The history of Pongal can be traced back to the Sangam Age, ie, 200
B.C. to 300 A.D. Pongal is an ancient festival of the Tamils and it is
not known when exactly the Tamils began celebrating the festival, but
some historians identify it with the Thai Un and Thai Niradal, believed
to have been celebrated during the Sangam Age. Pongal, a traditional
Tamilian food item that has found a place in the menu of Indian
restaurants across the world, is perhaps the only dish to have lent its
name to a festival. As part of the festivities, maidens of the Sangam
era observed penance during the Tamil month of Margazhi
(December-January). Throughout the month, they avoided milk and milk
products. They would not oil their hair and refrained from using harsh
words while speaking. The women had their ceremonial baths early in the
morning.
According to Hindu mythology, this is when the day of the gods begins,
after a six-month long night. The festival is spread over three days and
is the most important and most fervently celebrated harvest festival of
South India. A special puja is performed on the first day of Pongal
before the cutting of the paddy. Farmers worship the sun and the earth
by anointing their ploughs and sickles with sandal wood paste. It is
with these consecrated tools that the newly harvested rice is cut.
According to a legend, once Shiva asked his bull, Basava, to go to the
earth and ask the mortals to have an oil massage and bath every day and
to eat once a month. Inadvertently, Basava announced that everyone
should eat daily and have an oil bath once a month. This mistake enraged
Shiva who then cursed Basava, banishing him to live on the earth
forever. He would have to plough the fields and help people produce more
food. Thus cattles are associated with this day. Each of the three days
are marked by different festivities. The first day, Bhogi Pongal, is a
day for the family. Surya Pongal, the second day, is dedicated to the
worship of Surya, the Sun God. Boiled milk and jaggery is offered to the
Sun God. The third day of Pongal, Mattu Pongal, is for worship of the
cattle known as Mattu. Cattle are bathed, their horns polished and
painted in bright colors, and garlands of flowers placed around their
necks. The Pongal that has been offered to the Gods is then given to
cattle and birds to eat.
