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Pongal 2023

Published: 20th Jan, 2023

Context

The Pongal for the year 2023 is celebrated on January 15.

About

  • Pongal is observed by the Tamil community across the world in mid-January every year.
  • It is one of the biggest harvest festivals in India along with Makar Sankranti

According to the Gregorian calendar, the Pongal festival is a four-day festival; therefore, it will be celebrated from 15 January to 18 January 2023.

  • The Pongal festival is a four-day celebration affair.
  • Each day is marked by different festivities- The first day is called the Bhogi festival; the Second day is called Thai Pongal; the Third day is called Mattu Pongal; the Fourth day is calledKaanum Pongal.

Significance:

  • It is basically a harvesting festival or it can be considered as the 'thanksgiving' festival' because this festival is celebrated to thank the Sun God and Lord Indra for helping farmers in getting better-yielding crops.
  • During the festival, people reject old belongings and welcome new stuff.

Culture associated:

  • The preparation of the traditional "Pongal" dish is the festival's most important custom.
  • Rice that has just been harvested is used, and it is cooked by boiling it with milk and raw cane sugar (jaggery).
  • The sweet dish occasionally includes extra ingredients like cardamom, raisins, split green gramme, and cashew nuts.
  • Other components include ghee and coconut (clarified butter from cow milk).
  • Some people prepare the Pongal dish in addition to the sweet version, such as the salty and savoury varieties (venpongal).

In certain communities, women gather together to cook as a social activity by bringing their "cooking pots to the town centre, or the main square, or near a temple of their choice, or simply in front of their own home.”

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