Pongal Festival Kerala-Sense of Gratitude and Belief

Dedicated to God Sun, Pongal is an important festival in Kerala. The festival specifies the rural traditions. Celebrated as a thanks giving festival, Pongal is not a single day festival. It is a series of celebrations that is rolled in single name. During the four days of celebration, Keralites not only celebrate but also pay thanks to Sun, Rain and the farm animals for helping them in harvesting.

Celebrated in the month of January, this festival holds an important place in the life of farmers. A four days stretch of Pongal gives enough time to Keralites for expressing their thanks and prayers. It is a festival that encompasses different aspects of the life of the people of Kerala and especially that of farmers. This festive series has four major sections -Bhogi, Thai, Mattu and Kaanum and each of these has different rituals.

Bhogi Pongalr
Bhogi Pongal is the first day of the Pongal festival in Kerala. Dedicated to Rain God, this day holds a special place in the festive series. On this day, people clean their houses and discard the useless things at their homes. To start a new beginning and to show the gratitude to the God, Bhogi Pongal is considered as the best time.

Thai Pongalr
After cleaning houses and discarding the useless clothes and other household items, the next day is the actual day of celebration of the Pongal series. The rituals of this day include boiling rice in fresh milk with jaggery and some dry fruits. The ritual starts early in the morning and the cooking process require a new clay pot. According to the legend, seeing this act brings prosperity.

Cuisines made on this day are primarily offered to Mother Nature and God Sun. This is a way how people of Kerala thank heavenly deity for providing happiness. Another ritual of this day is plantation of saplings.

Mattu Pongalr
On this day, Keralite farmers pay thanks to their cattle for helping them in farming. On Mattu Pongal, people of Kerala clean their animals and decorate them by flowers, paints and bells. To show the gratitude, the people of Kerala feed their animals with special feast prepared of using sugar cane and rice. After this, they set their animals free to roam.

Kaanum Pongalr
After offering their prayers to God and thanks to their cattle, this day is dedicated to the society. On Kaanum Pongal, Keralites visit their friends and relatives to greet them. They exchange sweets and spend a quality time together. Use of Kolam, is common on this day. People decorate their homes with rice powder and colours.

Pongal is a festival that reflects the sense of thankfulness towards the deities and the cattle that are helping the farmers in agricultural activities.