Thai Pongal Festival

ThaiPongal is a harvest festival to give thanks to the sun god for the harvest. In Sri Lanka, it is usually celebrated as a two-day festival. This year Thai Pongal was celebrated on January 14 and 15.

On the rst day, a sweet rice meal (Pongal Rice) is made, dedicated to the sun god, and then consumed by families. The rice is boiled in milk, along with spices, raisins and cashews etc. Devotees visit the kovil with offerings.

On the second day of festivities (Mattu Pongal), the oxen who help farmers work their rice elds are honoured.

The animals are given a bath and beautiful garlands are hung about their necks and horns. The oxen are also marked on their foreheads and horns with decorative dyes.