Being raised in an urban community, I have often thought what significance a festival like Pongal does, which is primarily celebrated by the agrarian society, holds for someone like me. Looking back at the history of Pongal and the heritage of the Tamil society gave me some answers which I would like to share today.
Social bonding: Even today you can come across news articles which discuss how fast the train and bus tickets were booked by passengers travelling from Chennai to their villages to celebrate Pongal. It only shows that many of us are still rooted to our traditions of celebrations no matter where we travel. Pongal celebrations also happen throughout the world where the Tamil diaspora thrive. It is that time of the year when we get together and go back to our roots to celebrate our identity.
Community building: Festivals always bring the community together. It doesn’t matter if the festivities happen in a rural or urban setting, the spirit and enthusiasm is always there. It is the time when we forget our differences and share our wishes for a happy Pongal with everyone around us. People get together to play games, relax and talk freely. It is a time when we reach out to people in our extended families and our community turns into a big extended family.
Boosting the economy: Pongal is a time when the whole family makes merry by buying new clothes, procuring farm produce, and buying things for the rituals from small vendors. It certainly gives a boost to the economy due to the ecosystem built in our society surrounding the festival.
Cultural pride: Even though harvest festivals are celebrated throughout India under various names, Pongal holds a special place in Tamil Nadu. No matter where a person lives in the globe, the Tamil communities always come together for Pongal celebrations. Apart from the celebrations, events like Jallikkattu, Pongal kolam, Pongal food delicacies are unique to Tamil culture and a matter of pride for us. Pongal is not just an agrarian festival, but an opportunity to carry our cultural pride to the forthcoming generations as well.