Stories of Pongal that you Cannot Miss
To begin with, Pongal is the name of the festival and also the name of the dish that is prepared on this day to relish. Pongal is a 4-day festival, so it would not be wrong to call the Pongal extravaganza Pongal palooza. Over the four days, people indulge in a vibrant celebration of Pongal. During this festival, they are mostly expressing their gratitude to Mother Nature for her boundless blessings. Yes, the gratitude is expressed for the crops. However, the celebrations are a lot more than just harvesting or growing crops. We will read about it right here.
But have you ever wondered what’s behind this fantastic festival? Well, wonder no more! We’ve got two fascinating tales to share with you. These tales are going to leave you mesmerised! So, let’s dive in and explore the magic of Pongal!
This is a festival of harvest and gratitude. The first new harvest of the season is cropped at this time, and this is the most important thing to express gratitude. As the new harvest season is upon us, this festival marks the end of the winter season. As Surya Dev makes his grand entrance into the zodiac sign of Capricorn or the Makar rashi, the festivities begin! This marks the start of his northward journey, Uttarayana, and we can’t wait to bask in the joy and warmth of this special time.
Now, let us dive into the stories of Pongal.
Bhogi Pongal
The story of Bhigu Pongal takes you to Gokul and the era of Lord Krishna. Let us do it in a storytelling way where you are really teleported to that era in Gokul. Imagine a sunny day in the picturesque village of Gokul, where Lord Krishna was busy being his usual curious and mischievous self. As he wandered through the village, he stumbled upon the villagers being busy with a grand pooja (prayer ceremony). Child Krishna got curious and asked his father about the fuss going on in the village.
Nanda Maharaj, Krishna’s father explained that the villagers were getting ready to worship Lord Indra. Lord Indra is the God of Rain. He is prayed to by the villagers to ensure a bounty of rainfall for their crops. Lord Krishna then quickly asked his father “But why do we need to worship Lord Indra when we have our very own Govardhan hill right here?”
Krishna had a clever mind that started to wonder, and he came up with a brilliant plan. He convinced the villagers to ditch the Indra pooja and instead worship the Govardhan hill. It is so because this hill provided them with an abundance of natural resources, like fresh water, fruits, and vegetables. The villagers were sceptical at first, but Krishna has always been persuasive with the arguments that eventually won them over.
And so, the villagers of Gokul came together to worship the Govardhan hill, offering prayers, flowers, and delicious food to the mighty mountain. Little did they know that this bold move would soon invite the wrath of Lord Indra himself! The villagers of Gokul were totally on board with Krishna’s plan to worship the Govardhan hill instead of Lord Indra. However, Lord Indra was not exactly thrilled about being replaced. He was furious, to say the least.
Indra showered his anger upon the village, summoning torrential rains and thunderstorms that threatened to flood the entire village! The villagers were devastated as they did not expect this, and they rushed to Krishna for help.
Krishna, being the superhero that he is, simply smiled and said, “he will take care of this.” This is where the most amazing miracle was taken place in Indian mythology. Lord Krishna with his pinky finger on his left hand casually lifted the entire Govardhan hill and held it aloft. This way, he created a cosy little shelter for the villagers and their cattle. This was something totally outstanding and people were not expecting this at all.
For seven whole days, the villagers snuggled up under the hill because it was raining that bad for that number of days. The villagers were safe and sound under the hill, while Indra’s storms raged on outside. Finally, Lord Indra realized that he was no match against Lord Krishna’s incredible powers. He slunk away, defeated, and with a newfound understanding of his duties as the God of Rain.
Krishna, being the gracious winner that he is, decided to honour Lord Indra’s newfound humility. This was when he declared that every year, the villagers would celebrate a festival called Bhogi Pongal in Lord Indra’s honour. And so, the tradition of Bhigu Pongal began.
Isn’t this a beautiful story to always remember?
Mattu Pongal
If you are someone into Indian Mythology, you must know about Nandi. If not, meet Nandi, the loyal and lovable gatekeeper of Lord Shiva. He is the sacred bull which is placed in all Shiva temples as the guard of Lord Shiva. This sacred bull is not only Shiva’s trusted vahana (vehicle) but also a bit of a goofball. There are a lot of goofy stories to read about him. According to the legends, Shiva gave Nandi a very important task which was to deliver a message to humans on Earth.
