Haren
The international township of Auroville celebrated Pongal with great enthusiasm as locals and foreigners came together for the traditional kummi dance on Tuesday. The vibrant festivities, which began on January 15, 2025, at Alankuppam, marked the start of a three-day celebration of the Tamil harvest festival.
Pongal, a festival dedicated to the Sun God, is one of the most significant events in the Tamil calendar. The first day, Bhogi, is observed by discarding old items and embracing new beginnings.
#WATCH | Tamil Nadu | Local people along with foreigners celebrated the festival of Pongal at Auroville in Villupuram district with enthusiasm pic.twitter.com/1Pp4K7vBKC
— ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2025
The main celebration, Thai Pongal, takes place on the second day. The highlight of the day involves cooking milk in a pot, symbolizing abundance and prosperity. When the milk boils and overflows, freshly harvested rice is added, and participants cheer “Pongalo Pongal!” while blowing a conch (sanggu). The prepared Pongal rice is then shared among family and friends along with sweets and savories.
The third day, Maatu Pongal, is dedicated to worshiping cattle, acknowledging their contributions to agriculture and daily life, including dairy production, fertilization, and transportation. On the last day, Kannum Pongal, the people will throng sightseeing places.
Meanwhile, the popular Avaniyapuram Jallikattu, a traditional bull-taming sport, began in Madurai on Tuesday as part of the Pongal harvest festival celebrations. The owner of the bull declared the best will receive a tractor, while the top bull tamer is set to win a car.
Jallikattu events will continue in Madurai at Palamedu on January 15 and Alanganallur on January 16.
The participation of people from different cultures in Auroville highlights the unifying spirit of Pongal, celebrating nature’s bounty and fostering communal harmony.
