Pongal 2027पोंगल

Hindu date: Solar: the first day of the Tamil month Thai, when the Sun enters Makara.

Thai Pongal is the day the Tamil month of Thai begins, the same day as Makar Sankranti.

Dates are calculated for New Delhi. In other cities, and especially outside India, the tithi changes at a different local time, so a festival can fall a day earlier or later. Month names follow the Purnimanta calendar used in North India, where a month ends on Purnima. How we calculate

Pongal means "to boil over". On the main day families cook the new harvest's rice with milk and jaggery in a new pot, outdoors and facing the Sun, and call out "Pongalo Pongal!" as it overflows, a sign of abundance for the year.

The festival runs four days: Bhogi, when old things are discarded and a bonfire is lit; Thai Pongal, the main day for Surya; Mattu Pongal, when cattle are bathed, decorated and worshipped; and Kaanum Pongal, a day for visiting family and outings.