Pongal 2021

• Pongal is a Tamil harvest celebration that takes place at the beginning of the Tai month of the Tamil solar calendar. Pongal 2021 will begin on Thursday, January 14, 2021, and end on January 17, 2021.
• The Sun god is honoured at this celebration. It corresponds to Makar Sankranti, which is also a harvest holiday celebrated across the country. The celebration commemorates the end of the winter solstice and the beginning of the sun's northward trek. Bhogi Pongal, Surya Pongal, Mattu Pongal, and Kaanum Pongal are the four days of the celebration.
• Pongal (“boiling over”), a classic sweet delicacy prepared with rice boiled in milk with jaggery, is the inspiration for this event. It is initially offered to the gods and goddesses, after which it is consumed by the family.

History and Importance of pongal festival 2021

• Pongal is traditionally observed at the beginning of the Tai month, which falls on January 14 in the Tamil solar calendar. Pongal refers to the dish that is traditionally made on this day and signifies "to boil over or overflow." A new harvest of rice, milk and jaggery is used in this dish. The food is initially served to the Gods and Goddesses, followed by the cows, and then the family members.
• Pongal is first mentioned in an inscription in the Viraraghava temple, which is devoted to Lord Vishnu. The inscription mentions Chola monarch Kulottunga I and a plot of land that he gave to the temple to celebrate Pongal every year. Moreover, the first mention of the Pongal dish may be traced back to the same time period.

How is Pongal festival 2021 celebrated

• The word "Pongal" means "to boil" and is related to rice. The day is usually observed as a show of gratitude to the Sun God for a successful harvest. It is for this reason that before the event begins, people boil rice in milk and serve it to the sun.
• Each day of the four-day celebration has its unique importance. The Bhogi festival, which takes place on the first day, is held to honour Lord Indra. On this day, it is customary to burn all of the household's useless belongings in a bonfire composed of wood, cakes, and cow dung.
• The festival's second day is known as Thai Pongal. This is the day when people offer the Sun God rice and milk that has been boiled together. Kolam is often used to embellish the entryway to people's homes. It's normally done first thing in the morning after a bath.
• The third day is known as Mattu Pongal, and it is when people worship cows. According to legend, Lord Shiva sent his bull Basava to earth to deliver the message that Shiva wants mortals to get oil massages and baths every day and eat once a month. Basava became perplexed and gave the opposite message. As a punishment, Shiva ordered Basava to return to the ground for the rest of his life and assist people in producing more food by ploughing the fields.
• Kaanum Pongal is the fourth and last day of the festival. On this day, the leftovers (meal) are combined with sugarcane and betel leaves and laid on a washed turmeric leaf. The women then undertake a rite in which they pray for their brothers' prosperity.
• Pongal, a large celebration in the south, is also noted for its unique traditional foods. If you happen to be in South India in January, you should go see this festival.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly is the meaning of the Pongal festival 2021?

India is a farming country, and the majority of the festivals are centred on nature. The Pongal, like other festivals, is known as Uttarayan Punyakalam, which has special significance in Hindu mythology and is said to be extremely auspicious.

How many days is the Pongal festival 2021 observed?

Pongal Festival 2021 is A Four-Day Festivities. The first day is known as the Bhogi Festival; the second day is known as Thai Pongal; the third day is known as Mattu Pongal, and the fourth day is known as Kaanum Pongal.

What is the purpose of the Pongal festival?

The word Pongal comes from Tamil literature, and it means 'to boil.' It is an ancient South Indian festival, especially among Tamils. It is basically a harvest festival that is celebrated for four days in Tamil Nadu during the Solar Equinox in the months of January-February (Thai) after harvesting crops Like Rice, Sugarcane, Turmeric, and so on.