The message that was supposed to be delivered was simple. It was to take an oil bath every day and eat only once a month. Sounds easy, right? Well, Nandi had other plans. As he descended to Earth, he somehow managed to mishear Shiva’s instructions. Instead, he told humans to eat daily and take an oil bath only once a month! Crazy, right? This was a major mistake that brought 360-degree transitions in the message that needed to be delivered.
Can you imagine Shiva’s face when he found out about Nandi’s mistake? Let’s just say he was not at all pleased. With humans eating daily, the Earth’s food supply would soon be depleted, and this worried Lord Shiva! Shiva scolded Nandi for his error and ordered him to stay on Earth and help humans grow their food.
And so, Nandi became the ultimate agricultural assistant for the humans. Does this make sense now? This is why the bull is a major cattle animal on earth. With his help, humans learned to cultivate the land, plant crops, and harvest their own food. As a token of gratitude, humans decided to celebrate the hardworking cattle that helped them grow their food. And thus, ‘Mattu Pongal’ was born – a special day to worship and appreciate these incredible animals!
It’s intriguing to imagine an alternate scenario where Nandi delivered the correct message. What would our world be like? What food would you eat during that one monthly meal?
Pongal Celebrations
We have given you some of the most interesting stories of Pongal. Now, is the time to celebrate. Let’s just jump into it.
Do you want to know what Pongal celebrations look like? Well, then, imagine four days of non-stop fun, vibrant colours, and mouth-watering aromas of delicious food! Welcome to the Pongal Festival, South India’s biggest thank-you party to Mother Nature! Since it is a harvest gratitude festival, it is all about Mother Nature.
But it’s not just about offering prayers and devouring delicious food. It’s about embracing the joy and spirit of the harvest season! Think cow parades, playful rituals, and rural competitions that are too entertaining to miss.
From the symbolic boiling of milk, which overflows to represent prosperity to traditional Pongal recipes that’ll make your taste buds dance, every moment of this celebration is packed with meaning and excitement!
So, are you ready to join the Pongal party and experience the warmth and hospitality of South Indian culture? Let’s dive into the festivities and make some unforgettable memories! Did you know that the word “Pongal” literally means “to boil over”? For farmers, Pongal is a time to rejoice in the fruits of their labour, well quite literally! They come together to celebrate the success of their harvest with heartfelt prayers, sumptuous feasts, and lively community gatherings.
The festivities unfold over four action-packed days, each with its unique customs and rituals. From traditional cooking and decorating to music, dance, and merriment, every moment of Pongal is a celebration of gratitude, community, and the beauty of nature!
4 Days of Pongal
Day 1 – Bhigu Pongal
First day is celebrated as Bhogi Pongal, the story for which we shared above. On this day, people begin the celebrations by cleaning their houses. The main purpose of cleaning the house is to remove the old energies and give space for happier things to enter the house and lives. People light lamps and decorate entrances with colourful kolams (rangoli).
Day 2 – Thai Pongal
The second day is celebrated as Thai Pongal. This is the most awaited day because this is the day when cooking the first traditional Pongal dishes begins. Families come together outdoors, surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature, to begin the Pongal festivities! They carefully boil freshly harvested rice and milk in clay pots, waiting with bated breath for the magical moment when the mixture overflows, symbolising prosperity and abundance.
Day 3 – Mattu Pongal
This day is about honouring cattle as we shared above. The cattle are washed, adorned with colourful beads, bells, and garlands, and paraded through villages. Functions like bull races and cattle shows are organised. Lots of local fairs are organised for the locals and the tourists. The bull-taming contests like Jallikattu are also organised.
Day 4 – Kannum Pongal
The last day of Pongal is called Kannum Pongal. This is the day when social gatherings are organised for Pongal. People meet each other and relax in the company of friends, families, and food. People also go for picnics on this day. Chennai’s top tourist attractions also join in the Pongal fun, hosting special events that are designed to delight families and tourists alike. From traditional music and dance performances to craft workshops and delicious food festivals, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
To begin with, Pongal is the name of the festival and also the name of the dish that is prepared on this day to relish. Pongal is a 4-day festival, so it would not be wrong to call the Pongal extravaganza Pongal palooza. Over the four days, people indulge in a vibrant celebration of Pongal.…