Pongal

Pongol, a harvest festival dedicated to the Sun God, is a very important four-day festival in the Tamil calendar. The first day, Bhogi, is when people discard old belongings and celebrate new possessions.

The main event, known as Thai Pongal, takes place on the second of the four days. Pongal means “overflowing,” signifying abundance and prosperity. During the festival, milk is cooked in a vessel. When it starts to bubble and overflows out of the vessel, freshly harvested rice grains are added to the pot. At the same time other participants blow a conch called the sanggu and shout “Pongalo Pongal! The Pongal rice is then served to everyone in the house along with savories and sweets.

Maatu Pongal is celebrated the day after Thai Pongal. The Tamils regard cattle as sources of wealth for providing dairy products, fertilizer and labour for plowing and transportation. On Maatu Pongal, the cattle are celebrated by being bathed and decorated. In some parts of Tamil Nadu there are Jallikkattu or bull taming events.

The fourth day of Pongol, Kaanum Pongal, is the day when many families hold reunions or visit places together.

On Tuesday, 15th January, Mohanam, the French Pavilion and Ilaignarkal Education Centre held a Pongol celebration on the site of the French Pavilion featuring, among other things, traditional Tamil and French Games, song and dance performances and an exhibition of Indo-French relations. Two days later Kuilapalayam village held its famous cattle run.

Mimi captured both events through the lens of her camera. Here is a selection.