Surya Pongal, 2nd Day of Pongal

Surya Pongal

The second day of Pongal is known as ‘Surya Pongal’ and is dedicated to the Sun God. It is the day on which the celebration actually begins and is also the first day of the Tamil month “Thai”

Women wake early on this day to create elaborate ‘kolam’ on the grounds in front of their doorway or home. A good Kolam would take around an hours time. On this day the new rice is collected and cooked in pots until they over flow.  In all the villages, people will gather together at the village square and set up mud pots on primitive stoves and cook the rice still it overflows. It is this overflowing which means Pongal. And when the rice overflows all the people will shout “Pongal-o-Pongal” in celebration.

The rice cooked and prepared as a dish in these pots is also called Pongal, which is rice with dhal and sugar. two variety of Pongal is cooked on this day Venpongal , ven meaning white and Chakra Pongal, Chakrai  meaning sweet.

Volunteers at Assisi Illam for Pongal Celebrations

Poomani lighting the fire to cook the rice for Pongal Celebrations at Assisi Illam

Marietta and Mary for the Pongal Celebrations at St. Joseph Church.

The pots set up for Pongal Celebrations at St. Joseph Church

Mary stirring the pot of Pongal

Marietta stirring the pot of Pongal

Pongal Celebrations at St. Joseph Church

Kolam for Pongal

Kolam for Pongal