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Pongal Festival is a four-days-long harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu, a southern state of India. For as long as people have been planting and gathering food, there has been some form of harvest festival. Pongal, one of the most important popular Hindu festivals of the year. This four-day festival of thanksgiving to nature takes its name from the Tamil word meaning "to boil" and is held in the month of Thai (January-February) during the season when rice and other cereals, sugar-cane, and turmeric (an essential ingredient in Tamil cooking) are harvested.
Mid-January is an important time in the Tamil calendar. The harvest festival, Pongal, falls typically on the 14th or the 15th of January and is the quintessential 'Tamil Festival'. Pongal is a harvest festival, a traditional occasion for giving thanks to nature, for celebrating the life cycles that give us grain. Tamilians say 'Thai pirandhaal vazhi pirakkum', and believe that knotty family problems will be solved with the advent of the Tamil month Thai that begins on Pongal day. This is traditionally the month of weddings. This is not a surprise in a largely agricultural community - the riches gained from a good harvest form the economic basis for expensive family occasions like weddings.
History of Pongal Festival
Historical and epigraphic evidences suggest to the existence of “Pongal” even during Sangam period (5th Century BCE to 3rd Century CE) and during Medieval Chola Dynasty (up to 13th century CE).
During the Sangam era it was observed by the maidens by the name “Pavai Nonbu” in the Thai month of Tamil calendar. Young girls prayed for rain in hope of a good harvest and prosperity. For a month they refrained from consuming milk and milk products and also exercised caution to not to usher harsh words.
Epigraphic evidences suggest that during Medieval Chola dynasty the festival was celebrated as “Puthiyeedu”. There are also evidences to suggest land donations by Chola kings to temples as part of Pongal or Puthiyeedu celebrations.
Karnataka, adorned with several ancient temples and rich cultural heritage celebrate various colourful fairs and festivals. Every town, city and village in the state has their own calendar with fascinating fairs and festivals. For the people of Karnataka, these variety of festivals are a celebration of life. Apart from the religious festivals, the state also conduct magnificent dance festivals and other fairs. The most important festivals and fairs of the state are Dussera, Ugadi, Kar Hunnive, Sri Vithappa Fair, Shri Yellamma Devi Fair etc.
