Pongal 2027

Pongal is the much-loved harvest festival of Tamil Nadu, celebrated over four days. Its name comes from the boiling over of the new rice cooked with milk and jaggery: as the pot overflows, the family calls out "Pongalo Pongal!", wishing the same abundance for the year ahead. Thai Pongal marks the first day of the Tamil month of Thai, the day the Sun enters Makara rashi. It takes place over the four days around the Sun's entry into Makara rashi, from Bhogi on the day before to Kaanum Pongal two days after.

Puja Vidhi

Who Celebrates This Festival?

• Tamil Families Everywhere: Families in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, and Tamil households across India and abroad, celebrate Pongal as their foremost harvest festival.
• Farming Families: Farmers give thanks to Surya Dev, the earth, and their cattle for the year's harvest, and offer the first rice of the new crop.
• Households Seeking Prosperity: Many families observe it for abundance in the year ahead, as the overflowing Pongal pot is a sign of plenty in the home.

When Should This Be Performed?

• Day 1, Bhogi: On the day before Thai Pongal, old things are set aside, the house is cleaned, and a kolam is drawn at the entrance in the morning.
• Day 2, Thai Pongal: The Pongal is cooked in the open courtyard in the morning, facing the rising Sun, and offered to Surya Dev. Check the sunrise time for your city on this page.
• Day 3, Mattu Pongal: The cattle are bathed, decorated, and worshipped in the morning.
• Day 4, Kaanum Pongal: The family visits relatives and friends and goes on outings during the day.

The Katha (Story of Nandi and Mattu Pongal)

Long ago, Lord Shiva wished to send a message to the people of the earth. He called his bull, Nandi (Basava), and told him: "Go to the earth and tell the people that they should have an oil bath every day, and eat only once a month."

Nandi went down to the earth, but in his haste he mixed up the words of the Lord. He told the people that they should have an oil bath once a month, and eat every day. When Lord Shiva learnt of this, he said to Nandi: "Since you have told the people to eat every day, they will need much more grain than before. You shall stay on the earth and help them plough their fields."

From that day, Nandi and the bulls born after him have laboured beside farmers in the fields, helping them grow the food they eat every day. Since that day, on Mattu Pongal, farming families bathe and decorate their cattle, paint their horns, garland them, and feed them the first Pongal, thanking them for their labour through the year.

Samagri List (Items Needed)

Gather these items before starting the Pongal puja:

• Image / Idol: A picture of Surya Dev, and a small idol or picture of Lord Ganesha
• Tilak & Sacred Powder: Turmeric, Kumkum, Chandan (sandalwood paste), and Akshat (unbroken rice grains)
• Lamps & Incense: A brass or clay Diya with Ghee and cotton wick, and incense sticks and camphor
• Pongal Pot: A new clay or brass pot, with fresh turmeric and ginger plants tied around its neck
• Food Offerings (Naivedya): New rice, milk, jaggery, moong dal, ghee, cashews, raisins, and cardamom for Sakkarai Pongal, with bananas, coconut, and sugarcane
• Decoration and Cattle Items: Rice flour for kolam, mango leaves, garlands, and colours and bells for the cattle

Puja Vidhi (Step-by-Step Guide)

Follow these step-by-step instructions carefully to perform the ritual correctly:

Step 1: Bhogi (Day 1)

1. Wake up early, clean the house thoroughly, and set aside old and unused things.
2. Draw a kolam at the entrance with rice flour and decorate the door with mango leaves.
3. Take a small amount of water in your right palm and take a Sankalp (solemn vow): "O Surya Dev, over these days of Pongal we thank you, the earth, and our cattle for the harvest. Bless our home with abundance, health, and happiness."

Step 2: Preparing for Thai Pongal (Day 2, Morning)

1. Bathe before sunrise and wear new or clean, traditional clothes.
2. Set up a stove in the open courtyard facing east, and tie the turmeric and ginger plants around the new pot.

Step 3: Cooking the Pongal

1. Cook the new rice in milk in the pot, in the light of the rising Sun.
2. When the milk boils over, the whole family calls out "Pongalo Pongal!" together.
3. Add the jaggery, moong dal, ghee, cashews, raisins, and cardamom to make Sakkarai Pongal.

Step 4: Offering to Surya Dev

1. Place the Pongal, sugarcane, bananas, and coconut on a banana leaf, facing the Sun.
2. Light the Ghee Diya and incense, apply turmeric, Kumkum, and Akshat, and offer flowers.
3. Offer the Pongal to Surya Dev as Naivedya and perform the aarti with camphor.

Step 5: Mattu Pongal (Day 3)

1. Bathe the cattle, paint their horns, and decorate them with garlands and bells.
2. Apply turmeric and Kumkum on their foreheads, perform aarti, and feed them Pongal, bananas, and sugarcane.

Step 6: Kaanum Pongal, Seeking Blessings and Sharing Prasad (Day 4)

1. Touch the feet of the elders in your family to seek their blessings (Charan Sparsh), and visit relatives and friends.
2. Give donations (Daan) of rice, jaggery, and clothes to the needy.
3. Distribute the Pongal as prasad and share the festive meal with family and neighbours.