When Will Pongal Start In 2024, 14th Or 15th Jan? Know Date, Time, History And Significance

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One of the largest festivals of India is about to begin and it is associated with the harvest so we have all the reasons to be excited and plan before the festival arrives. Pongal, also known as Thai Pongal, is a vibrant and traditional harvest festival celebrated in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu and among Tamil communities worldwide in the Tamil month of Thai, tenth month in the Tamil solar calendar.

Falling typically in mid-January, Pongal holds immense cultural and agricultural significance, marking the auspicious transition from the winter solstice to the beginning of the sun's northward journey, known as Uttarayan. This four-day festival is a joyous occasion, symbolizing gratitude to nature, prosperity, and the bonding of families and communities. Let us know the date, time, history, significance, and celebrations associated with this festival.

When Will Pongal Start In 2024, 14th Or 15th Jan? Date And Time
This year Pongal will be celebrated on Monday, 15 January 2024 and the Thai Pongal Sankranti Moment is 02:54 am. The festival will continue for 4 days.

Pongal 2024: History And Significance
It is the second day of the four-day festivity and is also celebrated as Sankranti. The same day is observed as Makar Sankranti in North Indian states when people take a holy dip in the river Ganges. Also, the day before Pongal is known as Bogi Pandigai. People clean their homes on this day and light bonfires. This day is also celebrated as Lohri by the Sikh community.

As per the tradition, this day is celebrated by boiling freshly harvested rice with fresh milk and jaggery in a new clay pot. While boiling the concoction, people let the milk spill over the pot as an auspicious sign of material abundance and prosperity. Later, ghee, cashew nuts, raisins, and brown sugar are topped on this dish and it is called Pongal. Earlier, Pongal was cooked at sunrise in an open place.

This dish is first offered to the Sun God as gratitude for good harvesting and later served on banana leaves to guests or people present in the home for the ceremony.

The next day of Thai Pongal is known as Mattu Pongal. Cattles are decorated and worshipped on Mattu Pongal day. The last and final day of Pongal is known as Kaanum Pongal.

Pongal 2024: Celebrations
The celebrations on Pongal continue for four days. Let us know about them.
1. Bhogi
The festival begins with Bhogi, the first day, marked by the ritual of discarding old and unused items by burning them in a bonfire. This symbolizes the removal of negativity and the welcoming of new beginnings.

2. Thai Pongal
Thai Pongal, the second day, is the main day of celebration. It is dedicated to cooking the Pongal dish, which is made from freshly harvested rice, jaggery, and milk. The dish is traditionally cooked outdoors in a clay pot, and as it begins to overflow, symbolizing abundance, the family shouts "Pongalo Pongal!" meaning "Let the Pongal boil over."

3. Mattu Pongal
The third day, Mattu Pongal, is dedicated to honoring cattle. Cows and bulls are bathed, adorned with colorful accessories, and paraded through the streets. Traditional games like Jallikattu, a bull-taming sport, are also organized during this day.

4. Kaanum Pongal
The final day, Kaanum Pongal, involves family outings and reunions. People visit relatives, exchange greetings, and enjoy various recreational activities. It is a day to express gratitude and strengthen familial bonds.

On these days, people wear traditional clothing, with women donning colorful sarees and men wearing dhotis. The vibrant attire reflects the festive spirit of the occasion. Kolam, which are intricate and colorful geometric designs made with rice flour or chalk powder, adorn the entrances of homes. These designs symbolize prosperity and are believed to bring good luck.

Further, the festivities are accompanied by traditional music and dance forms like Kolattam, Poikkaal Kuthirai Aattam (Dummy Horse Dance), and Puli Attam (Tiger Dance). These cultural expressions add a lively and cultural dimension to the celebrations.