Pongal is rejoiced as a harvest festival in Tamil Nadu. It improves the family ties of the village people as they celebrate in a communal way and remember the beautiful stories behind the festival. It is a festival which lasts for four days namely Bhogi, Thai Pongal, Matti Pongal and Kaanum Pongal. This festival is basically celebrated because people want to thank the Gods for the successful harvest of the year and this festival also highlights the northward movement of the sun or Makar Sankranti. This is seen as a very lucky transition.
The First Day
In Pongal festival customs from Tamil Nadu villages in 2025, the very first day is called Bhogi Pongal which signifies transforming into something new and clearing out something old. It is a day which celebrates new beginnings. Therefore, the villagers wake up extremely early in the morning after which they burn their old items like any old clothes or furniture that is broken. They do it in a ceremonial bonfire which is symbolised to remove any worries and make space for abundance. People sing folk songs and small children run around the neighbourhood.
The Second Day
The second day is called Thai Pongal and it is the most significant day. According to Pongal festival customs from Tamil Nadu villages in 2025, at the break of dawn, people gather on top of the rooftop to enjoy the rays of the sun. A pot is filled with rice, jaggery and milk. The pot is placed a specially built stove of bricks or firewood are used to create the flame. Then the family yells, “Pongalo Pongal” which means that they will have prosperity in the house forever, with the blessings of the gods. Generally, the oldest woman of the house stirs the Pongal pot with a bit of sugarcane and the very first piece is offered to the sun with prayers.
The Third Day
The third day is called Mattu Pongal where the villagers show an immense amount of respect to their cattle. It is because of the cattle that their agrarian life was improved. In villages, cows and bulls are bathed and their horns are adorned with flowers. Then after feeding the animals, they are taken in a procession around the village. Traditional games like taming of the bull are sometimes played.
The Fourth Day
The fourth day is called Kaanum Pongal and it is a day for social meetings. Families call their people and friends, sometimes they sit for a picnic near the stream. People frequently showcase their gratitude for each other by exchanging gifts. Sometime people send little leaf boats with a lighted camphor as a ritual. It is also said that if people have had a dispute for a long time, on the day of Kaanum Pongal, they try to communicate with each other and let go of the old problems.
In conclusion, in Pongal Festival Customs from Tamil Nadu villages in 2025, as the main rituals of the festival remain intact, many villages are also getting new customs in small yet meaningful way such as choosing decorative items that are eco friendly and reviving the traditional folk arts. The new generation is creating a mixture of old sensibilities and new traditions. The villages of Tamil Nadu joyfully depict the resilience of Pongal with communities that honour their past while adjusting to the present. Whether it comes to carefully drawing a kolam at the break of dawn or a singer entertaining the audience with a folk song, Pongal will always be in their hearts because it reminds them of the significance of gratitude which people sometimes forget nowadays.
Author
Shreeja Mukherjee