Pongal of Tamil Nadu & Magh Bihu of Assam 

Ranjan Kumar Padmapati

(The writer can be reached at rkpadmapati@yahoo.co.in)

World over folk festivals have some roots in agricultural cycle of the chief crop of the land and the corresponding season. Some are related either to sowing of seeds or harvesting. The Pongal of Tamil Nadu, the Lohri of Punjab and the Magh Bihu of Assam are such festivals that have their roots in the harvesting season. In Assam, it is called Bhogali Bihu – Bhogali means abundance, plentiful to enjoy and the word ‘Pongal’ in the Tamil language literally means spilt over, the inner meaning is bountiful, plenty or a good harvest. The Pongal festival is celebrated for four days. The first day is called Bhogi Pongal. The two words Bhogali and Bhogi sound similar! Not all that both the festivals fall on the last day of the Tamil month Margazi and the Assamese month Puh when the Sun changes its, starts moving to the northern hemisphere of earth, becomes warmer and warmer day by day. It is Maker Sankranti for rest parts of India, considered sacred. The word ‘Bhogi’ is derived from Sanskrit word ‘Bhogam’ which means enjoying divine joy by controlling senses, has a Vedic link. This thanks giving harvesting festival is known by different names in different countries –it is ‘Chu Suk’ in Korea, ‘August Moon’ festival in China, ‘Tettrung Thu’ in Vietnam and Kweanzaa in Africa, to mention a few.

Pongal is more significant for the Tamilans as it is not merely a harvesting festival but predominantly a New year’s festival too. Tamil New Year falls on the first day of Tamil month Thai after the Makor Sankranti day. During the festival days every place wears a new look to welcome the New Year. On the first day on ‘Bhogi day’ people awake early in the morning, light a fire in front of their houses or in community places. And all discarded useless domestic items are put to the Bonfire. New items are purchased. Initially the fire is lighted with dried cow dung cakes, cow ghee, wood, peepal leaves and neem leaves. In olden days agricultural wastes were also used in the fire. Puffed rice, popcorn and other munchies are thrown to the fire. Girls and ladies sing songs in praise of the God for bountiful harvest and also in praise of the Spring which is on the door steps and dance around the fire. It is very much similar to offering of Mah-prasd to Agni Devota of Bihu Ghar or Meji fire lighted early in the morning on Bgogali Bihu day in Assam. The bonfire is also similar to Lohri of Punjab singing songs and dance around Bonfire marking the end of harvesting of sugar cane crop in Punjab, paddy crop in Assam and Tamil Nadu. The Bonfire is lit to keep the body warm. The Assamese bid farewell to the winter on this day of Magh Bihu.

The woman folk taking a holy dip after messaging til oil on the body, draw beautiful floral motifs at the entrance of each house which is considered as sacred and with the swastika (holy sign). Beautiful other floral designs are drawn with newly harvested rice powder on every morning of Pongal days. It is a welcome sign to deities or devatas and guests. A sting of fresh banana leaves is tied at doors and also at business establishments. The first day or ‘Bhogi day’ is meant for a thorough cleaning process of houses, shops and business establishments. As it is a harvesting festival, prayer is offered to God Indra who is the God of clouds and rains, and hence this first day is also called Indran. Farmers perform puja by anointing agricultural tools like plough and sickles with a paste of sandal wood. The second day is called Surya Pongal. It is the First Day of the Tamil month, Thai, also New Year’s day. On this Pongal dishes, sweet porridge made from newly harvested rice is prepared under the sunlight and offered to the Sun God, the Lord of all energies required for agriculture. It is a thanks-giving ceremony for a good harvest. The third day is called Mattu Pongal, a day meant for cow worshiping, the chief agricultural animal power. On this day a blood curdling sport Jalli Kattu, a bull taming sport, is practised. The fourth day is called Kannum Pongal which literally means to visit. Brothers visit married sisters, give gifts, daughters visit parents on this day. Neighbours visit neighbors and in cities people assemble in beach or on river banks.

This Pongal time is the time of new harvest and abundance as Bhogali time. Sugarcane, turmeric and paddy are in plenty in Tamil Nadu. Rice being the staple food of both the states different dishes of newly harvested rice made of milk, jaggery, cardamom, raisin, cashew nut etc are prepared and the aroma of ghee fills the air. And these dishes are called Pongal dishes from which the very name of the festival is derived. Pongal is sweet and savory. People are also advised to be sweet in tongue during the Pongal days, wishing and exchanging greetings as in the Magh Bihu. It is very much similar custom with the Assamese Bihu custom of preparing different pithas (rice cakes) of new rice powder and jaggery. It is the leisure time after hard agricultural labour and time for beating drums, dancing, merrymaking, and feasting for all agricultural communities. Animal sports are also held on the third Pongal day. Cock or rooster fights are also held in some districts of Andrea Pradesh on the occasion of Pongal with betting though it is completely banned by the government. The betting is so high that this illegal business may go several hundred crores of rupees. Animal fights such as buffalo fight, bul bul fight and egg fight are held in Assam too during the Bhogali Bihu.