Significance of Thamil New Year and Pongal Festival
The Thamil month of Thai is a month of celebration, joy, and thanksgiving. Thai Pongal marks the beginning of a New Year for the Thamils. It is celebrated by offering gifts to family, dressing in new clothing, and giving thanks to the natural elements.
From pagan festivals to modern-day festivals, ceremonies of thanksgiving remain an integral part of culture and tradition. Likewise, Thamils all around the world celebrate thanksgiving during the festival of Thai Pongal. Thai Pongal is a four-day long harvest festival where individuals offer thanks to nature for providing grain, the basic staple of the food chain. The etymology of Thai Pongal can be traced to the meaning of its root words “pong” and “thai,” which mean “to boil” and “January” in Thamil. Thai Pongal marks the first day of a new year, and a new month of the Thamil calendar. On this day, farmers will thank nature, especially the Sun and the farm cattle for their allowing them to reap a bountiful harvest, and will harvest new crops including rice, cereals, sugar cane, and turmeric for the next season.
“Thai” holds much cultural and social significance; it has not only marks the beginning of a new year, but has traditionally been the month in where most weddings are held. The Thamils have traditionally been an agrarian society, as a result, the months of plentiful harvest was the months in which resulted in economic output. Thai being such a month meant that more families were able to bear the expenses of holding a wedding.
Many believe that with the onset of a New Year, better pathways and beginnings will follow, thus the common phrase, “Thai piranthaal, vali pirakum.” We wish you and your families a prosperous and joyous Thai Pongal, and hope this year brings with it new opportunities, new beginnings and happiness.
