Want to know 2023 Pongal Date? Well you have landed on the right article. Pongal is a major Hindu holiday that is held under many names around the country. The Pongal festival, which lasts four days, is celebrated in Tamil Nadu, a south Indian state.
Every year, in the month of January, the event is held. Being the first event of the Gregorian calendar, it offers joy to the people. Pongal is primarily a harvest thanksgiving to the Sun God.
Pongal marks the start of the sun's six-month journey northward. This also has to do with the Indic solstice, when the sun is said to arrive in Makara, the 10th house of the Indian zodiac.
The event is primarily observed to give gratitude to the Sun God for a bountiful harvest. The origins of the Pongal holiday could be traced back over 1,000 years. The sweltering of the first rice of the season is a part of the celebration.
Pongal is also the name of a sweetened rice and lentils boiling meal that must be consumed on the festival day. The multi-day event, which takes place in the Tamil solar calendar's Tai month, is one of the most important harvest holidays, alongside Makar Sankranti.
The four-day festival honouring the Sun God celebrates the start of Uttarayan, the sun's northward voyage.
Pongal 2023 Date
Next year pongal will be from January 15 to 18, 2023, according to the 2023 pongal date tamil calendar.
Why this Festival Celebrated
Farmers honour the rain, sun, and animals, which are all required for farming, since this event is all about showing thanks to the natural elements that help us exist. On this day, people perform a pooja and visit their family and friends.
Spiritual Significance of Pongal
Pongal symbolises letting go of the past and embracing new beginnings. Receiving the Sun's blessings is thought to result in a good crop as well as prosperity and happiness in people's lives. The festivities last four days, each with its unique significance.
How Pongal is celebrated
"Pongal" is a rice-related verb that means "to boil." The day is usually observed as a show of gratitude to the Sun God for a successful harvest.
It is for this reason that before the event begins, people boil rice in milk and serve it to the sun.
Each day of the four-day celebration has its unique importance. The Bhogi festival, which takes place on the first day, is held to honour Lord Indra.
On this day, it is customary to burn all of the household's useless belongings in a bonfire composed of wood, cakes, and cow dung.
Thai Pongal is the second day of the celebration. People offer the Sun God rice and milk that has been boiled together on this day.
Kolam is frequently used to decorate people's front doors. It's frequently done first thing in the morning after a bath.
The third day is known as Mattu Pongal, and it is when people worship cows. According to legend, Lord Shiva sent his bull Basava to earth to deliver the message that Shiva wants mortals to get oil massages and baths every day and eat once a month.
Basava became perplexed and gave the opposite message. As a punishment, Shiva ordered Basava to return to the ground for the rest of his life and assist people in producing more food by ploughing the fields.
Kaanum Pongal is the fourth and last day of the festival. On this day, the leftovers (meal) are combined with sugarcane and betel leaves and laid on a washed turmeric leaf.
The women then undertake a rite in which they pray for their brothers' prosperity.
Pongal, a large celebration in the south, is also noted for its unique traditional cuisine. If you happen to be in South India in January, you should go see this festival.
Public Life during Pongal Holidays
Pongal is a religious holiday for employees in central and southern India, although it is not a national holiday in India. Colleges and schools in these areas, on the other hand, will be closed for all four days of the celebration.
Agriculture-related businesses may be forced to close. Pongal has a number of different names.
Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Poki, Bihu, and Hadaga are the most popular varieties. Pongal celebrations differ slightly from one another.
The sun, the chariot, wheat grains, and the sickle are all common symbols linked with the event.
Employees are allowed to take a limited amount of vacation days, although most government agencies and companies remain open.
Rituals and Traditional
Bhogi Pongal is the first day of the festival, when the fresh crop of rice, sugarcane, and turmeric is brought in from the fields.
As part of the Bhogi Mantalu rite, which also denotes fresh beginnings, old and worthless household items are dumped and burned alongside cow dung.
The Sun God is honoured on the second day of the festival, also known as Surya Pongal or Thai Pongal, which falls on the first day of the Tamil month Thai. Women get up early on this day to clean their homes and decorate them with beautiful kolam designs.
On this day, freshly harvested rice, milk, and jaggery are cooked in pots till they overflow and spill. The event is named after the word Pongal, which meaning "to boil" or "to overflow."
This dessert is offered to the Sun God before being served to the family on banana leaves.
Mattu Pongal is the third day of Pongal, when Lord Ganesha and Parvati are worshipped and Pongal is served.
The word mattu means bull, and bulls are bathed, their horns painted, and their heads decorated with shiny metal caps on this day. Flower garlands and bells are also used to embellish them.
Kaanum Pongal, the fourth and last day of Pongal, is also regarded as an auspicious day for beginning new alliances and partnerships.
History of this Festival
Pongal celebrations can be traced back to the Sangam period (200BC-200AD) and are mentioned in puranas. Lord Shiva is said to have sent his bull, Basava, into the world to remind people to eat once a month, get an oil massage once a week, and bathe every day.
Basava made the error of advising everyone to take a daily oil bath and eat every day. Lord Shiva was so enraged that he banished Basava to Earth for all eternity in order to assist the Earth's population in producing more food.
This is supposed to be the explanation for the existence of cattle on Earth.Lord Krishna, according to legend, saw Lord Indra's arrogance and told the people of Gokul to quit worshipping him.
This infuriated Indra, who unleashed three days of severe rains on the Gokula settlement. The Govardhan Parvat was then lifted by Lord Krishna on his little finger, saving all of the inhabitants.
As a result, Indra recognised Krishna's might and realised his folly. Finally, he begged and the rain came to a standstill.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the 4 days of Pongal 2023?
Following are the 4 days of Pongal -
Day 1: Bhogi Pongal
Day 2: Thai Pongal
Day 3: Mattu Pongal
Day 4: Kaanum Pongal
2. What time should I make Pongal 2023?
It is observed at the beginning of the Tamil solar calendar month of Tai, and so is observed by Tamils. Admit it, it's a 'New Year'. On January 14 at 02:12PM, the fortunate hour for preparing Pongal is.
3. How many Pongal are there?
Pongal is a four-day holiday that is celebrated with considerable zeal. The four festive days are Bhogi Pongal, Thai Pongal (also known as Surya Pongal), Mattu Pongal, and Kaanum Pongal.
4. Which God is Worshipped on Pongal?
It is devoted to Surya, the Hindu sun god, and corresponds to Makar Sankranti, the harvest festival celebrated across India under a variety of regional names.