Pongal 2025: From Dates To Significance, All You Need To Know About This 4-Day Harvest Festival Of Tamil Nadu

The harvest festival of Makar Sankranti is celebrated across India in many ways. In Tamil Nadu, it’s celebrated as Pongal, a 4-day festival to express gratitude to the Sun God, Surya, Mother Nature and the cattle for blessing us with abundant harvest. A time to usher in prosperity and abundance, Pongal, in Tamil means “to boil over.” A name synonymous with the boiling of Pongal— a rice, milk and sugar preparation which is a festive essential.

Pongal: A Harvest Festival To Welcome Abundance

Pongal is celebrated every January. This year, the four-day festival begins on Tuesday, January 14, and ends on Friday, January 17. The cherished harvest festival dates back over 1000 years, as per Tamil history. It’s celebrated with great enthusiasm in Tamil Nadu and by Tamil communities across the globe. The festival extends gratitude to the Sun God, the farming community, cattle and the Earth for the bountiful harvest. Pongal is celebrated across four days with each day having its significance.

Bhogi Pongal (January 14, 2025)

Pongal marks the beginning of the auspicious Tamil month, Thai, as the Sun transitions into the zodiac sign of Capricorn. The first day of the festival, Bhogi Pongal focuses on cleansing and discarding the old to make place for the new. Tamilians wake up early in the morning and clean their homes. They donate or discard old old or unused items in their home. Some items are even burnt in bonfires symbolising a renewal.

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Thai Pongal (January 15, 2025)

The second and most significant day is Thai Pongal or Surya Pongal. On this day, the Sun God is honoured. Homes are decorated with fresh flowers. Decorative patterns or kollam is drawn on the entrance of homes and prayer areas with rice flour, which is later eaten by insects.

Families cook a special dish called Pongal with newly harvested rice, milk and sugar or jaggery. As the milk boils freely over the pot, everyone happily shouts “Pongalo Pongal,” to announce the arrival of the festival. The overflowing of milk symbolises the overflow of prosperity into one’s life. The sweet is offered to the Sun God and other deities first and is then distributed as prasad.

Another dish called Ven Pongal or Ghee Pongal, a savoury counterpart of the dish is prepared with rice, ghee, black pepper, spices and lentils. The festive meal includes payasam, coconut rice, tamarind rice, vadai and more.

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Mattu Pongal (January 16, 2025)

The third day, Mattu Pongal is dedicated to cattle, an integral part of agriculture. Cattle help in growing and harvesting crops in India. So, cows and bulls are bathed, their horns painted and necks adorned with vibrant garlands and bells. The cattle are fed with treats to celebrate their role in agriculture.

Kanum Pongal (January 17, 2025)

The last day of the festival, Kanum Pongal is all about relaxing and bonding with one’s family. People wear traditional attire and visit their relatives. They enjoy cultural, music, and dance festivals together often organised at temples. Rituals are performed for well-being and prosperity. Bharatnatyam, folk dance, music and kolam competitions are held for community spirit.

So, how are you celebrating the harvest festival this year?

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