NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Lohri

Pongal (பொங்கல் in Tamil) is an Indian festival to give thanks for the harvest. Pongal in Tamil literally means boiling over. It is traditionally celebrated at the time of harvest of crops and hence is a celebration of the prosperity associated with the event. Image File history File links Created by me. ... The Brahmic family is a family of abugidas used in South Asia, Tibet and Southeast Asia. ... Image File history File links Pongal. ... Tamil (à®¤à®®à®¿à®´à¯ ) is a classical language and one of the major languages of the Dravidian language family. ... A festival or fest is an event, usually staged by a local community, which centers on some theme, sometimes on some unique aspect of the community. ... Hay bales after harvest in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany In agriculture, harvesting is the process of gathering mature crops from the fields. ... A celebration is a joyous observation on the occasion of a special event: - Personal Level birth, etc. ...

Pongal is historically a secular festival independent of religion. It is celebrated by all people in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. While Pongal is predominantly a Tamil festival, the same period also marks similar festivals celebrated in several other places under different names. In Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, the harvest festival Sankranthi is celebrated. In northern India, it is called Makar Sankranti. In Maharashtra and Gujarat, it is the date of the annual kite-flying day, Uttarayan. It also coincides with the harvest festival in Punjab and Haryana, known as Lohri. A map of Southern India, its rivers, regions and water bodies. ... Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ... The Tamil people are an ethnic group from South Asia with a recorded history going back more than two millennia. ... Andhra Pradesh (Telugu: à°†à°‚à°§à±à°° à°ªà±à°°à°¦à±‡à°¶à±; Ä€ndhra PrÄdesh), is a state in south-eastern India and is part of the linguistic-cultural region of South India. ... Karnataka or KarnÄtakÄ (à²•à²¨à²¾à³¯à²Ÿà²• in Kannada) is one of the four southern states of India. ... Sankranthi, or Sankranti, is a festival that signifies the beginning of the harvest season for the farmers of India. ... Maharashtra (Devanagari: à¤®à¤¹à¤¾à¤°à¤¾à¤·à¥à¤Ÿà¥à¤°, literally: Great Nation) is Indias third largest state in terms of area and second largest in terms of population after Uttar Pradesh. ... Gujarat (Gu: , Hi: ; , IPA ; also spelled Gujrat and sometimes (incorrectly) Gujarath) contained many of the former Princely states of India, and is the second-most industrialized state in the Republic of India after Maharashtra. ... The word kite has a number of possible meanings: A kite is a man-made, heavier-than-air object, designed to fly by opposing the force of the wind with the tension of a line held by the operator. ... Uttarayan, also known as Makarsakranti, is a kite-flying festival celebrated annually on January 14 in western India; it is a public holiday in Gujarat and Rajasthan. ... This article details the Indian state of Punjab. ... Haryana (à¤¹à¤°à¤¯à¤¾à¤£à¤¾) is a state in north India. ...

Celebration

Pongal is also known as Tamizhar Thirunal or The Festival of Tamils among the Tamil people. The Tamil language saying Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum (தை பிறந்தால் வழி பிறக்கும்) -- literally meaning, the birth of the month of Thai will pave way for new opportunities -- is often quoted with reference to the Pongal festival. The Tamil people are an ethnic group from South Asia with a recorded history going back more than two millennia. ... Tamil (à®¤à®®à®¿à®´à¯ ) is a classical language and one of the major languages of the Dravidian language family. ...

Usually the festival falls in the middle of the month of January in the Western calendar. The festival is celebrated for four days from the last day of the Tamil month Maargazhi (Dec/Jan) to the third day of Thai (Jan/Feb). The first day, Bhogi, is celebrated by throwing away and destroying old clothes and materials by setting them on fire to mark the end of old and emeregence of new. A calendar is a system for naming periods of time, typically days. ...

The second day, Pongal, is the main day which falls on the first day of the Tamil month Thai (January 14 or January 15 in western calendar). The Pongal day is celebrated by boiling rice with fresh milk and Jaggery early in the morning and allowing it to boil over the vessel — a tradition that is the literal translation for Pongal (in Tamil). The moment the rice gets boiled over and bubbles out of the vessel, it is offered to the Sun God, a gesture which symbolises thanksgiving to the Sun for providing prosperity. People also prepare savories and sweets, visit each other's homes, and exchange greetings. January 14 is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... January 15 is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... A glass of cows milk Milk most often means the nutrient fluid produced by the mammary glands of female mammals. ... Preparation of Jaggery Jaggery is the traditional unrefined sugar of India. ... Tamil (à®¤à®®à®¿à®´à¯ ) is a classical language and one of the major languages of the Dravidian language family. ... For other uses, see Sun (disambiguation). ...

