Thai Pongal 2017: How Pongal is celebrated in Australia?

Thai Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated by Tamil people at the end of the harvest season. People celebrate it for about four days. The first day is called Bhogi. Many people burn and get rid of old household items and purchase new household items on this day. This marks the start of a new cycle. The second day is Perum, also known as Surya Pongal, and is the most important day of Pongal. Many people worship the sun god, Lord Surya by offering prayers on this day. Many people also wear new clothes and women decorate houses with Kolam (designs) using rice flour and red clay.Mattu Pongal is the third day and includes worshipping cattle because it is believed that cattle help give a good harvest. The fourth day is called Kanum Pongal, which is when many people go on picnic and spend time with families and friends. This is a special feature on Thai Pongal.

Shankar,Sharadha and Thuraimurugan Source: Shankar, Sharadha and Thuraimurugan