Pongal 2018 In India: From Sunday, 14 January To Wednesday, 17 January
Pongal is a popular Hindu festival celebrated in all parts of the country by different names. Tamil Nadu, a south Indian state, is famous for celebrating the festival of Pongal that lasts for 4 days. The festival is usually observed in the month of January every year. It brings happiness to the people being the first festival of the Gregorian calendar. Pongal is primary a thanksgiving to the Sun God for harvest. According to the Tamil calendar, Pongal is celebrated from 14 January to 17 January. This relates to the final day of the Tamil month Maargazhi.
Pongal denotes the beginning of the sun’s six-month long voyage northwards. This also relates to the Indic solstice when the sun professedly arrives the 10th house of the Indian zodiac Makara. The festival is fundamentally celebrated to express appreciation to the Sun God for an efficacious harvest. The origins of the festival of Pongal might date to more than 1,000 years ago. A portion of the celebration is the sweltering of the first rice of the season. Pongal is also the name of a sweetened dish of rice boiled with lentils, which is prescriptively consumed on the festival day.
Pongal Holidays 2018
Pongal is the first and major Hindu festival, which is observed not only in Tamil Nadu but also in other parts of the country.
| Name | Region |
| Makar Sankranti | Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Bihar, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Odisha , Kerala |
| Uttarayana | Rajasthan, Gujarat |
| Maghi | Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh |
| Magh Bihu | Assam |
| Maghe Sankranti | Nepal |
Pongal, A 4-day Festival, Is Celebrated In January 2018.
| Name of the festival | Dates | Days |
| Bhogi Festival | 13 January 2018 | Saturday |
| Surya Pongal | 14 January 2018 | Sunday |
| Mattu Pongal | 15 January 2018 | Monday |
| Kaanum Pongal | 16 January 2018 | Tuesday |
Pongal Holidays In 2019
| Name of the festival | Dates | Days |
| Bhogi Festival | 14 January 2019 | Sunday |
| Surya Pongal | 15 January 2019 | Monday |
| Mattu Pongal | 16 January 2019 | Tuesday |
| Kaanum Pongal | 17 January 2019 | Wednesday |
Pongal Holidays In 2020
| Name of the festival | Dates | Days |
| Bhogi Festival | 14 January 2020 | Sunday |
| Surya Pongal | 15 January 2020 | Monday |
| Mattu Pongal | 16 January 2020 | Tuesday |
| Kaanum Pongal | 17 January 2020 | Wednesday |
Pongal Dates Detailed Information
In 2018, Bhogi Festival falls on 13 January, which is on Saturday. The day usually falls on the final day of the month of Margazhi on the Tamil calendar. The God Indra is honored for providing enough rain for a wealthy harvest. Before the harvest, a special puja shall be performed. Farmers worship the earth and the sun through anointing their apparatuses with sandalwood paste. The day is also dedicated to cleaning the home and accumulating useless items. Homes shall be painted.
Surya Pongal falls on the opening day of the month of Thai on the Tamil Calendar. In 2018, the festival falls on 14 January, which is on Sunday. It relates with Makar Sankranti, which is a winter harvest celebrated in all parts of India. Festivities include preparing the Pongal dish, which is offered to the sun and shared with loved ones.
Maatu Pongal in 2018 is celebrated on 15 January that falls on Monday. The festival is devoted to the worship of cows that help farmers to cultivate and provide milk. Cows are bathed and decorated as well. They are allowed to rest on the day.
Kaanum Pongal is celebrated on 16 January in 2018. The nourishing of birds is considered to be auspicious on the day. Women provide birds special colored rice balls. Kaanum means to see. The day is celebrated by going out with friends and families.
Public Life During Pongal Holidays
Pongal is a religious holiday in central and south India for employees, but is not a gazetted holiday in India. However, colleges and schools in these regions remain closed for all fours of the festival. Businesses related to agricultural may remain closed. Pongal has various names. The most common variations include Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Poki, Bihu and Hadaga. The festivities of Pongal varies slightly in celebration. The common symbols associated with the festival include the sun, the chariot, wheat grains and the sickle. Employees may make a restricted number of restricted holidays, but government offices and most businesses remain open.
Three Best Destinations To Visit During Pongal Holidays In 2018
The following are the top five destinations you can commute to witness the Pongal fervor in Tamil Nadu:
- Madurai: Madurai pageants the true essence of the festivities of Pongal with numerous fields and temples. Visiting the temples in the city of Madurai is a great experience during Pongal holidays despite the crowds.
- Tanjavur: Tanjavur is a special destination with decorated houses and kolams. A special event to look out for is the celebration of Brihadeeshwar Temple’s Maatu Pongal.
- Pollachi: Pollachi is sited at a distance of 44 kilometers from the city of Coimbatore. It is the gateway to several scenic tourist places in the surrounding area.
