The Tamil harvest festival Pongal traditionally lasts four days.
Pongal is celebrated mainly by Tamil communities, particularly in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in Tamil diaspora communities worldwide. It takes place in the Tamil month of Thai, usually in January, when the rice harvest is gathered and the sun’s northward journey is traditionally recognized.
The four days have distinct names and customs. Bhogi involves discarding old possessions; Thai Pongal centers on boiling newly harvested rice with milk and jaggery; Mattu Pongal honors cattle used in agriculture; and Kaanum Pongal is associated with family visits and social gatherings.
The festival’s name comes from the Tamil word pongu, meaning to boil over or prosper. During the central ritual, the overflowing pot symbolizes abundance. Pongal is sometimes described simply as a New Year celebration, but its strongest traditional identity is as a harvest and thanksgiving festival.