Pongal.....the harvest festival of south India

The equivalent of Lohri in the north is Pongal in the south, especially in the state of Tamil Nadu. Like Lohri too, it heralds the sun’s apparent movement northwards. Pongal is very colorful and traditional, especially in the villages.
The celebrations last for three days, January 14 being the main one. The farmer’s harvest depends on the sun, rain and his cattle, so they are honored and thanked on the different days. This is the season when rice, cereals, sugar cane and turmeric are harvested, so these are essential ingredients in the rituals.
The first day is in honor of Indra, the lord of clouds and rains. An interesting ritual, symbolizing new beginnings, is the throwing of obsolete household articles into a bonfire made of firewood and cow dung cakes.














































The next day is the main one, when the Sun is worshipped with prayers and offerings in acknowledgement for a good harvest. The fruits of the harvest are used to make a special dish of “sweet” rice, called Pongal, and this rice and milk dish is offered to the sun. Pongal literally means “to boil” or “boiling over” of milk. It is cooked outdoors, in a new earthenware pot. Other offerings include sugarcane, bananas and coconuts. Sugarcane is an important part of the decorations too.
An interesting feature is the importance given to cattle, especially cows, on the third day. They are bathed, decorated and worshipped by farmers, and fed with Pongal in gratitude for their role in ploughing the land. Their horns are often painted and decorated! Houses are cleaned and decorated, while elaborate designs called “Kolam” are drawn with rice flour outside the doorway. In some places, special bull fights called Jalli Kathu attract contestants. This is because bundles of money are tied to the horns of the bulls, and unarmed men try to wrest these! (This can also turn dangerous). This is followed by a community meal made from freshly harvested produce.
In Tamil Nadu, the fourth day is devoted to brothers, when women perform rituals and pray for their prosperity.
The photos (taken in Bangalore) highlight the symbols of Pongal: products of the harvest (sugar cane, flowers and fruits), the Pongal pot, the cow..and finally, the potter at work.