Pongal 2027
Pongal 2027 falls on January 14 (Thu) – 17 (Sun), 2027. Pongal is the four-day Tamil harvest festival at the start of the month of Thai — Bhogi, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal and Kaanum Pongal — when new rice is boiled with milk and jaggery until it overflows, as thanks to the Sun and the cattle.
Key dates 2027: Bhogi 14 Jan (Thu) · Thai Pongal 15 Jan (Fri) · Mattu Pongal 16 Jan (Sat) · Kaanum Pongal 17 Jan (Sun)
Find Pongal near you
See Pongal 2027 events, pandals and celebrations on the map, with timings and directions.
Find Pongal eventsWhat is Pongal?
Pongal is the four-day harvest festival of Tamil Nadu and of Tamil communities around the world. It begins on the last day of the Tamil month of Margazhi and continues into the first days of Thai, when the Sun enters Makara (Capricorn) — the same moment celebrated elsewhere in India as Makar Sankranti. "Pongal" means "to boil over", and the festival's heart is a pot of new rice boiled with milk and jaggery until it overflows, a sign of abundance for the year ahead. A Tamil saying goes "Thai pirandhal vazhi pirakkum" — when Thai is born, a way opens.
The four days of Pongal
Bhogi
On Bhogi, the day before Thai, homes are cleaned and old, unwanted things are burned in a bonfire at dawn, making way for the new. Houses are decorated with kolams and fresh mango leaves.
Thai Pongal
The main day honours Surya, the Sun. In the morning, families cook Pongal in a new clay or brass pot decorated with turmeric and ginger plants, outdoors facing the Sun. When the milk boils over, everyone calls out "Pongalo Pongal!". Sweet sakkarai pongal and savoury ven pongal are offered to the Sun with sugarcane, bananas and coconut, then shared.
Mattu Pongal
The third day thanks the cattle that help with farming. Cows and bullocks are bathed, their horns painted and decorated with bells and garlands, and they are fed Pongal. In parts of Tamil Nadu this is also the day of Jallikattu, the traditional bull-taming sport.
Kaanum Pongal
The last day is for family and outings: people visit relatives, go to rivers, beaches and parks, and younger members seek the blessings of elders. Some families keep a ritual of placing food on turmeric leaves for crows and birds, praying for their brothers' welfare.
Pongal abroad
Tamil communities in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, the UK, Canada and Australia celebrate Thai Pongal at home and in temples, often with a community Pongal-cooking event in a temple courtyard. In Singapore's Little India and Malaysia's Indian neighbourhoods, the festival brings street decorations and bazaars.
Pongal dates by year
| Year | Dates |
|---|---|
| 2027 | January 14 (Thu) – 17 (Sun), 2027 |
| 2026 | January 13 (Tue) – 16 (Fri), 2026 |
Pongal 2027 — frequently asked questions
What is Pongal?
Pongal is the four-day Tamil harvest festival at the start of the month of Thai — Bhogi, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal and Kaanum Pongal — when new rice is boiled with milk and jaggery until it overflows, as thanks to the Sun and the cattle.
When is Pongal 2027?
Pongal 2027 falls on January 14 (Thu) – 17 (Sun), 2027.
Where can I find Pongal celebrations near me?
Use the MyPujaWorld events map to find Pongal 2027 events, pandals and ghats near you, with timings, directions and organiser updates.
Which communities celebrate Pongal?
Pongal is especially important to Tamil communities, and is celebrated by Hindu families around the world.