About Pongal (Thai Pongal)
Pongal, also known as Thai Pongal, is a four-day harvest festival celebrated mainly by Tamils in India, Sri Lanka and around the world. It is a joyous thanksgiving to the Sun god Surya for a plentiful harvest, along with nature, the rains and the cattle that support farming life. The festival marks the start of the Tamil month of Thai, traditionally considered an auspicious time for new beginnings.
The celebration takes its name from the Pongal dish, freshly harvested rice cooked with milk and jaggery in a pot until it boils over, an overflow welcomed as a sign of abundance and prosperity. The four days honour different themes, including Bhogi, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal dedicated to cattle, and Kaanum Pongal. Homes are cleaned, decorated with kolam patterns, and families share sweet dishes and visit one another.
Pongal is largely a solar festival and falls around mid-January each year, usually beginning on or near the 14th or 15th. Because it tracks the sun rather than the moon, its date stays remarkably steady from year to year, unlike many lunar festivals. The live countdown above tracks the next Pongal for you. You are welcome to add this countdown to your own page and share the celebration with others.
Upcoming dates
| 2027 | Friday, January 15, 2027next |
| 2028 | Friday, January 14, 2028 |
FAQ
When is Pongal this year and what date does it fall on?
Pongal is celebrated around mid-January each year, with Thai Pongal usually on or near the 14th or 15th. As a solar festival its date is very stable, but check the live countdown above for the next exact date.
Why is Pongal celebrated?
Pongal is a harvest festival that gives thanks to the Sun god Surya, as well as to nature and cattle, for a successful harvest. It also marks the beginning of the auspicious Tamil month of Thai.
How is Pongal celebrated?
Families cook the Pongal dish until it boils over as a symbol of abundance, decorate their homes with kolam designs, and honour cattle on Mattu Pongal. The four-day festival includes feasting, prayers and visiting relatives.
What is the Pongal dish?
The Pongal dish is made from freshly harvested rice cooked with milk and jaggery in a pot until it overflows. The overflowing is seen as a sign of prosperity and gives the festival its name.