Pongal 2024: Know About Days Of Celebration, Dates, Myths, Thai Pongal And More

Pongal 2024: Pongal is the festival of harvest that is celebrated in the southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh.  The festival marks the end of winter and the start of the harvest season, which majorly pertains to therice harvest.

Pongal 2024 Dates:

Pongal is generally celebrated in mid-January and the festival coincides with the Tamil month of ‘Thai’. While ‘Makar Sankrati’ is celebrated in the northern parts of India, Pongal is a festival that is celebrated in southern India on January 15, 2024.

Pongal 2024 Rituals:

Apart from worshiping the Sun God during the celebrations of Pongal, there is also a prevalent ritual in the festival that involves the worship of cattle, ‘Indra’ (the God of rain), and agricultural goods.

Pongal 2024, Days Of Celebration:

Pongal is a festival that rings in the celebration of the harvest season. It is a four-day-long festival and each day has its own significance and set of rituals.

• The first day of the festival is called ‘Bhogi Pongal’, wherein worship of  ‘Indra’ God is performed, wishes are made for good rainfall, happiness, wealth and prosperity. During the evening, the festivities are brought in with old items from the house being taken out and burnt.
• On the second day, ‘Thai Pongal’ is celebrated. On this day, gratitude is expressed to the Sun God for the winter solstice. A special dish, which is a sweet rice pudding called ‘kheer’is prepared as an offering for Sun God.
• The third day involves decorating the cattle and worshiping them which is known as ‘Mattu Pongal’. Bull racing is held during the celebratory events on this day.
• The fourth day involves making a ‘rangoli’ at the main entrance of one’s home, greetings are exchanged, sweets are devoured and shared with neighbours, friends and family. The last day of pongal is also called ‘Kannam Pongal’.

Pongal 2024 Date And Time:

In the year 2024, Pongal falls on Jnauary 15. Following are the date and timings for the four-day long celebrations.

• Bhogi Pongal on Monday, January 15, 2024
• Thai Pongal on Tuesday, January 16, 2024
• Mattu Pongal on Wednesday, January 17, 2024
• Kannam Pongal on Thursday, January 18, 2024

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Pongal 2024 Myths:

As per legends and mythology, Lord Shiva asked his bull, 'Basava' to Earth and ask people to eat only once a month, get an oil massage and take a bath everyday. But unintentionally, ‘Basava’ accidentally announced that everyone should have an oil bath once a day and eat everyday.

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Why Does Kerala Not Celebrate Pongal:

Pongal is not traditionally celebrated in the state of Kerala which has its own festivals and celebrations that are specific to the region.