Pongal

About This Festival

Pongal

Pongal is the major Tamil harvest festival, celebrated in Tamil Nadu and by Tamil communities around the world. It takes place in the Tamil month of Thai, usually around 14–17 January. Pongal is especially important because it is both a harvest celebration and a thanksgiving festival — people express gratitude to the Sun, nature, cattle, farmers and the land for providing food. The Tamil word "Pongal" means "to boil over" or "overflow," and the name comes from the traditional preparation of sweet rice in a new clay pot. When the milk and rice boil and overflow, people joyfully say "Pongalo Pongal!" — the overflowing pot symbolising abundance, prosperity and a plentiful harvest. The festival traditionally lasts four days, each with its own meaning. Bhogi is associated with cleaning and renewal. Thai Pongal is thanksgiving to the Sun and nature. Mattu Pongal honours cattle, which traditionally played an essential role in agriculture. Kannum Pongal is a day for visiting relatives and spending time with family and friends. Visitors will see beautiful Kolam (geometric patterns) at the entrances of houses, decorated cattle, fresh sugarcane and traditional Pongal pots. Pongal is a thanksgiving ceremony for the entire journey from sunlight and soil to the food on our table.

Where to Celebrate

Best Locations

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Journeys That Include This Festival

13 Days

October – March

Coromandel to Coast: Temples, Backwaters & Spice Trails

Chennai · Kanchipuram · Mahabalipuram · Pondicherry · Tanjore · Trichy · Madurai · Periyar · Kumarakom · Alleppey · Kochi

• Fort St. George, Fort Museum, St. Thome Cathedral and Kapaleeshwarar Temple — Chennai
• Kailasanatha Temple, Ekambaranatha Temple and Kamakshi Amman Temple — Kanchipuram (7 holy Hindu cities)
• Shore Temple, Arjuna's Penance and Panch Rathas — Mahabalipuram (UNESCO)

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17 Days

October – March

The South Indian Tapestry: From Mumbai's Gateway to Karnataka's Palaces

Mumbai · Chennai · Kanchipuram · Mahabalipuram · Pondicherry · Tanjore · Trichy · Madurai · Periyar · Kumarakom · Kochi · Ooty · Mysore · Bangalore

• Gateway of India, Elephanta Caves (UNESCO) and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus — Mumbai
• Fort St. George, San Thome Cathedral, Bronze Museum and Kapaleswarar Temple — Chennai
• Kailasanatha Temple, Ekambaranatha Temple and Kamakshi Amman Temple — Kanchipuram

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