Pongal Traditional Dresses

Pongal marks the beginning of new harvest and is celebrated by the tamilians in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry in India. This festival is also seen celebrated in countries like Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Mauritius, South Africa, United States, Singapore, Canada and UK that incorporated tamilians.

Pongal is a joyous celebration of worship to the sun God for having a bountiful harvest, lord Indra is also horned for the showers of rains on their farms and the cows and bullocks are worshiped for their contribution in the harvest. Since this is the celebration of a good harvest and beginning of a sunny, auspicious time – people turn out in their new attires and meet their families and friends.

Women’ s deck themselves in the best of traditional outfits and visit each other’s home with greetings and gifts to spend happy time together. Women are usually seen wearing gorgeous ethnic sarees while young girls are seen twirling around in Pattu pavadai (tube top and long skirt) or anarkalis.

Types of Sarees

The types of sarees that women prefer to wear on Pongal are

Kanchipuram Silk Sarees- The sarees are woven from pure mulberry silk thread. The patterns and designs in the kanchipuram sarees are inspired with images and scriptures in South Indian temples or natural features like leaves, birds and animals. Kanchipuram sarees vary widely in cost depending upon the intricacy of work, colors, pattern, material used like zari (gold thread) etc.

Banarasi Silk Sarees- These sarees are made in Varanasi, a city which is also called Benares or Banaras. Banarasi sarees are among the finest sarees in India and are known for their gold and silver brocade or zari, fine silk and opulent embroidery. These sarees are made of finely woven silk and are decorated with intricate designs.

Art Silk Sarees-Art silk is actually artificial silk. It is a synthetic fibre quite similar to silk and is thus known as silk. This particular variety of silk does not take much money to produce and any garment made with this material tends to be quite affordable.

Kanchi Cotton Sarees- Comparatively not so grand as the silk version, the Kanchipuram Cotton Handloom Saree, is soft, airy and comfortable. It is very comfortable & appealing. You can wear any of these sarees on the auspicious day of Pongal and to complete your look you can style it with beautiful temple necklace and earrings or with a pair it with a pretty golden jadau necklace along with matching golden jhumkas, golden bangles(kada) and some fresh gajra on the hair.

And there you are all set with your traditional ethnic look for Pongal.