“Growing up in a village in Srivilliputhur in Tamil Nadu, my quaintest memory of Pongal is the excitement that fills the whole village weeks ahead of the festival. The celebrations are a three-day affair and begin with Bhogi. We clean the house and burn all old things by throwing them in the pyre lit at the end of the street. From start to finish Pongal was a community affair for me as a child.

Beyond just celebrating the harvest season, we were taught to celebrate new beginnings. I was told that the burning of goods on Bhogi was symbolic of burning evil. The next day is what I would call the Indian Thanksgiving festival, where everyone comes together to offer thanks to nature for the harvest.

We make Pongal in a huge Panai (pot) for the whole village to savor as it’s a result of everyone’s hard work for the past six months. A day before the festival women would make beautiful Kolams that tell the story of these celebrations and it is always a pleasure to walk around and see the marvels of color and flour on the floor.

It’s not just a thanksgiving time to the Sun god, but everyone who helped us has a bounty harvest and how could we forget the animals that helped us achieve this. So, the cows and bulls are worship too on the day after Pongal. This day is known as the Mattu Pongal and special competitions are organized for the animals where their valor is put to test.

Well, it’s not just nature and animals that receive thanks on this day. Sisters pray for the wellbeing of their brothers and offer prayers for their well-being. Walking around the village on Kannu you can hear the women sing Kakka Pudi vechen Kanu Pudi vechen, a song that says how they want their family to be together always. But things have changed and here in the city we just have a one-day celebration of Pongal and that starts with making Pongal in a pot for the family to devour. It’s not an elaborate, wonderful cultural event celebrated by the whole community, and that is the one thing we miss dearly.”

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