Pongal is a festival celebrated in Tamil nad on the month of January. The above festival is celebrated in nearby states of Tamil nadu in a small manner. However, in Tamil nad this festival has significant importance and celebrates it in a grand manner. The calculation of the date of this festival is according to the Tamil calendar (solar calendar), so the date of this festival will not have much variation. It falls in between January 13 to January 16. Pongal considered as the harvest festival of Tamil nad and celebrate more grandly in village.

bhogi

The festival Preparation starts on the last day of Tamil month Margazhi. They call this day as bhogi. On this day People cleans their house and by evening remove all the unwanted things from their house.  At night, they will burn all these unwanted goods to clear the mess. They will paint the front of the home and will clean and wash the walkways. The poor farmers who are living in huts will rebuild the front of their huts and repast the floor and front with cow dunk.

Thai Pongal

The second day of the Pongal is Thai Pongal and it falls in the first day of the next Tamil month Thai. It is the main day of Pongal festival. On this, day people worship Sun to thank him for giving a good harvest in the last season. Ladies will make elaborate kolam (an art in front of the house) to please the gods. People will wear new dress on this day to celebrate the Pongal.

The world meaning of Pongal is overflowing of food/milk in the kitchen. On this day, they will cook the new rice with milk in pots until it overflows over the pot. This overflowing of rice over the pot is a joyous occasion. While the rice is overflowing, the children and adults will shout out 'Pongal-o Pongal!'  It is this overflowing which means Pongal. Kids will dance and make music to the tune of these words. The words in the song have an expression of happiness about the Harvest.

Mattu Pongal

The third day is Mattu Pongal (cattle Pongal) which means the Pongal for cattle. On this day the decorated the cattle with flowers and give them very good food. The Mattu Pongal is there to give attention and respect to the cattle, which was the main part of farming. This gives awareness to the illiterate farmers about the importance of maintaining the livestocks in good health for agricultural activities.

Kaanum Pongal

Fourth day is known as Kaanum Pongal or seeing Pongal. People will visit their relative’s houses on this day.  Married women who live in their husband’s family will visit their parents on this day with gifts and sweets.

Pongal Greeting Cards

On Pongal people sends greeting cards with Pongal wishes to their relatives and Friends. Now there is lot of online greeting cards are there with lot of Free Pongal greetings. You can find some good Pongal greetings at these sites