Pongal

Next Pongal Wednesday, 15 January 2025

In 2025, Pongal would be celebrated on January 15, 2025. Pongal is a Hindu Harvest festival that marks the beginning of the sun's journey also known as Uttarayana in the northward direction.

Pongal is a four-day festival which is celebrated across Tamil Nadu usually falling on the 14th or 15th of January in the Gregorian Calendar.

This joyous and auspicious occasion coincides with Makar Sankranti which is celebrated across the country in different names and ways.

The Significance of Pongal

Pongal is observed with deep admiration for nature and gratitude for a prosperous harvest. It is a significant time for Tamil farmers that honor Surya and other essential agricultural elements.

The name “Pongal” is a Tamil word translating to “to boil” that symbolizes abundance and the festivities center around the sun's journey and the agricultural yield thus making it a time of gratitude for people relying on farming.

The Four Days of Pongal

The celebrations of Pongal goes on for four days with different rules and significances:

Bhogi (Day 1)

Bhogi is about letting go of the old and embracing the new. People clean and decorate their homes, gather for bonfires to burn old belongings, and offer prayers to Indra, the rain god, hoping for good rains. In some areas, leaves are hung on rooftops for protection.

Surya Pongal (Day 2)

Surya Pongal, the main day, honors the sun god, Surya. Families cook a special rice dish called pongal in decorated clay pots and offer it to the sun. As the rice boils, everyone cheers, “Pongalo Pongal!” Homes are decorated with flowers, mango and banana leaves, and colorful kolam designs.

Mattu Pongal (Day 3)

This day celebrates cattle, essential for farming. Cows are bathed, decorated with flowers, and given special treats. People thank them for their help with the harvest. Popular events include Jallikattu, a traditional bull-taming contest. Families also honor their siblings, and sisters offer food to birds, praying for their brothers’ well-being.

Kanum Pongal (Day 4)

The final day, Kanum Pongal, is for family gatherings and blessings. People visit elders to pay respects and enjoy meals together, ending the festival with gratitude and connection.

Celebrations and Traditions of Pongal Across Tamil Nadu and Beyond

The celebration of Pongal across Tamil Nadu symbolizes both urban and rural ways of life.

In the countrysides, farmers honor the traditions of agriculture by cleaning their homes, creating kolam which is drawing intricate designs with rice flour and flowers at their doorsteps, cooking traditional Pongal dish to express gratitude to nature.

In the urban areas, families celebrate in their homes, visit temples, hosting gatherings, participating in music, dance and sharing sweet dishes with loved ones.

The highlight of the festival is cooking the “Pongal” dish in a new pot, allowing the milk to overflow as a sign of prosperity. Family members gather around, joyfully chanting “Pongalo Pongal!” to welcome abundance.

Traditional Pongal Foods

Pongal Dish: This sweet dish made with rice, milk, and jaggery is flavored with cardamom, ghee, and nuts, representing the abundance of the harvest.
Vadai and Payasam: Savory vadai (fried lentil cakes) and sweet payasam (rice pudding) accompany the Pongal dish, adding variety to the feast.
Sakkarai Pongal: This popular version of the dish, enriched with ghee, is a favorite among celebrants in Tamil Nadu.