Pongal Festival in Pondicherry

Pongal Festival in Pondicherry essentially celebrates Harvest, Sun God and Mother Earth. It is one of the most important festivals of Pondicherry. This festival is celebrated in the month of Thai of the Tamil calendar, corresponding to the months of January and February in the Gregorian calendar. The festival is mainly held to thank God in its five elements with a bountiful harvest. Pongal means ' to boil' and the main dish of Pongal, which is offered to God, is made by boiling. A traditional motif associated with Pongal in Pondicherry is Kolam that is drawn as an auspicious symbol on the doorway.

The celebration of Pongal festival continues for four days. The first day, known as the Pongal Eve or the Bogi Pongal, is celebrated in honor of Lord Indra, the God of rain and thunder. Pondicherry, being largely dependent on agriculture, prays for the crops to prosper with the rain. This is marked by the burning of old and useless household articles and decorating the house. The young girls of Pondicherry dance in joy around the fire.

The people of Pondicherry cook rice in milk on the second day of Pongal and dedicate the food to the Sun God. This is actually the ritual dish of Pongal. The third day celebrates Mattu Pongal when the cows and oxen used for agriculture are adorned beautifully with flowers and garlands and fed with Pongal. Their horns are painted in bright colors and are decorated with trinkets and bells. What follows is the very interesting village cow race.

The fourth day of Pongal festival in Pondicherry, known as Kannum Pongal, is traditionally the farmer's day. The women pray for the prosperity of their brothers on this day. People wear new clothes and visit friends and relatives and everywhere there is a mood of frenzy and lightness.