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Pongal is a winter
festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The first
day is Bhogi. On this day, every family cleans and decorates
their house with Kolam designs. Their doorways are adorned with
strings of Mango leaves and plaited Coconut leaves. They collect
old clothes and waste materials from their houses and make
bonfires. Bhogi is a celebration of good and an effort to rid
the society of evil. Bhogi brings hope for the next year: the
hope that with the harvest festival on the next day will come
wealth and happiness. Pongal is celebrated on the second day. It
is a rural festival in the south.
It is celebrated on the first day of the Tamil month Thai.
People gather in front of their houses and cook "Pongal" in clay
pots. Their courtyards are decorated with long stalks of
sugarcane and under this sweet rice is cooked in milk. When the
milk boils over and the rice is almost cooked, people shout in
joy, "Pongal-O-Pongal". The boiling of the Pongal dish signifies
plenty and a prosperous harvest season ahead. A great deal of
visiting takes place among friends and neighbors and Pongal and
sweets are exchanged among families. After the first day of
festivities, when Pongal is over, the ritual of Karinaal or Kanu
is held. This is predominantly a Brahmin ritual, and only the
women from each family perform the rites of worship to The Sun
God, Surya. This prayer is offered for their brothers, asking
for their long life.
The third day is called Maatu Pongal and this day is dedicated
to the cattle, which help to reap the harvest. People offer
prayers to the Bulls, Cows and other farm animals. Bull fighting
takes place on the day. In Tamil, this is called " Manju
Virattu".On the last day which is called Kanum Pongal, people go
out for places and enjoy this day.In few places this day is also
known as Karinaal or Thiruvalluvar Day.It is dedicated to the
sun God.On this day people go for picnic, travel to see their
family members some also go to temple to worship and thank God
for all good things that are bestowed on them.So ends the
festival of Pongal which is the most important festival of South
India.It ends with hopes of a fresh new beginning and peace and
prosperity for the coming year.
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