Question

Pongal is the main festival of which state?

Answer 1

Hint: Pongal is a four-day harvest festival held in the month of Thai (January-February), during which rice, sugarcane, turmeric, and other crops are harvested. The word pongal means "to boil," and this festival is held to express gratitude for the year's harvest.

Complete answer:
- Pongal (also known as Thai Pongal or Tai Pongal) is a multi-day Hindu harvest festival celebrated in South India, particularly by the Tamil community. According to the Tamil solar calendar, it is observed at the beginning of the month Tai, which is usually around January 14.
- It is dedicated to Surya, the Hindu sun god, and corresponds to Makar Sankranti, the harvest festival celebrated across India under a variety of regional names. Bhogi Pongal, Surya Pongal, and Maattu Pongal are the three days of the Pongal festival. The fourth day of Pongal is known as Kanum Pongal by some Tamils.
- When the sun joins the zodiac Makara, the festival marks the close of the winter solstice and the beginning of the sun's six-month journey northwards (Capricorn). The festival is named after the ritual "Pongal," which means "to boil, overflow," and refers to a traditional rice dish made with milk and jaggery made from the new harvest (raw sugar).
- The pongal sweet dish is prepared to commemorate the festival, and it is first offered to the gods and goddesses (goddess Pongal), then to cows, and finally to the family. Cows and their horns are decorated, ceremonial bathing is performed, and processions are held as part of the festivities.
Pongal is one of the most popular Tamil festivals in the state of Tamil Nadu.

Note: The preparation of the traditional "pongal" dish is the most important aspect of the festival. It's made with freshly harvested rice that's been boiled in milk and raw cane sugar (jaggery). Cardamom, raisins, split green gramme, and cashew nuts are some of the ingredients that are often added to the sweet dish.