The pongal festival is coming nearer with the passing of each day. It is a traditional festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu, a southern state in India. The festival is celebrated over a period of 4 days. It connects people to their agricultural roots. People of the state dedicate the festival to Surya, the Sun God, for providing them with energy for agriculture. They also worship Indra for the rains and abundant harvest. People also worship Lord Ganesha and Goddess Parvati during Pongal. Moreover, they honour cows and bulls for ploughing their fields and giving them milk.
The pongal festival is marked by the lighting of bonfires. Drawing of kolams, adorning of cattle, and preparation of culinary delights are other related activities. The festival honours values like gratitude, renewal, new beginnings, prosperity, and abundance. It also honours values like a sense of community, building family bonds, and maintaining harmony with nature.
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What is Pongal Festival?
The Pongal festival is a traditional and cultural festival of Tamil Nadu. People of the state celebrate it with a lot of enthusiasm and religious fervour. It marks the end of the winter season and the beginning of the sun’s journey in a northward direction. Uttarayan is another name for this journey of the sun. This is the time of the beginning of the warmth of the summer months.
The meaning of “Pongal" means "to boil over" or "overflow" in the Tamil language. It symbolizes abundance and prosperity. Farmers celebrate the fruits of their labour on this occasion.
The festivities of the festival revolve around agriculture. It honors all the things that contribute to a bountiful harvest. People dedicate this festival to Surya, the Sun God. He provides the energy needed for agriculture.
People also express their gratitude to other deities for the year’s harvest. These include Indra, Goddess Parvati, and Ganesha. People not only worship deities in their homes but also visit famous temples to offer prayers to them. Some of these temples are Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, Thanjavur Brihadeeswarar Temple, and Chidambaram Nataraja Temple. Moreover, people thank nature and cattle for the harvest.
When is the Pongal Festival 2026?
The festivities associated with the Pongal festival take place during a period of 4 days. The festival will begin on 14th January 2026 on Wednesday and culminate on 17 January 2026 on Saturday.
These activities will take place during the Pongal Festival.
- Bhogi Pongal on 14 January, 2026, on Wednesday
- Thai Pongal on 15 January 2026, on Thursday
- Mattu Pongal on 16 January 2026 on Friday
- Kaanum Pongal on 17 January 2026 Saturday
Activities and Festivities During Bhogi Pongal
The first day of the 4-day Pongal festival is associated with Bhogi Pongal. It is dedicated to Lord Indra, the God of rain and clouds. It centers around clearing out the old. Bhogi Pongal emphasizes on purification and renewal. Families get rid of old and unused items. This symbolizes letting go the past grievances and welcoming a new start.
People lit bonfires in front of their homes in the early morning. Discarded items fuel these fires. They represent burning away of negativity. The warmth of the fire on a cool morning, coupled with the symbolic act of letting go, creates a sense of community and hope. People clean and decorate homes for the celebration ahead.
Activities & Festivities During Thai Pongal
This is the second day of the festival, when the main event is performed. It coincides with Makar Sankranti. Thai Pongal is dedicated to Surya, the Sun God, for providing the necessary energy for agriculture. The day begins early when people start drawing intricate kolams (rangoli) at the entrance of their homes by using flour. Kolams are used for welcoming deities and guests.
The Pongal dish is cooked on this day. It is prepared in an earthen pot with freshly harvested rice, milk, and jaggery as ingredients. The pot is usually decorated with turmeric leaves and ginger. When the mixture boils and overflows, family members say “Pongalo Pongal.” These words mean Happy Pongal. This is the way people of Tamil Nadu extend Happy Pongal Festival wishes to their near and dear ones.
The overflowing of the dish symbolizes abundance and prosperity in the coming year. Sakkarai Pongal is first offered to Surya. Then, it is shared among friends and family members.
Activities and Festivities During Mattu Pongal
Mattu Pongal is held on the third day of the Pongal festival. It revolves around honouring the cattle. They are the real heroes of the farm. Cows and bulls play a vital role in agriculture. They help farmers plow the fields and provide milk to them. The cattle are pampered on this day.
Cows and bulls are bathed thoroughly. Their horns are painted in bright colours. They are decorated with flower garlands. Tinkling bells and multi-colored beads are also tied to them. This is also the time to prepare a special dish and offer it to cattle as a sign of gratitude.
In some villages of Tamil Nadu, Mattu Pongal rituals include holding events like Jallikattu. It is a traditional bull-taming sport that showcases the bravery of local youth and bulls.
A special pooja is also offered to various deities on this day to protect the cattle and ensure prosperity. The deities also include Lord Ganesha and Goddess Parvati.
If you want to buy artistic and traditional deity idols and paintings for the altar and decorations at your home during Pongal celebrations, Cottage9 is the best place.
Activities and Festivities During Kaanum Pongal
The fourth and final day of the celebration is Kaanum Pongal. It revolves around family and fun. Kaanum means to see or to visit. The focus of this day is on strengthening family bonds and community ties. Younger members in a family pay respect to the elders and get blessings from them.
Families pack lunches before going to picnics on this day. The lunches include leftover Pongal and other delicacies. They go to popular spots like beaches, parks, and riverbanks. Here, they extend heartfelt Pongal Festival Wishes to each other. Moreover, they socialize and participate in traditional games. They enjoy the company of loved ones in this way. The activities associated with Kaanum Pongal conclude this 4-day festival. They help spread togetherness and joys and make the social fabric of the community stronger.
Conclusion
Pongal celebrations primarily revolve around agriculture. They also involve worshipping and expressing thanks to deities for their contribution to a bountiful harvest. If you are looking forward to a rich spiritual and cultural experience of this Pongal, then you can get traditional images and idols of various deities from Cottage9. Pongal celebrations also center around expressing gratitude to nature and cattle for their significant role in farming and an abundant harvest. Marking the end of cold winter months and the beginning of warm summer months, the Pongal festival is an inherent part of the rich culture, heritage, and social life of people in the cities and villages of Tamil Nadu.
