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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 |
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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.
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