When Is Pongal In 2012?

By Author: Aman Roy
Total Articles: 43
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India is a colourful country with varied festivals that is celebrated with lots of enthusiasm and vigor. As India houses people of multifarious caste, creed and religion, a wide variety of festivals are commemorated with heartfelt devotion and respect. Among them, Pongal is quite significant. Pongal which coincides with Makara Sankranthi is a harvest festival that is celebrated by Tamils in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. So, if you are wondering as to when is Pongal in 2012, note that it is a festival spread over four days. The ‘Bhogi’ or ‘Bhogi Pongal' is celebrated on January 13, ‘Surya Pongal‘ or 'Pongal' is on January 14, 'Mattu Pongal' is on January 15, and ‘Kaanum Pongal’ or 'Thiruvalluvar Day' is on January 16. However, main Pongal is on January 14th, 2012. To make this festival grand, online gifts portal GiftstoIndia24x7.com has launched a wide variety of gifts. Thus, send gifts to India to make Pongal festival grand.

Pongal comprehended in Tamil as "boiling over" or "spill over", is a harvest festival that aims to thank the Almighty Sun God and farmstead livestock for the quantity of harvest received. ...
... Just as the boiling over of milk in the clay pot symbolizes material abundance for the household, a rich harvest is highly symbolic and clarifies peace, prosperity and abundance in the lives of the people. Originally dedicated to the Sun God, Surya, revellers show courtesy to the solar deity for the ample harvest and thus consecrate the first grain to him on this 'Surya Mangalyam'. People also draw ‘kolams’ or ‘rangolis’ at their door step and entrances with multifarious colours, consume sugar cane juice, prepare sweetened rice, milk and jaggery in new earthen pots and offer it to Sun God to usher freshness, prosperity and positivity all over.

In-spite of urbanization followed by the globalization of the modern World, the essence of the festival still remains the same. The first day of the four day festival popularly called ‘Bhogi’ or ‘Bhogi Pongal’, is a day for family gathering and is mostly dedicated to Lord Indra, the king of deities and God of Clouds and Rains. Pious offerings to the God are made to please him to yield a healthy harvest. This time also marks the festive beginning of a new year. People lit bonfire in-front of their houses made of household scrap products at night and it is left burning the whole night before day sets in. To memorialize this occasion, boys beat buffalo-hide drums incessantly called ‘Bhogi Kottus’. However, the female counterparts make sure that their house is clean and is decorated with ‘rangolis’ or ‘kolams’. Further, yellow pumpkin flowers are set in cow-dung balls in the middle of these designs to add piousness to the occasion.

‘Surya Pongal’, the second Day is popularly celebrated as ‘Pongal’. The second day of Pongal is dedicated to the Sun God. The granaries are kept full on this day and Sun God with his rays are painted on a plank as he is worshiped with the onset of the new auspicious month of ‘Thai’. The third day, called ‘Mattu Pongal’ is dedicated to the cattle as cowherds and shepherds pay thanks to their cows and bulls. They also paint their horns and cover them with shining metal caps. Ferocious bull-fights or ‘jallikattu’ and auspicious offerings to Lord Ganesha and Goddess Parvati makes the day eventful. The forth day, popularly called ‘Kaanum Pongal’ is a day when the younger members of the family pay homage to their elders who in turn reciprocate by pampering them with gifts to India or token money. One can also send amazing gifts to India from US through the site.

The festival Pongal is directly associated with annual cycle of seasons. It not only marks the gathering of the harvest but also the withdrawal of the southeast monsoons in southern most part of India. Just as the cycle of season withers out the old by ushering a new beginning, the advent of Pongal perishes’ up the old and outdated by welcoming new crops. Pongal is also accompanied with gifting and merrymaking. Irrespective of age, family status and social standing, people celebrate it wholeheartedly by exchanging pleasantries. Thus Pongal 2012 is sure to bring in relief and moments of boundless happiness to the family.

Although, Pongal was originally a festival for the farming community, today it is celebrated among rank and file. Though celebrated in a diverse way, the meaning and significance remains the same. In south India, it is celebrated as Pongal, Bihu in Assam, Sankranti in Central part of India and Lohri in northern part of India.

About the Author:

The author writes for GiftstoIndia24x7.com which enables the NRIs to send gifts to India. The site aims to connect non-resident Indians by enabling them to send gifts to India on all occasions or festivals. Send a gift to India through us and experience the difference.