Pongal Festival: A Four-Day Harvest Celebration in Tamil Nadu

• Pongal is a vibrant four-day harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu, marking the beginning of the Tamil month of Thai.
• The festival symbolizes prosperity and abundance, originating from agrarian communities expressing gratitude to the Sun God, Indra, and livestock.
• Bhogi Pongal involves discarding old items and lighting bonfires; Thai Pongal is the main day with sweet sakkarai pongal offered to the Sun God.
• Mattu Pongal honors cattle, essential for farming, with decorations and special feed, sometimes including Jallikattu.
• Kaanum Pongal concludes the festivities with social visits, family gatherings, and community bonding, reinforcing harmony.

Why It Matters: Pongal is a significant four-day Tamil Nadu harvest festival celebrating prosperity, gratitude, and community bonds.