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Pongal is Tamil Nadu’s great harvest festival, celebrated over four days in mid-January. How well do you know Bhogi, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal and Kaanum Pongal? Answer 10 questions and learn a quick fact with every answer.
1. In which Indian state is Pongal the biggest harvest festival?
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Tamil Nadu. Pongal is Tamil Nadu's major harvest festival, celebrated over several days in mid-January.
2. The main day of Pongal falls on the first day of which Tamil month?
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Thai. The main day of the festival marks the start of the month of Thai.
3. Which day of the festival is set aside to honour cattle?
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Mattu Pongal. On Mattu Pongal, cows and bulls are bathed, decorated and thanked for their work on the farm.
4. On which day do families traditionally discard old belongings?
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Bhogi. Bhogi is the day before Thai Pongal, when old things are cleared out to welcome a fresh start.
5. Which god is especially thanked on Thai Pongal?
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Surya, the Sun god. Families cook the new harvest and offer thanks to the Sun for helping the crops grow.
6. What does the word pongal refer to?
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Boiling over. The dish is named for rice and milk boiling over the pot, a sign of abundance.
7. Which two ingredients form the base of sweet pongal?
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Rice and jaggery. Sakkarai pongal is made with freshly harvested rice and jaggery, often with milk and ghee.
8. Which traditional bull-taming sport is held during the Pongal season?
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Jallikattu. Jallikattu is held in Tamil Nadu around Mattu Pongal, and Alanganallur near Madurai is its best-known venue.
9. Which day of the festival is known for family outings and visiting relatives?
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Kaanum Pongal. Kaanum Pongal is the last day, when people go out and meet family and friends.
10. Which long plant is commonly displayed and eaten during Pongal?
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Sugarcane. Sugarcane is harvested around this time and is a familiar sight at Pongal celebrations.
