OT Staff
Pongal is a four-day harvest festival that offers gratitude to the Sun God (Surya) for agricultural abundance and the end of winter. It is celebrated in Tamil Nadu and other South Indian states.
In 2025, Pongal begins on January 14, coinciding with Makar Sankranti. Both festivals mark the transition of the Sun from the zodiac of Sagittarius to Capricorn.
Pongal is deeply rooted in agricultural traditions and Tamil culture. It marks the beginning of the auspicious Tamil month, Thai. The festival fosters unity, gratitude and joy amongst families and communities.
The first day is called Bhogi. People discard old belongings and celebrate new possessions. Houses are cleaned, painted and decorated to give a festive look. Fruits of the harvest are collected along with flowers.
The second day is celebrated with family and friends. New clothes are worn, and the traditional Pongal dish is prepared in an earthen pot. The pot is typically decorated by tying a turmeric plant or flower garland.
On Mattu Pongal, cattle are celebrated and honoured for their role in farming. Cows are decorated with beads, bells, turmeric and garlands as a mark of respect for their contribution to agriculture.
The final day of Kaanum Pongal is for families to gather, exchange gifts and enjoy a festive feast together. Young people visit elders to pay respects and seek blessings, with elders giving gifts to the visiting children.
The Sakkarai Pongal dish is the highlight of the festival. It is prepared in a clay pot by boiling freshly harvested rice in cow milk and raw cane sugar. Additional ingredients such as coconut, ghee, cardamom, raisins and cashews are also used. There’s also Ven Pongal, the savoury variant of the festive dish. Instead of adding jaggery to rice, it is made with tadka.