Pongal - A Tamil Festival to say Thanks!

The day of Pongal signifies the onset of the Tamil month of Thai, which means that the winters are over and it is time for spring.

Pongal originated in the villages of South India. But over the years, as people moved into the cities, the rituals and customs were amended to accustom to the pace of the urban lifestyle.

Concept:
The main concept of Boghi is to get rid of the old and worn out things and make way for newer things on the second day of Pongal.

Pongal In villages
In villages, people burn their old mats, rugs and clothes while the children beat drums made from buffalo hide.

Pongal In Cities
In cities, the Government has banned the burning of stuff as it leads to heavy air pollution. Still in some places, stuffs are burnt.

This is the most important day of Pongal. This is the day when the farmers say our Thanks to the Sun God, Surya for helping them grow crops while common people thank the Sun for giving them light and food. Rice is boiled along with milk and jaggery in earthern pots and given as offering to the Sun. Turmeric and sugarcane are the two indispensable inmates in every house that celebrates Pongal.

People who own cows decorate them with colorful ribbons, bells and balloons and thank them for helping them in ploughing and threshing the harvest.

"Kaanum" in Tamil means "to see". This final day of POngal festival is celebrated by visiting friends and relatives. If at all you end up in Tamil Nadu on this day, better don't come out of your room for the traffic will be very very heavy!