Pongal

Pongal is a harvest and a thanksgiving festival. Pongal literally means boiling over. It is traditionally celebrated at the time of harvest of crops and hence is a celebration of the prosperity associated with the event. The festival is predominantly celebrated in Tamilnadu, and in the neighboring Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, where it is called the Makara Sankaranthi.

The festival has astronomical significance: it marks the beginning of Uttarayana, the Sun's movement northward for a six month period. Uttarayana is considered auspicious, as opposed to Dakshinaayana, or the southern movement of the sun. All important events are scheduled during this period. Makara Sankranthi refers to the event of the Sun entering the zodiac sign of Makara or Capricorn.

Usually this day falls on January 14th or 15th in the Western calendar and the first day of the month of 'Thai' in Tamil Calendar.

The festival is celebrated for four days. On, the first day, Bhogi, the old clothes and materials are thrown away and fired, marking the beginning of a new life. The second day, the Pongal day, is celebrated by boiling fresh milk early in the morning and allowing it to boil over the vessel - a tradition that is the literal translation for Pongal (in Tamil). People also prepare savories and sweets, visit each other's homes, and exchange greetings. The third day, Mattu Pongal, is meant to offer thanks to the cows and buffaloes, as they are used to plough the lands. Jallikattu, a violent taming the bull contenst, marks this day. On the last day, Kanum Pongal, people go out to picnic. During the pongal season, people eat sugar canes and decorate the houses with Hinduism | Hindu festivals | Hindu calendar |- |align=center| Pongal | Holi | Ugadi | Rama Navami | Krishna Jayanti | Onam |- |align=center| Ganesha Chaturthi | Vijayadasami | Diwali | Thaipusam |- |align=center| Sacred Days: Maha Shivratri | Ekadasi | Vaikunta Ekadasi |}