Pongal 2026 is celebrated from Wednesday, January 14, to Saturday, January 17, 2026 across Tamil Nadu and the global Tamil diaspora. The Pongal Tamil Nadu festival is a four-day harvest celebration dedicated to Surya (Sun God), Indhra, cattle and the natural abundance of the land, marking the beginning of the Tamil month of Thai and the start of Uttarayan, the sun's auspicious northward journey. The highlight is Thai Pongal on January 14, when fresh-harvest rice is boiled in a brass pongal pot until it overflows, and the family shouts "Pongalo Pongal!". The 2026 Pongal is especially auspicious because it aligns with the Sankranti moment of 3:13 PM on January 14. For your home Pongal puja, browse our hand-cast brass Surya idols, brass Kamdhenu idols and brass kalash at aagambrass.com/catalog.php.
Pongal is one of the few Hindu festivals whose date is fixed by the solar cycle, which is why the four days of Bhogi, Thai, Mattu and Kaanum Pongal fall on the same Gregorian dates every year. The festival is celebrated with a unique combination of kolams (rice flour designs), sugarcane decorations, brass and clay Pongal pots, the sakkarai pongal dish and the famous valaikappu ritual. For related Tamil festival content, explore the Deshna Wholesale blog.
Pongal 2026 Dates and Sankranti Moment
The four days of Pongal 2026 follow the Tamil solar calendar, beginning on the last day of the Margazhi month and ending on the third day of Thai. According to the Drik Panchang and the Tamil Nadu government holiday calendar, the dates are:
- Bhogi Pongal – Wednesday, January 14, 2026 (in some calendars; others place Bhogi on January 13)
- Thai Pongal / Surya Pongal – Thursday, January 15, 2026 (main day)
- Mattu Pongal – Friday, January 16, 2026
- Kaanum Pongal / Thiruvalluvar Day – Saturday, January 17, 2026
The Thai Pongal Sankranti Moment in 2026 occurs on January 14 at 3:13 PM, marking the sun's entry into the zodiac sign of Makara (Capricorn). Some families celebrate Thai Pongal on January 14 itself (the day of the Sankranti), while others follow the Tamil Nadu government's official holiday and celebrate on January 15. The Brahma Muhurat on January 15 is from 5:27 AM to 6:21 AM, an ideal time for the Surya Puja and the cooking of the pongal dish.
Day 1: Bhogi Pongal and the Bonfire of Renewal
Bhogi Pongal is the festival's day of renewal, falling on the last day of the Margazhi month. Old clothes, broken pots and unused items are gathered in the courtyard and burnt in a Bhogi bonfire, symbolising the destruction of negativity and the welcoming of new beginnings. The day is also marked by the painting of fresh kolams at the entrance of every home, the oiling and bathing of all family members, and the lighting of new brass diyas at the doorway.
Bhogi is also the day when the farmer's tools, the bullock cart, the plough and the brass vessels of the household are washed, painted with turmeric and worshipped. In many Tamil households, the Indra Puja is performed on Bhogi, invoking the rain god to bless the new sowing season with adequate rainfall. Children dress in new clothes, and families gather for a feast of ven pongal (savoury rice and lentil dish), sakkarai pongal (sweet rice pudding) and payasam.
Day 2: Thai Pongal — The Boiling of the New Rice
Thai Pongal is the main day of the festival, dedicated to Surya, the Sun God. The ritual of boiling the new rice in a brass or clay pot called the Pongal Paanai is performed outdoors in the front yard, with the pot facing east towards the rising sun. The pot is decorated with turmeric, kumkum and a fresh turmeric plant, and a fresh brass kalash is placed beside it. The rice is mixed with fresh milk, jaggery and cardamom, and the family chants "Pongalo Pongal!" the moment the milk boils over the brim of the pot.
The overflowing of the pot is considered a sign of prosperity and abundance for the coming year, and the family shouts with joy. The sakkarai pongal dish is then offered to Surya, Indra, Agni, Vishnu, Shiva, Ganesh, the family deity, the cattle and the ancestors. A small portion is placed on a turmeric leaf and offered to the crows, considered the messengers of the ancestors in Tamil tradition. A portion is also given to the family cow and the household brass kalash.
Kolam Designs and Sugarcane Decoration
The Pongal kolam design festival Tamil tradition is at its colourful best during Pongal. Every Tamil home, shop and temple entrance is decorated with intricate kolams made of rice flour, often bordered by red kaavi (brick-red ochre). The most popular designs for Pongal include the sugarcane kolam, floral kolams, peacock kolams and the special Pongal pot kolam that welcomes the boiling of the rice.
Sugarcane is the second-most important Pongal decoration, and bundles of fresh sugarcane are tied at the entrance of homes and temples, symbolising sweetness and the harvest's abundance. Mango leaves, banana stalks and turmeric plants are also tied at the door, and brass lamps are lit in front of the brass Kamdhenu idol and the brass Surya idol at the home altar.
