Pongal 2025 Date: When is Thai Pongal this year?

Pongal 2025 Date: When is Thai Pongal this year?

Thai Pongal, one of the most significant festivals in Tamil Nadu, will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 14, 2025. The Thai Pongal Sankranti Moment is set to occur at 09:03 AM, marking the beginning of the festivities. Interestingly, the same day is observed as Makar Sankranti in several North Indian states, where people take holy dips in sacred rivers like the Ganges.

Pongal 2025: Date and Time 

Pongal is a four-day-long Hindu festival dedicated to thanking nature for a bountiful harvest. Among these days, Thai Pongal, celebrated on the second day, holds the most significance. It is also referred to as Sankranti, symbolising the Sun’s transition into the zodiac of Capricorn (Makar Rashi).

On Thai Pongal day, fresh rice from the harvest is cooked with milk and jaggery in a newly acquired clay pot. As the concoction boils, the milk is intentionally allowed to spill over—a gesture considered auspicious, representing abundance and prosperity. This dish, called Pongal, is then garnished with ghee, cashew nuts, raisins, and brown sugar.

Traditionally, this sweet offering is prepared at sunrise in an open space and first presented to the Sun God as a token of gratitude for a successful harvest. Following the ceremonial offering, the dish is served to family members and guests on banana leaves, celebrating togetherness and abundance.

Pongal 2025: The Four Days of Pongal Festivities

1. Bogi Pandigai (Day 1): The first day of Pongal, Bogi Pandigai, is marked by cleaning homes and discarding old or unused items. This ritual is symbolised by lighting a bonfire, a gesture signifying the removal of negativity. On the same day in Punjab, the Sikh community celebrates Lohri with similar traditions.
2. Thai Pongal (Day 2): The second day, Thai Pongal, is the main festival. It signifies the first day of the Thai Masam (month of Thai) in the Tamil Solar Calendar and aligns with the Makar Sankranti celebrations across India. This day revolves around the preparation of the festive dish Pongal and offering prayers to the Sun God.
3. Mattu Pongal (Day 3): The third day, Mattu Pongal, is dedicated to honouring and worshipping cattle. As an essential part of agricultural life, cows and bulls are decorated with colourful ornaments and revered for their contribution to farming and daily life.
4. Kaanum Pongal (Day 4): The final day of the festivities, Kaanum Pongal, is reserved for family reunions and leisure activities. It is a time when families come together, exchange gifts, and celebrate their bonds. Pongal is more than just a harvest festival; it represents gratitude, unity, and prosperity. It coincides with Makar Sankranti, a festival celebrated across India with regional variations. For instance, while Tamil Nadu celebrates Pongal, the neighbouring states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana mark it as Pedda Panduga, while in Gujarat, it is observed as Uttarayan, and in Punjab, as Lohri.

Make sure to embrace the spirit of Pongal this year by cherishing its values of gratitude, abundance, and unity!