Pongal is a four-day festival celebrated by Tamilians all over the world. It is the Tamil harvest festival dedicated to the Sun God. It is celebrated from January 14 and ends on January 17. The Hindu festival is celebrated on a large scale by Tamilians around the world. It is also called Thai Pongal as it falls on the auspicious month of Thai, the tenth month of the Tamil calendar. Pongal corresponds to Makar Sankranti, Lohri, Bihu and Hadaga festivals celebrated in the rest of India. On Pongal, people take an oil bath and eat sweetened rice made with milk and lentils. On Makar Sankranti, the tradition is of eating til or sesame seeds with gud or jaggery. Pongal Muhurat, tithi and date are given in detail below.
Pongal or Thai Pongal marks the beginning of Uttarayana, sun’s transition towards the North Pole for a six-month period. The month of Thai in Tamil calendar is believed to curb people’s problems and bring good luck. Shattila Ekadashi which is celebrated in northern and western parts of India also shares the same significance and merits as Thai Pongal. Makar Sankranti or Pongal also marks the end of the inauspicious period when no weddings or other joyous occasions take place. In northern parts of India Pongal or Makar Sankranti marks the end of ‘Kharmas’ the inauspicious period, after which weddings, housewarming, and other momentous occasion take place. Pongal 2018: Date, Significance, Mythology Related To Tamil Harvest Festival
Muhurat
Tamil Gowri Panchangam
- 07:19 – 08:37 Uthi
- 08:37 – 09:55 Amirdha
- 09:55 – 11:13 Rogam
- 11:13 – 12:30 Laabam
- 12:30 – 13:48 Dhanam
- 13:48 – 15:06 Sugam
- 15:06 – 16:23 Soram
- 16:23 – 17:41 Visham
Pongal or Makar Sankranti is one of the foremost and first major Hindu festivals of the year and is dedicated to the Sun God. Pongal is a Dravidian festival and is also mentioned in the scriptures. Its legend is associated with Lord Shiva and Nandi. As per the legend, Lord Shiva sent his bull Nandi to Earth in order to ask mortal men to take oil bath every day and eat once a month but he relayed the message wrong. Nandi promulgated the message as to eat every day and take oil bath once a month, because of his error Lord Shiva cursed Nandi to live on Earth and forever and plough the fields to help people to produce more food. Hence Pongal is associated with cattle and harvesting of crops.