On the Pongal festival day people clean and decorated their houses with flowers and Rangoli and wear new clothes. As soon as farmers bring newly harvested rice to their homes and give food to their cattle a rice dish called “Pongal” from where the festival got its name, and is devoted to Lord Surya.

First day of the Pongal Festival – Bhogi Pongal

The first day of the Pongal festival is called Bhogi Pongal. Bhogi Pongal is devoted to the worship of the rain God Indra. On this very First day people wake up early, clean their homes and decorate it with Kolam and flowers. Then get dressed in new clothes and offer flowers to the Lord Vinayaka or Ganesha made from cow dung or turmeric or mud and lighten up traditional lamps holy place.

Second day of the Pongal Festival – Surya

Pongal

The second day of the Pongal festival is called Surya Pongal is devoted to lord Surya that is “the Sun God”. The special Sweet Pongal Recipe (dish) is prepared in all homes. This is fundamentally a sweet rice dish cooked in milk and jaggery is offered to Lord Ganesha and then to cows and then it is distributed as Prasad.

Third day of the Pongal Festival – Mattu

Pongal

The third day Mattu Pongal is a day devoted to domestic animals (cattle’s) and other animals. The day is marked by the worship of the Goddess Parvati and her son (the elephant-headed) Lord Ganesha. This is also the day when cattle a very important in all villages a part of life.  Animals are washed and cleaned and decorated with ornamented, then take around through the village’s pathway. The parade is followed by cattle races, and in some instances, bullfights which are locally known as ‘Jallikattu’- bags is filled with of money are tied to the horns of bulls, and young men endeavour to move violently with the bulls to get the bags off.

Fourth day of the Pongal Festival – Kanum or

Kaanum Pongal

The fourth and the final day of the Pongal festival which is traditionally famous as Kanum Pongal is the day when the families calm down, visit each other and have get to gather  with friends and family. This is careful a very auspicious day when people visit their family and friends and celebrate. On this day there are folk dance performances accompanied by music and song.

Holidays in Tamilnadu for year 2011 in Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore and other cities and districts of Tamilnadu state are declared as per Negotiable Intruments Acts (NIA).

Under the Explanation to Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (Central Act XXVI of 1881) read with the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs Notification No.20-25/26/Pub.I, dated 8-6-1957, the State Governments of various states are required to declare that in addition to Sundays expressly defined as Public Holidays in the said “Explanation” the other days that shall be observed as Holidays in the their State during the year.

The State government of Tamilnadu has notified following days and festivals as general holidays during 2011. The General Administration Department has issued a GO listing the general / optional holidays.

The list of general holidays in Tamilnadu is as follows:

Tamil Calendar 2011, Tamil New Year calendar 2011 (Vikruthi – Kara). The Tamilcalendar is used in Tamil Nadu for cultural, religious and agricultural events within and outside India.

The Tamil calendar is based on the classical Hindu solar calendar. Astrologers consult the calendar to determine auspicious days. There are several festivals based on the Tamil Hindu calendar. Tamilcalendar begins on the same date in April. The traditional Tamil year starts on 14 April 2011, Kaliyuga 5113. Vikrama and Shalivahana Saka eras are also used. There are several references in early Tamil literature to the April new year. Tamil Months in Calendar 2011:- Margazhi – January, Thai – February, Masi – March, Panguni – April, Kara – May, Vaikasi – June, Ani – July, Adi – August, Avani – September, Puratasi – October, Aippasi – November, Karthikai – December.

TamiCalendar2011 at http://www.chennaiiq.com/astrology/tamil_calendar.asp?mm=1&yy=2011

List of Holidays In India 2011

The festival is observed on the fifth day every year during the Krishna paksha or Pushya Bahula Panchami day when the saint attained samadhi under the auspices of Sri Thyagabrahma Mahotsava Sabha at the saint’s samadhi at Thiruvaiyaru. The 162nd festival was celebrated in 2009.

Here is the list:

01: Jan: 2010: New Year’s day
14: Jan: 2010: Tamil New Year’s Day and Pongal
15: Jan: 2010: Thiruvalluvar Day
16: Jan: 2010: Uzhavar Thirunal (Day of Farmers)
26: Jan: 2010: Republic Day
27: Feb: 2010: Meelad-un-Nabi
16: Mar: 2010: Telugu New Year’s Day
28: Mar: 2010: Mahaveer Jayanthi
01: Apr: 2010: Annual closing of accounts for commercial and co-op banks
02: Apr: 2010: Good Friday
14: Apr: 2010: Dr.B.R.Ambedkar’s Birthday
01: May: 2010: May Day
15: Aug: 2010: Indenpendence Day
01: Sep: 2010: Krishna Jayanthi
10: Sep: 2010: Ramzan
11: Sep: 2010: Vinayaka Chathurthi
30: Sep: 2010: Half Yearly closing of accounts for commercial and co-op banks
02: Oct: 2010: Gandhi Jayanthi
16: Oct: 2010: Ayutha Pooja
17: Oct: 2010: Vijayadasami
05: Nov: 2010: Deepavali
17: Nov: 2010: Bakrid
17: Dec: 2010: Muharram
25: Dec: 2010: Christmas

Public Holidays in Tamilnadu

Public Holidays in Tamilnadu – Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai

Here is List of Holidays for State of Tamilanadu:

1. New Year’s Day 01-01-2009 Thursday

2. **Muharram 08-01-2009 Thursday

3. Tamil New Year’s Day /Pongal 14-01-2009 Wednesday

4. Thiruvalluvar Day 15-01-2009 Thursday

5. Uzhavar Thirunal 16-01-2009 Friday

6. Republic Day 26-01-2009 Monday

7. Meelad-un-Nabi 10-03-2009 Tuesday

8. Telugu New Year’s Day 27-03-2009 Friday

9. *Annual closing of accounts for Commercial Banks & Co-operative Banks. 01-04-2009 Wednesday

10. Mahaveer Jayanthi 07-04-2009 Tuesday

11. Good Friday 10-04-2009 Friday

12. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s Birthday 14-04-2009 Tuesday

13. May Day 01-05-2009 Friday

14. Krishna Jayanthi 13-08-2009 Thursday

15. Independence Day 15-08-2009 Saturday

16. Vinayakar Chathurthi 23-08-2009 Sunday

17. Ramzan 21-09-2009 Monday

18. Ayutha Pooja 27-09-2009 Sunday

19. Vijayadasami 28-09-2009 Monday

20. *Half yearly closing of Accounts for Commercial Banks & Co-operative Banks. 30-09-2009 Wednesday

21. Gandhi Jayanthi 02-10-2009 Friday

22. Deepavali 17-10-2009 Saturday

23. Bakrid 28-11-2009 Saturday

24. Christmas 25-12-2009 Friday

25. **Muharram 28-12-2009 Monday