Pongal is a festival of harvest and there are several traditions and customs that are associated with this festival. Pongal is celebrated for four days and each day has several traditions and customs associated with it.
Bhogi Pongal
This is the first day of the Pongal festival and people worship Lord Indra on this day. This day is also the beginning of a New Year according to the Malayalam calendar. Old and useless things of the house are set to fire as this symbolizes an end of old things and a beginning for new. Women also make pongal kolams on this day.
Surya Pongal
The second day of the Pongal celebrations is this Surya Pongal. On this day as the name suggests offerings are made to the sun God. People cook new rice in a pot and it is mixed with milk and jaggery. The food is allowed to boil and fall, as this is known as Pongal.
Maattu Pongal
The third day of the Pongal festival is dedicated to the farm animals as they help to produce high yield of paddy. The animals are dressed in a beautiful way and they are taken for a round in the entire village. People bow head in front of them and touch their forehead and feet. Pongal is also offered to the animals. Jallikattu, bull fights are also arranged on this day and young men during this fight try to get the bag of money that is tied to the horns of violent bulls without using their hands.
Kaanum Pongal
This is the fourth day of Pongal festival and people generally visit their near and dear ones on this day. Some people also leave small amount of food on the banana leaves for the birds and on any of the days after having first bite of the food, rest of the food is left for the crows.
Apart from the above people sing Pongal songs and perform Pongal dances during the four days of Pongal, as it is an important part of Pongal traditions and customs.
New Year Traditions
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