The festival of Pongal marks the harvesting season of crops as the winter season ends and ushers in the spring. The harvest festival is celebrated all over India with different traditions in each region.
It's known as Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Lohri in Northern India and Bhogali Bihu in Assam. In Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, it is called Makar Sankranti. People prepare homemade delicacies with sesame, rice, lentils and exchange.
Southern states have a special and unique way of celebrating Pongal. It is celebrated for four days. Each day has its own significance and importance. First day of the celebration is known as Bhogi, Second day is called Thai Pongal; the Third day is called Mattu Pongal and the final day is called Kaanum Pongal.
The harvest festival is celebrated with a lot of fervour across the nation. The excitement around this festival starts building up with its traditional way of haircare.
Hair-oiling. The treatment, typically practiced before taking a shower or before bed at night, consists of harnessing the regenerative powers of natural oils by working them into the scalp and hair for moisture and nourishment. It reduces dryness and gives your hair strength, thickness and softness.
Coconut oil is used and given a head massage (gently kneading the scalp, temples, and neck with the fingertips). It helps to exfoliate, moisturize, and improve circulation in the scalp so that you're addressing hair health at the root.
A prewash laced with anti-inflammatory ashwagandha, healing dashmool, and circulation-boosting castor oil, a replenishing "roots for roots" tradition.
Then rejuvenating hair wash with Shikakai
Shikakai also termed as ‘Fruit for hair’ is a natural product made of herbs to cleanse and protect the hair. Its benefits are numerous, ranging from strengthening hair, fighting dandruff, delaying grey hair, preventing lice to detangling your hair and making it shine.
Why it works:
Shikakai naturally strengthens the hair and promotes hair growth. Its antifungal properties provides nutrition to the scalp and helps to cure dandruff.
It keeps the scalp clean and healthy by maintaining the pH level and fighting infections. Its indeed one of the best options to get natural hair growth. One of the many ancient indian hair growth secrets, Shikakai also has inherent properties to prevent greying of hair.
Let's celebrate the harvest festival in all its majesty and gratitude remembering the goodness of traditions that yield only the best to us.