When is Pongal 2012?

Pongal Greetings

Pongal is the festival observed by Tamils to celebrate the bountiful harvest they have been gifted with, by the almighty. This festive occasion coincides with the Makar Sankranti, which is celebrated in other parts of India. A significant aspect of Pongal is that Tamils cook rice on this day until it spills over the pot in which it is cooked. This “boiling over” or “spilling over” is known as Pongal.

When will Pongal 2012 be celebrated?

This festival is observed annually from January 14 to January 17. In 2012, the celebrations will span for the same time period.

History of Pongal and its Legends

This festival has been celebrated by the ancient people of South India, especially the Tamils, during the reign of Sangam rulers who were on power from 200 B.C. to 300 A.D. It was then known as Thai Un or Thai Niradal. Even the Pallava Dynasty (4th to 8th Century AD) celebrated Thai Niradal as one of their major festivals, in December-January.

At the time of this festival, young girls offered their prayers for rains, good harvest, and the prosperity of their land. They avoided taking milk and dairy products. They refrained from oiling their hair or speaking harsh words against anyone. The women took an early bath and offered their prayers to Goddess Katyayani. The idol of this Goddess was created out of wet sand.

The women folk indulged in penance until the first day of the month of Thai (January-February), so that there would be plenty of rainfall for their crops to grow. These rituals and practices led to the celebration of the harvest festival by the Tamils. An inscription found in the Veeraraghava Temple at Tiruvallur says that the Chola King, Kiluttunga, followed the practice of offering lands to the temple for the festive celebrations during Pongal.

Legends of Pongal

There are some popular legends associated with this festival. They are as follows.

Legend related to Lord Shiva: Lord Shiva had once ordered his bull, Basava, to inform humans that they must go for an oil massage before they take their bath everyday and they should eat just once every month. But Basava declared that every human being should eat daily and have an oil bath just once a month. Shiva was furious to find this out and cursed Basava to reside on earth along with the humans forever. This meant that Basava would have to help the humans in agricultural activities. This is how Pongal is associated with cattle.

Legend of Lord Indra and Krishna: According to ancient stories, Lord Krishna in his childhood, had asked all the farmers to avoid praying to Indra. This annoyed Lord Indra and in return, he flooded the earth with rain and thunderstorm. Lord Krishna helped his villagers by lifting Mount Govardhan to protect their lives. Lord Indra understood his mistake later on; he also realized the divine power of Lord Krishna.

Pongal is observed with widespread enthusiasm in South India as well as other parts of the world. It is the celebration of prosperity and happiness that come with a good harvest. So, participate in the festivities on the four days of Pongal and enjoy the traditions and customs that make this event a special one.

Last updated on 28 December 2011


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