This festival is closely linked to the harvest season celebrated with great reverence and joy. The four-day celebration of the harvest season is associated with the winter solstice, which means the shortest day and longest night of the year. The festival promotes unity, gratitude, and joy in families and communities.
Pongal dates back over a thousand years to the Sangam Age in Tamil history. It was originally a celebration honouring the Sun God (Surya) and other deities for their blessings on agricultural abundance.
During the occasion, families gather to commemorate their shared agricultural roots, with homes decked with rangoli.
Pongal 2025: Date and Muhurat
Pongal is a four-day-long celebration that starts with Bhogi Pandigai and culminates with Kaanum Pongal. This year, the Bhogi Pandigai will be observed on January 13, followed by Thai Pongal on January 14, which is also known as Makar Sankranti.
On January 15, Mattu Pongal will be observed and the final day, Kaanum Pongal, will be on January 16. The Bhogi Sankranti moment is from 9:03 AM on January 14.
Pongal 2025: Rituals
During Bhogi Pandigai, people clean their homes and decorate them with flowers and lights. People believe that removing old and broken items from the home will mark the start of a new chapter.
On the following day, Surya Pongal, devotees worship the Sun God. On this auspicious day, people decorate their homes with Pongal Kolam, traditional decorations made of rice flour and red clay.
Devotees worship cattle and seek blessings for a bountiful harvest on Mattu Pongal. On this day, cows are decorated with multicoloured beads, bells, turmeric water and flower garlands.
On Kaanum Pongal, the last and final day, people exchange gifts and prepare a feast for their loved ones.
(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)