Day 3: Mattu Pongal — The Festival of Cattle
Mattu Pongal is dedicated to the cattle — cows, bullocks and oxen — that have played a vital role in the harvest. The cattle are bathed early in the morning, their horns are painted with bright colours, garlands of flowers and mango leaves are tied around their necks, and bells are hung. In rural Tamil Nadu, the cattle are then taken in procession through the village, with drums and nadaswaram music.
The third day of Pongal also includes the Jallikattu tradition in parts of Tamil Nadu, where bull-taming contests are held in honour of the cattle. The famous Alanganallur Jallikattu near Madurai is the most popular event, and thousands of bull tamers gather during Mattu Pongal week. The festival is also the day when the cattle are fed the sakkarai pongal as a special treat.
The Brass Kamdhenu idol holds special significance on Mattu Pongal, as Kamdhenu is the divine mother of all cows in Hindu mythology. Many Tamil households place a brass Kamdhenu at the entrance of the home on Mattu Pongal, light a brass diya, and offer sakkarai pongal, bananas and jaggery to the deity.
Day 4: Kaanum Pongal — Family Reunion Day
Kaanum Pongal is the fourth and final day of the festival, dedicated to family reunions, picnics and community gatherings. The word kaanum means "to see", and families visit relatives, friends and elders, exchanging sweets and gifts. Many Tamil families also visit the Marina Beach in Chennai, the Madurai Meenakshi Temple, the Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur or the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple on Kaanum Pongal day.
At the home altar, the brass Kamdhenu idol, brass Surya idol and brass Ganesh idol are worshipped with the leftover sakkarai pongal, and a portion is offered to birds and animals. The festival ends with the traditional arati and a family meal of the Pongal dishes. Kaanum Pongal is also celebrated as Thiruvalluvar Day in Tamil Nadu, honouring the great Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar, author of the Thirukkural.
Brass Pongal Pot, Brass Idols and Deshna Wholesale
The brass Pongal pot is the centrepiece of the Thai Pongal ritual, and a hand-hammered brass Pongal Paanai makes a beautiful family heirloom that can be reused for decades. Deshna Wholesale supplies a curated range of brass Pongal pots, brass Surya idols, brass Kamdhenu idols, brass Ganesh idols, brass diyas and brass kalash from the Khatauli brass belt of Uttar Pradesh. For wholesale, retail and export orders, browse the catalog at aagambrass.com/catalog.php or place a custom order with the Deshna Wholesale team. Wishing you a happy Pongal 2026 from the Deshna Wholesale family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When is Pongal 2026 celebrated in Tamil Nadu?
A: Pongal 2026 is celebrated from Wednesday, January 14, to Saturday, January 17, 2026. The four days are Bhogi Pongal, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal and Kaanum Pongal, with Thai Pongal on January 15 being the main day dedicated to the Sun God.
Q: What is the difference between Thai Pongal and Mattu Pongal?
A: Thai Pongal is the main harvest day dedicated to Surya, the Sun God, when fresh rice is boiled in a brass or clay Pongal pot and offered to the deity. Mattu Pongal is the third day dedicated to cattle — cows, bullocks and oxen — which are bathed, garlanded and worshipped for their role in farming.
Q: What is sakkarai pongal and how is it prepared?
A: Sakkarai pongal is a sweet rice pudding made with freshly harvested rice, jaggery, ghee, milk, cashews, raisins and cardamom. It is the main offering prepared on Thai Pongal day and shared with family, friends, cattle and the deities.
Q: Why are kolams drawn at the entrance during Pongal?
A: Kolams are rice flour designs drawn at the entrance of Tamil homes during Pongal to welcome prosperity, Surya and the goddess Lakshmi. The kolam absorbs negative energy, beautifies the entrance, and provides a festive threshold for the Pongal rituals.
Q: Which brass items are commonly used in Pongal puja?
A: The most common brass items used in Pongal puja are a brass Pongal pot (Pongal Paanai) for boiling the rice, a brass Surya idol for the Surya Puja, a brass Kamdhenu idol for Mattu Pongal, a brass Ganesh idol for the home altar, a brass kalash for the abhishekam, and brass diyas for the doorway.
Conclusion: Pongal 2026 from January 14 to 17 is Tamil Nadu's most beloved harvest festival, blending Surya Puja, cattle worship, kolam art, brass Pongal pots, sakkarai pongal and the joyful cry of "Pongalo Pongal!". Whether you celebrate in Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Singapore, Toronto or London, the festival is a beautiful reminder of the land, the sun, the cattle and the family that make the harvest possible.
For a brass Pongal pot, brass Kamdhenu idol, brass Surya idol or any custom brass puja item for Pongal 2026, visit aagambrass.com/catalog.php or place your order on WhatsApp +91 93586 85800. Pongalo Pongal from the Deshna Wholesale team.