Pongal Kolam

     Pongal is the harvest festival celebrated through out the country with different names like, Pongal, Makara Sankranthi, Utharayana, Lohri, Maagh Bihu, Shishur Saenkraat and Khichdi  and so on.  

     In Tamil Nadu, Pongal celebration is very grand and it is celebrated for four days, during the month of Thai(Jan-Feb), signifying the commencement of the 1st month of Tamil calendar. It normally falls during the middle of January, from 14th to 17th of the month. Most of the important crops like paddy, sugarcane, vegetables and turmeric are harvested during the month and it is a sort of thanks giving festival. 

     On the first day, bogi is celebrated by cleaning the house and burning off the unwanted house hold items.  On the second day, Pongal is celebrated by decorating the house with Kolams and Rangolies, and Mango leaf 'thoranams' are hanged on the threshold of  the house. Sakkarai Pongal is made for naivedhyam and offered to the Sun God, 'Suriyan' who plays a vital role in agriculture.  On the third day, Mattu Pongal is celebrated very grandly in the villages.  The cattles in the house are given importance on that day.  The cows are worshiped on that day. And finally, on the fourth day, Kanum Pongal is celebrated.  On this day people go on an outing and visit their relatives.

     On all these days,  grand kolams and rangolies are drawn in front of the house.  Kolams are decorated with colour powders and pumpkin flowers.

     Here is the kolam which was drawn in my house on the day of Pongal.  Sugarcanes on both sides with a pot full of Pongal.