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Pongal

Pongal (also called Thai Pongal) is a four-day harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu that is observed by the Tamil and Telegu communities of India.

Pongal (coming from the word ‘pongu', to boil over') corresponds to the wider Indian festival of Makar Sankranti as a harvest festival, but retains many regional differences in terms of how it is observed.

Variations of a special dish, also called Pongal (which is made up of rice and lentils), are served during the festival; the most popular dish during Pongal is the sweet version, however it can be made savoury with chillies and curry leaves. The focus on dishes like Pongal with simple ingredients such as rice, lentils and sugarcane reflect the focus of the festival on the harvesting of these crops and praying for agricultural prosperity.

Read more about Makar Sankranti on our specially-dedicated Knowledge Centre page here!

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