Pongal (பொங்கல்)
Tamil Harvest Festival — Thai 1
Pongal Dates in 2026
→ All 2026 festivalsAbout Pongal
Pongal is the most important Tamil harvest festival, celebrated over four days in the Tamil month of Thai (January). It is a thanksgiving to the Sun god, cattle, and nature for a bountiful harvest.
Significance
Pongal marks the end of the winter solstice and the beginning of Uttarayan — the Sun's northward journey. It is the Tamil equivalent of Makar Sankranti, celebrated as a state holiday across Tamil Nadu and by Tamils worldwide.
How the Date is Calculated
Pongal falls on Thai 1 — the first day of the Tamil solar month of Thai — which corresponds to January 14 or 15 each year when the Sun enters Capricorn (Makara Sankramana).
How It is Celebrated
- Bhogi Pongal (Thai 0 — eve)
- Thai Pongal / Surya Pongal (Thai 1)
- Mattu Pongal — cattle festival (Thai 2)
- Kanum Pongal — family visits (Thai 3)
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Pongal celebrated?
Pongal is celebrated on Thai 1 — the first day of the Tamil month of Thai. It usually falls on January 14 or 15 when the Sun enters Capricorn (Makara Rasi).
Why is Pongal important in Tamil culture?
Pongal is the most important Tamil festival — a four-day harvest festival giving thanks to the Sun, rain, farm animals, and nature. It is a state holiday in Tamil Nadu and celebrated by Tamils worldwide.
What is the significance of cooking Pongal rice?
The ritual cooking of sweet rice (sakkarai pongal) in a clay pot until it overflows is a symbolic act of abundance — "pongal" means "to boil over," representing prosperity spilling forth.