Pongal 2026: Tamil Nadu celebrates harvest festival with tradition, joy & family reunions
Pongal festival, dedicated to thanking the Sun God, nature, and the farming community, saw families clad in new clothes, drawing vibrant kolams (rangoli) at their doorsteps, and cooking the sweet Pongal dish with freshly harvested rice, jaggery, and milk.
Chennai: The Tamil harvest festival of Thai Pongal is being celebrated with great fervor and traditional splendor across Tamil Nadu today, January 15, marking the first day of the Tamil month of Thai. From the crack of dawn, homes resonated with the joyous chants of "Pongalo Pongal" as milk boiled over in decorated clay pots, symbolizing prosperity and abundance.
The festival, dedicated to thanking the Sun God, nature, and the farming community, saw families clad in new clothes, drawing vibrant kolams (rangoli) at their doorsteps, and cooking the sweet Pongal dish with freshly harvested rice, jaggery, and milk. For those observing rituals, the auspicious cooking times were between 7:45 AM and 8:45 AM and 10:35 AM to 11:30 AM. Devotees offering Surya Pongal completed their offerings before s
Pongal 2026: A Festival of Homecoming
In the days leading up to Pongal, lakhs of people from cities like Chennai, Bengaluru, and Coimbatore returned to their hometowns via special buses and trains arranged by the Tamil Nadu government and Southern Railway. The state had declared a five-day holiday for schools and colleges from January 14 to 18, allowing families to reunite and celebrate together.
The Four-Day Celebration
Pongal festivities began yesterday with Bhogi, a day of discarding the old and welcoming the new. Tomorrow, January 16, will be observed as Mattu Pongal, dedicated to cattle, followed by Kaanum Pongal on January 17, a day for family outings and social visits.
Global Celebrations
Beyond Tamil Nadu, the Tamil diaspora worldwide is celebrating the festival with equal enthusiasm, upholding customs and cooking traditional Pongal in their homes.
Political and Social Wishes
Leaders across the political spectrum have extended warm Pongal greetings, wishing prosperity and well-being for all. The celebrations this year carry a special resonance, coming after a season of satisfactory harvests and amidst ongoing cultural conversations about Tamil identity and tradition.
With homes adorned, hearths lit, and hearts full, Tamil Nadu is immersed in the spirit of gratitude, joy, and togetherness that defines this cherished harvest festival.