Pongal is one of the most popular harvest festival of South India, mainly Tamil Nadu. Pongal falls in the mid-January every year and marks the auspicious beginning of Uttarayan - Sun's journey Northwards. Pongal festival lasts for four days. Celebrations include drawing of Kolam (Rangoli), swinging & cooking of delicious Pongal.
Names of the four-day-long celebrations of Pongal festival.
1.Bogi Festival
2.Surya Pongal
3.Mattu Pongal
4.Kaanum Pongal
Pongal has its unique regional significance. The festival of Pongal is celebrated all over India on the same day, but has different names in each region.
Tamil Nadu - 'Pongal'
Karnataka - 'Sankranti'
Andhra Pradesh - 'Sankranti'
Kerala - 'Makar Sankranti'
Maharashtra - 'Makar Sankranti'
Gujarat - 'Makar Sankranti'
Uttar Pradesh - 'Makar Sankranti'
Pongal in Tamil means "boiling over or spill over". The act of boiling over of milk in the clay pot is considered to denote future prosperity for the family.
On January 2008, the Tamilnadu Government anounced that Pongal will be celebrated as 'Tamil New Year' from 2009.
