Talk:Pongal (festival)

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Hindu nature of the festival

Pongal is always considered as a Hindu festival and is not secular. It is celebrated among the Hindus of other linguistic groups too with different names across India and the diaspora community. It was never a secular festival. If again a few non-Hindus are celebrating it, claiming it to be "cultural", create a new section to explain about it. There are non-Hindus who mostly consider Pongal to be unorthodox according to their religions. Just because a few non-Hindu Tamils celebrate it, the festival will not become secular in nature. Followers of which religion worship sun, cow, water as forms of God? It is Hindus! Christmas is always a Christian festival first then comes everything else. Same goes here! And the Hindu nature of the festival is cited with reliable sources across the article. Do not change it as you please! @Bcpandian --Naveen Ramanathan comment added by Naveen Ramanathan (talk • contribs) 08:51, 22 July 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Only Hindus celebrate with Cows whereas Islam have completely different opinion on Cows .. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 157.51.152.112 (talk) 20:31, 24 July 2021 (UTC)[reply]

This is wrong.

It is celebrated by some Christians and Muslims as well.

I am a muslim.

It was always celebrated on my mothwrs side of family and we always celebrated it from being a kid.

Same way in my wife's side if family it has been celebrated.

We are married for 17 years and have celebrated it with our kids. Ashfar28 (talk) 18:04, 5 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

It is a Tamil festival celebrated by Tamils. Ashfar28 (talk) 18:05, 5 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

yep. ofcourse it is a Hindu festivel. It also corresponds with Makar Sankranti of North India. None of non-hindus celebrate it in full way. Worshipping cows, sun god, jallikattu is something special for Hindus. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 106.198.113.52 (talk) 19:09, 9 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Semi-protected edit request on 13 January 2022

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Pongal is a Tamil Festival which is celebrated yearly once as a tribute to farming & Farmers & Farm equipments especially Bulls/ox for which a festival is conducted on the second day of Pongal which is referred as Maattu(Generally referred to Cows) Pongal. CibiIS Vile (talk) 18:30, 13 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. ScottishFinnishRadish (talk) 18:48, 13 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Semi-protected edit request on 14 January 2022

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File:Makar Sankranti Pongal Festival.jpg

Pongal sankranti festivel - India harvest festivel

The above picture best illustrates the Pongal than current one. It can replace the image in Template. Srinithi67 (talk) 10:17, 14 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Not done: Image appears to be copyvio. ScottishFinnishRadish (talk) 11:44, 14 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Semi-protected edit request on 14 January 2022 (2)

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is a multi-day Hindu harvest festival of South India, particularly in the Tamil community ==> is a multi-day Hindu harvest festival of South India, particularly in the Telugu and Tamil community 185.125.226.42 (talk) 11:11, 14 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. ScottishFinnishRadish (talk) 11:39, 14 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

It is known by differnt names in different parts of South Asia as it can be seen in Makar Sankranti article. So it is better to remove "Tamil community" itself. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Maduraikaran2 (talk • contribs) 11:41, 15 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Not just Tamil Festival

Pongal is celebrated in both Telugu and Tamil Cultures with almost similar customs and celebrations including Pongal/Sankranthi Film season from mid-20th Century. Only difference is Telugus started calling Pongal as Sankranthi for few centuries (It used to be Pongali in Telugu until 16-17 Century). So, article should be edited to reflect these facts. Pavan santhosh.s (talk) 05:30, 17 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Semi-protected edit request on 6 March 2024

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The Pongal festival is not related to any religious and it is multicultural festival that needs to be changed to Tamil festival from Tamil Hindu festival. AROKIYANATHAN (talk) 12:17, 6 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Question: Based on my background knowledge of the topic, my understanding is that Pongal has roots in Hinduism, although it may not be celebrated by Hindus exclusively. Representing this contrast, however, can be confusing. Currently, I think that labeling it as "a multi-day Hindu harvest festival celebrated by Tamils" is appropriate here, but it could be changed if commonly misunderstood. The infobox furthermore states it is observed by "[p]rimarily Tamil Hindus," which may be accurate as well. Even if there is no explicit religious connection in modern times, perhaps Hindus make up a majority in its recognition. Feel free to correct me if wrong.
— Urro^{[talk][edits]} ⋮ 12:41, 6 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Agree.

It should be changed to Tamil festival.

I am a Muslim and have always felt proud to celebrate it saying Pongalo Pongal.I have enjoyed eating Pongal and Sarkkarai pongal.

I have done it since young age.

Same on my wife's side and we continue doing it with kids. Ashfar28 (talk) 18:20, 5 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Not done: If I remember, this has been discussed, debated and addressed multiple times earlier as well with regards to this article. Pongal as a festival has its roots in Hinduism as it is primarily a worship of Sun God Surya along with other Gods of Hindu pantheon for a good harvest (so are other related festivals like Sankranthi) though it may have some ancient folk elements and rituals attached to it. In the modern days, it has come to be associated with added elements which might not represent Hindu or be religious at all (such as present day practices of Kaanum Pongal) and might be celebrated by some Tamil people from other religions/non-religions as well apart from events organized by political parties and other affiliates/associations. This does not necessarily mean that the festival itself becomes secular suddenly as it is primarily a Hindu festival. For the matter, because other people get cakes, play Santa Claus and display Christmas stars does not mean that Christmas suddenly becomes a secular festival or because some people choose to prepare and eat Biryani, Eid does not become a secular festival either. In my opinion, the article mentions the various practices but does not warrant any change to the infobox or lead for the matter. Thanks!

