities from Aadi 1st and finishes plughing activities before 17th Aadi and the rice fields are ready for weeding purpose on 18th Aadi (Tamil Month).
The farmers weeding paddy in their fields on Audi 18 (ஆடிப்பட்டம் தேடி விதை) (on which day rain water reaches agricultural fields in most of the farming fields in Tamil Nadu) and starts their rice plantation activities.
The agriculturists in Tamil Nadu use only natural fertilizers for cultivation and avoid artificial fertilizers. They did not use tractors for ploughing or farming purpose. All agricultural activities in Tamil Nadu will be done only with man power and hence rice production period may extend upto 6 months but the quality of rice will be high.
The cultivated paddy in green fields will be harvested during the Tamil Month Margali (i.e. from the first week of December to second week January) and the farmers take harvested paddy or rice to their homes.
Pongal is a 4 day festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu.
BOGI PANDIGAI (CLEANING FESTIVAL)
Day before Thai 1 i.e. last day of Margali month (i.e. first day on 14.1.2024) is called “Bogi Festival Day”. In order to bring fresh paddy or rice or any agricultural produce to their homes agriculturists in villages clean their premises by throwing out the unused, old and damaged things. Agni will clean all unwanted things.
PONGAL PANDIGAI (PONGAL FESTIVAL)
On Thai 1st Pongal Festival (i.e. second day on 15.1.2024) is celebrated mainly in Tamil Nadu and India.
Pongal is a harvest festival dedicated to the Sun God. Pongal Festival is celebrated on the 1st day of Thai Tamil month probably on 14th or 15th January each year and hence it is called as “THAI PONGAL”.
The Agriculturists who harvested paddy celebrates using the fresh rice harvested from their own lands and celebrates the festival as “Pongal Festival”.
By first consuming the fresh rice produced by the agriculturists, they know the quality of rice produced by them in their own fields with their own efforts. In the modern world each and every product undergoes quality control test for human consumption then launched in the market. But in Tamil culture history the rice and jaggery produced by farmers are first tested and consumed by the farmers in the name and style of Pongal festival. Thai Pongal is mainly celebrated to convey appreciation to the Sun God for a successful harvest. Part of the celebration is the boiling of the first rice of the season consecrated to the Sun - the Surya Pongal.
By first consuming the fresh rice produced by the agriculturists, they know the quality of rice produced by them in their own fields with their own efforts. In the modern world each and every product undergoes quality control test for human consumption then launched in the market. But in Tamil culture history the rice and jaggery produced by farmers are first tested and consumed by the farmers in the name and style of Pongal festival. Thai Pongal is mainly celebrated to convey appreciation to the Sun God for a successful harvest. Part of the celebration is the boiling of the first rice of the season consecrated to the Sun - the Surya Pongal.
Cane harvest will also be done in the same period and the growers of cane can prepare cane jaggery during the same period and rice and cane jaggery will be used to prepare Pongal.
The day marks the start of the Sun’s six-month-long journey northwards.
WHAT IS PONGAL AND HOW TO PREPARE IT
Sakkarai Pongal is made with rice, moong dal, and jaggery and seasoned with cashew nuts, cardamoms and raisins.
Materials required for Sakkarai Pongal
Raw Rice | 1 Cup |
Milk | 1 Cup |
Moong Dhall | Half Cup |
Jaggery | 3 Cups |
Cardamom | 2 Tea Spoon |
Cloves | 2 Numbers |
Water | 3 Cups |
Cashew nut | 2 Tea Spoon |
Dry Grapes | 2 Tea Spoon |
Just put a pot or an open vessel on the burning flame and pour 3 cups of water and one cup of milk.
When the water and milk boils and overflows from the pot please say “Pongalo Pongal” in loud voice and add Raw Rice and Moong Dhall and allow cooking.
Then add powdered pure jaggery of 3 cups and allow dissolving. Now the Sakkarai Pongal is ready. Now take another small vessel and add ghee and fry the cashew slightly with dry grapes (Kismiss fruit), cloves and cardamom and then mix the same with the rice cooked by adding pure jaggery. Now the Pongal Dish which is called “Sakkarai Pongal” is ready.
Now offer the same to Sun God and also to the deities in Pooja Room on a fresh banana leaf with other pooja materials. Now you have performed Thai Pongal festival i.e. thanks giving festival to Sun God successfully. Share the same with family and friends and enjoy happiness of Pongal Festival wherever you are.
MATTU PONGAL (FESTIVAL FOR BULLS AND COW AND CALF AND OTHER FARM ANIMALS)
On Thai 2nd “Mattu Pongal” (i.e. third day on 16.1.2024 is celebrated in Tamil Nadu.
Cows and Bulls are very helpful in cultivating agricultural lands for the purpose of Ploughing and also for the purpose of natural manure. Hence people offer prayers to the bulls, cows and other farm animals. The farmers honour their cattle friends by celebrating it as a day of thanks giving to the animals in the name and style of “Mattu Pongal”
KAANUM PONGAL (GET-TOGETHER MEET)
On Thai 3rd “Kaanum Pongal” (i.e. fourth day on 17.1.2024) is celebrated in Tamil Nadu.
In modern days get-together meet is performed all over the world. The same procedure is followed in Tamil Nadu from ancient days in the name and style of “Kaanum Pongal” festival. On that day people visit their relatives’ houses and friends’ houses because they are free from agricultural and farming activities after harvest. So they enjoy the day with full of joy. In some places people choose a common ground for that purpose.
JALLIKATTU
During the same Pongal period the traditional sport called “Jallikattu” will be performed in many villages in Tamil Nadu.
On that day bulls are released into a crowd of people, and multiple human participants attempt to grap the large hump on the bull’s arms and hang on to it while the bull attempts to escape. Participants hold the hump for as long as possible, attempting to bring the bull to a stop or to bring them under their control. Participants who controlled the bulls were honoured with monetary benefit with free gifts etc.
