Thai Pongal: Four day harvest festival
Q. Which of the following statements is/are correct about Thai Pongal?
1. It is a harvest Tamil festival.
2. It will mark the Uttarayanam.- Published on 11 Jan 16a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both
d. None
ANSWER: Both
- Thai Pongal is a Tamil harvest festival. Thai Pongal is a four day festival which according to the Gregorian calendar is normally celebrated from January 13 to January 16, but sometimes it is celebrated from January 14 to January 17.
- This corresponds to the last day of the Tamil month Maargazhi to the third day of the Tamil month Thai.
- The day marks the start of the sun’s six-month-long journey northwards (the Uttarayanam).
- This also corresponds to the Indic solstice when the sun purportedly enters the 10th house of the Indian zodiac Makara or Capricorn.
- Thai Pongal is mainly celebrated to convey appreciation to the Sun God for providing the energy for agriculture. Part of the celebration is the boiling of the first rice of the season consecrated to the Sun - the Surya Maangalyam.
