What does Thai Pongal represent?
harvest
Thai Pongal is traditionally a festival dedicated to the harvest and the sun, by farmers who depend on Mother Nature and her elements for a bountiful crop harvest of their staple food, rice.
Why is Thai Pongal important?
In January, many in the country of Thailand unite to celebrate the Tamil Thai Pongal festival, which celebrates the harvest and farmers’ gratitude toward farm animals. Despite poor soil conditions and unpredictable rainfall, Thai farmers and others come together to give thanks for what the year has brought.
What is the story of Thai Pongal?
Pongal marks the initiation of the sun’s movement towards the North for a six month period. It signifies the event when the sun enters the zodiac sign Capricorn (Makar) and thus the name Makar Sankranti. History of Pongal Pongal is an ancient festival, a festival whose presence can be traced back to 200B. C to 300A.
What is special about Pongal?
Significance. Harvest festival. Thanking the Sun God for agricultural abundance 4 days long. Celebrations. Pongal dish, decorations, flour dishes, home coming, prayers, processions, gift giving.
How is Thai Pongal celebrated?
Feasting, gift-giving, visiting homes
Pongal/Observances
What is Pongal in English?
The festival is named after the ceremonial “Pongal”, which means “to boil, overflow” and refers to the traditional dish prepared from the new harvest of rice boiled in milk with jaggery (raw sugar).
Why is Sankranthi celebrated?
Every year Makar Sankranti is celebrated in the month of January. This festival is dedicated to the Hindu religious sun god Surya. This significance of Surya is traceable to the Vedic texts, particularly the Gayatri Mantra, a sacred hymn of Hinduism found in its scripture named the Rigveda.
What happens during Pongal?
The three days of the Pongal festival are called Bhogi Pongal, Surya Pongal and Maattu Pongal. Some Tamils celebrate a fourth day of Pongal as Kanum Pongal….Pongal (festival)
| Pongal | |
|---|---|
| Celebrations | Pongal dish, decorations, flour dishes, home coming, prayers, processions, gift giving |
| Date | First day of the 10th month of Tai (Tamil calendar) |
Which Pongal is today?
Today is Thai Pongal, the second and the main day of the four-day Pongal celebrations. The harvest festival of Pongal is being celebrated across Tamil Nadu with great enthusiasm. People woke up early, dressed up in traditional clothes and prepared the famous delicacy – Pongal – with rice, milk and jaggery.
Who celebrates Pongal?
Hinduism
Pongal/Featured in religions
What should we do on Pongal?
People wear ethnic Tamilian attire and get ready in the morning to seek blessings from the Sun God and thank God for a great harvest. Families and friends gather together and prepare the traditional dish “Pongal,” a sweet rice dish and share with each other. This marks the end of the harvest season.