The third day, Maattu Pongal, is meant to offer thanks to the cattle, as they provide milk and are used to plough the lands. Jallikattu, a violent taming the wild bull contest, marks the main event of this day. During this final day, Kaanum Pongal — the word "kanum", literally meaning 'to view' — youths used to gather at river banks to view and select their future life partners, but that practice has declined. People, especially store keepers, visit beaches and theme parks during this day in modern times. During the Pongal season, people chew sugar cane and decorate the houses with kolam. Binomial name Bos taurus Linnaeus, 1758 Cattle (called cows in vernacular usage, or kine [archaic]) are domesticated ungulates, a member of the subfamily Bovinae of the family Bovidae. ... A glass of cows milk Milk most often means the nutrient fluid produced by the mammary glands of female mammals. ... A farmer works the land in the traditional way with a horse and plough The plough (American spelling: plow) is a tool used in farming for initial cultivation of soil in preparation for sowing seed or planting. ... Jallikattu is a South Indian celebration involving bull taming, somewhat similar to the Spanish running of the bulls. ... Species Ref: ITIS 42058 as of 2004-05-05 Sugarcane is one of six species of a tall tropical southeast Asian grass (Family Poaceae) having stout fibrous jointed stalks whose sap at one time was the primary source of sugar. ... Kolam outside a house in Tamil Nadu Kolam (in Tamil) is a decorative design drawn using rice powder by female members of the family in front of their home, especially near the threshold. ...

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Astronomical significance

The astronomical significance of the festival is that it marks the beginning of Uttarayana, the Sun's movement northward for a six month period. In Hinduism, Uttarayana is considered auspicious, as opposed to Dakshinaayana, or the southern movement of the sun. All important events are scheduled during this period. Makara Sankranthi refers to the event of the Sun entering the zodiac sign of Makara or Capricorn. Lunar astronomy: the large crater is Daedalus, photographed by the crew of Apollo 11 as they circled the Moon in 1969. ... For other uses, see Sun (disambiguation). ... Hinduism (Sanskrit/Hindi: ; also known as Sanatana Dharma - , and Vaidika Dharma - ) is a worldwide religious tradition that is based on the Vedas, and is generally regarded as one of the oldest religions still practised in the world. ... Zodiac signs, 16th century , medieval woodcuts The zodiac (from Greek zoon, animal) is an imaginary belt in the heavens extending approximately 8 degrees on either side of the Suns apparent path (the ecliptic), that includes the apparent paths of the Moon and the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn. ... The word Makara can refer to several different things. ... Capricornus (♑), a name meaning Horned Goat in Latin, is one of the constellations of the zodiac. ...

External links

Categories: Articles containing Indic text | Hindu festivals | Tamil festivals Hinduism (Sanskrit/Hindi: ; also known as Sanatana Dharma - , and Vaidika Dharma - ) is a worldwide religious tradition that is based on the Vedas, and is generally regarded as one of the oldest religions still practised in the world. ... List of Festivals in India Hindu Makar Sankranti, Kite Flying Day, Winter festival Baisakhi Mahashivratri Holi Gudi Padwa Ram Navami Guru Purnima Gokul Ashtami Karthikai deepam Pongal Raksha Bandhan, Rakhi, Sacred Thread tied by sister on Brothers hand Onam Ganesh Chaturthi Durga Puja Dussehra or Daserra Diwali Diwali Amvasaya... The Hindu calendar is of two types: the solar calendar or the saura mÄna the lunisolar calendar or the chÄndra mÄna Both are described in this article. ... File links The following pages link to this file: Swastika Wikipedia:Todays featured article/May 2005 Wikipedia:Todays featured article/May 1, 2005 ... Holi or Phagwah (Bhojpuri) is an annual Hindu spring festival. ... // Introduction Ugadi (literally - the start of an era) is the new years day for the people of the Deccan region of India. ... Rama Navami falls on the ninth day of a Hindu lunar year (or Chaitra Masa Suklapaksha Navami). ... Krishna Janmaashtami, also known as Krishnaashtami, Gokulaashtami, Srikrishna Jayanti, Sree Jayanthi or sometimes merely as Janmaashtami, is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu. ... Onam à´“à´£à´‚, the foremost festival among the cultural repertoire of Malayalees, falls in the harvest season of August- September. ... Ganesh Chaturthi is the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha. ... Original Celebration Vasakhi marks the beginning of the new Spring year and the end of the harvest in India. ... Navratri, Navaratri or Navaratra is a Hindu festival of worship and dance. ... A priest worshipping a contemporary idol of Durga, shown riding her lion and attacking the demon Mahisasur. ... Vijayadashami is a festival celebrated across India. ... Dasara, also called Navaratri, is among the most important festivals celebrated in Southern India. ... DiwÄlÄ« or DÄ«pÄvali (also transliterated Deepavali; Sanskrit: row of lights) is the Hindu Festival of Lights. ... Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai, mostly by the Tamil community. ... Maha Shivratri or Shivaratri (Night of Shiva) is an Hindu festival celebrated every year on the 14th day in the Krishna Paksha of the month Phalguna in the Hindu Calendar. ... Ekadasi is the eleventh lunar day (Tithi) of the shukla (bright) or krishna (dark) paksha (fortnight) respectively, of every lunar month in the Hindu calendar (Panchang). ... Vaikunta Ekadasi, the Ekadasi of Vaikunta (the abode of the Vishnu) falls on the 11th day of the Sukla Paksha (the waxing phase of the moon) of the Dhanur (Margazhi in Tamil terminology) month - the ninth of the Hindu Lunar Calendar. ... MahaLakshmi vratha is a sacred day in Hinduism. ... Raksha bandhan or Rakhi is a Hindu festival to signify and extend the brother-sister relationship. ... Bhaubeej/Bhau-Beej (in Marathi) or Bhai-Dooj (in Hindi) or Bhai Beej (in Gujarati) is a festival or ceremony performed by Hindus on the second day after Diwali, which is the second day of the new year. ...