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Tamils all over the world will be celebrating Ponggal festival tomorrow. It is preceded by Boghi (today). On Boghi day, old and unused things are thrown into a fire to symbolise removal of old/negative thoughts/feelings/ideas etc and to signal the starting of new things. This is partly to ensure the house and surrounding area are clean as well.

Ponggal is actually the first day of the month of “Thai”. It is a festival to herald the harversting season and thanking God for providing a good bounty.

It is also know as Magara Sankranthi – meaning when the Sun enters the Makara (Capricorn) sign and moves northward for the next six months.

Medusa says:

MP: The usual date for the 4-day festival (Boghi, Thai a.k.a. Sakkarai/Veetu Ponggal, Maatu Ponggal, Kanni Ponggal) is 13th-16th of January. However, OCCASIONALLY, the dates may be from 14th-17th. It depends on the position of the star and sun actually (when the sun enters a different zodiac sign, Capricorn (Makara raasi)), so it is not a fixed date, but either one of the above two dates. Thiruvalluvar Date was fixed to be on the day AFTER thai ponggal, so supposed to be on 15th/16th of January. This is my understanding.

Hi guys, read this:

‘Bogi’ is celebrated on January 13, ‘Pongal’ on Jan 14, ‘Maattuppongal’ on Jan 15, and ‘Thiruvalluvar Day’ on Jan 16.

(SOURECE: http://www.pongalfestival.org/what-is-pongal.html)

Hmm.. contradictory dates.

Wonder when is Pongal actually? Any idea Poo?

Posted on January 15th, 2008