Celebrating Pongal Across India: Diverse Names, One Spirit
Pongal, a harvest festival celebrated with fervor and joy, marks the end of winter and the beginning of the harvest season. Though rooted in Tamil Nadu, its essence transcends boundaries, with different states celebrating it under unique names and cultural expressions.
- Tamil Nadu: Pongal In Tamil Nadu, Pongal is a four-day celebration:
Bhogi Pongal: The day for discarding the old and embracing the new. Bonfires are lit to burn old items. Thai Pongal: The main festival, dedicated to the Sun God. The dish “Pongal,” made of rice, jaggery, and milk, is cooked in clay pots.
Mattu Pongal: Honoring cattle, farmers’ partners in agriculture. Cows and oxen are adorned with garlands and painted horns. Kaanum Pongal: A day for family reunions and social gatherings.
2. Punjab: Lohri In Punjab, the festival is called Lohri, celebrated a day before Makar Sankranti.
People gather around a bonfire, singing traditional songs and dancing Bhangra and Gidda. Foods like sesame seeds, jaggery, and peanuts are distributed, symbolizing prosperity.
3. Assam: Magh Bihu (Bhogali Bihu) In Assam, it’s Magh Bihu, a harvest festival marked by feasting and merry-making.
Mejis (temporary huts) are built from bamboo and hay, where people feast and later burn them as a ritual. Traditional games like buffalo fights and community feasts are highlights.
4. Gujarat and Rajasthan: Uttarayan / Makar Sankranti In Gujarat, Uttarayan is celebrated with a grand kite festival.
The skies are filled with colorful kites, symbolizing joy and freedom. Families enjoy traditional sweets like tilgul (sesame and jaggery ladoos). In Rajasthan, it is celebrated with equal enthusiasm, involving kite-flying competitions and traditional delicacies.
5.Maharashtra: Makar Sankranti Maharashtra observes Makar Sankranti with the exchange of tilgul ladoos and the saying, “Tilgul ghya, goad goad bola” (Take sweets and speak sweetly).
Women dress in black sarees and participate in haldi-kumkum ceremonies.
6. Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh: Sankranti In Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, Sankranti is a family festival.
Houses are decorated with rangoli and flowers. Special dishes like ellu-bella in Karnataka and Ariselu in Andhra Pradesh are prepared.
7. Kerala: Makara Vilakku In Kerala, Makara Vilakku coincides with Makar Sankranti and is celebrated at the famous Sabarimala Temple.
Devotees witness the sacred flame, believed to be divine. Common Themes Across Cultures Despite regional variations, the underlying spirit of Pongal and its counterparts is universal:
Gratitude to Nature: Thanking the Sun, Earth, and cattle for their contribution to agriculture. Family and Community Bonding: Sharing food, love, and joy with family and neighbors. Cultural Expression: Traditional dances, songs, and rituals bring people together.
