Many festivals, in our country, have their roots either in religion feelings or spiritual emotion, Similarly Pongal festival of Tamilnadi is the spiritual festival. Due to it spiritualism it is called the festival of purifying one's heart.
The main occupation of our country men is agriculture. Here the base of our agriculture are the oxen and the cows. At the time of Pongal festival, the people of Tamilnadu worship the bullocks and the cows. They show their regard to them. They give great importance to the boiling of the milk of a cow. They consider it a good omen. They pray to the sun god for purity of their heart and soul.
The festival of Pongal is celebrated in the beginning of the Hindi month of Posh every year. During the days of Maker Sankranti when the people of Western India celebrate the 'Khichdi Perva', the people of Tamilnadu celebrate the festival of Pongal. This function is celebrated for three days. When the golden ears of rice corn gernimate, the people of Tamilnadu are pleased in memory of Pongal. The ladies go to their fields daily and pray to God that their crop should grow in plenty. The besmearing of the houses is started. On the day of Amavasya (dark night) all people of a village assemble at one place. They solve their problems and vow to leave bad customs.
Next day, on the first day of Posh (the Hindi month) there is a great bustle of Pongal among the people. Nearly all persons the rich or the poor-purchase things of their need and exchange their old things with the new ones. Milk is boiled in new pots and at the boiling of milk, the whole family and the villagers cry “Pongal! Pongal!!" In the houses women prepare kheer (rice milk) and different types of Pakwan (dressed food). All people worship the sun-god.
Although Pongal is the festival of Tamilnadu yet by its motive it may be called the cultural and national festival of India. It encourages the sentimental unity of India.
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