Magentic Manifestations (talk) 17:25, 6 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Pongal's nature worship is rooted in Indian folk religion and the rituals involving worshiping the sun with camphor etc., the use of turmeric etc. are certainly due to Hinduism. However, the current version does not even mention the fact that Tamil people belonging to other religions do celebrate it too. The latter is clearly supported by scholarly articles.^[1]^[2] I would like to include a mention of these without changing the fact that Pongal is primarily a Tamil Hindu festival. -- Sundar ^{\talk \contribs} 12:00, 28 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Yes.it definitely needs a mention of people from other religions celebrating it.

As a Tamil Muslim, Pongal has been part of my identity.

On my Mothers side it was celebrated down generations but was not celebrated on my father's side.But my mom and dad continued Pongal celebrations.

On my wife's side it was celebrated with even more fanfare where they make several items like Onam Sadhya and served in Banana leaf and always Vegetarian.

We have been married for 17 years and we have continued it and our kids absolutely enjoy it.

There is a misconception that Muslims do not celebrate other festivals but that is not true.

Nowroz is celebrated with fanfare in Iran and Central Asian countries. Ashfar28 (talk) 18:33, 5 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Surya Pongal

This is not a term commonly used. While on Pongal day Surya is honoured this day is not called Surya Pongal.Let wikepedia not create a new name for Pongal

It is referred as Pongal. That is how we Tamils like it and is special. The day preceding it is Bhogi. The day after Pongal is Maatu Pongal. The day after Maatu Pongal is Kaanum Pongal. Ashfar28 (talk) 18:12, 5 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

^ Painadath, Sebastian (2024). Inculturation in Christian Liturgy. Springer. pp. 449–452. Christians in Tamil Nadu use their common native language which is Tamil. In dress, food habits, social customs and relationships, common festivals, and so on, Christianity in Tamil Nadu has a shared identity of its own with all the people of the State. Many Christians are well-versed in Tamil music which is profusely used in their worship or celebration of cultural events. Festivals like Pongal are celebrated together. There are paradigms of inculturation.
^ Pillai, Shanthini (2017). "Modern Asian ecclesiastical interconnections: Catholic Tamil Nadu and its diaspora in Malaysia". The Australian Journal of Anthropology. 28 (2): 165–179. During the season of Pongal or Makara Sankarathi, which is celebrated as the harvest festival throughout the country. This is celebrated in the churches under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Madras – Mylapore with pomp and show. On the day of Pongal, kolam competitions are organised among the members of the church. The entire church is decorated with mango leaves, coconut leaves and sugar cane. All members of the church are informed earlier to come dressed to church on the Pongal day in Pattu sarees, pattu pavaadai, dhothi and shirt. The details of the Pongal celebrations are given along with the Christmas and New Year programme schedule and are circulated among the members of the church in the first week of December itself. A warm welcome with flowers, kulkand and sandal paste at the entrance of the church is arranged. After the holy mass is celebrated, Pongal is cooked in the premises of the church with the offerings of rice, lentils and jaggery received as offerings at the mass. The sugarcane offered during the mass was distributed to the members of the church. Folk dances, traditional games such as Uri Aditthal are conducted during the Pongal celebration. It usually begins at 5:30 in the morning and goes on until 9 am.

[1] Painadath, Sebastian (2024). Inculturation in Christian Liturgy. Springer. pp. 449–452. Christians in Tamil Nadu use their common native language which is Tamil. In dress, food habits, social customs and relationships, common festivals, and so on, Christianity in Tamil Nadu has a shared identity of its own with all the people of the State. Many Christians are well-versed in Tamil music which is profusely used in their worship or celebration of cultural events. Festivals like Pongal are celebrated together. There are paradigms of inculturation.

[2] Pillai, Shanthini (2017). "Modern Asian ecclesiastical interconnections: Catholic Tamil Nadu and its diaspora in Malaysia". The Australian Journal of Anthropology. 28 (2): 165–179. During the season of Pongal or Makara Sankarathi, which is celebrated as the harvest festival throughout the country. This is celebrated in the churches under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Madras – Mylapore with pomp and show. On the day of Pongal, kolam competitions are organised among the members of the church. The entire church is decorated with mango leaves, coconut leaves and sugar cane. All members of the church are informed earlier to come dressed to church on the Pongal day in Pattu sarees, pattu pavaadai, dhothi and shirt. The details of the Pongal celebrations are given along with the Christmas and New Year programme schedule and are circulated among the members of the church in the first week of December itself. A warm welcome with flowers, kulkand and sandal paste at the entrance of the church is arranged. After the holy mass is celebrated, Pongal is cooked in the premises of the church with the offerings of rice, lentils and jaggery received as offerings at the mass. The sugarcane offered during the mass was distributed to the members of the church. Folk dances, traditional games such as Uri Aditthal are conducted during the Pongal celebration. It usually begins at 5:30 in the morning and goes on until 9 am.

[1]

[2]