Pongal is a major Hindu festival that is celebrated in the fourteenth day of January every year. It is a major festival that is celebrated with great religious fervor in the state of Tamil Nadu. For four long days, the celebration of Pongal takes place and the most important day of Pongal is known as Thai Pongal. Thai Pongal which is the second day of the four days festivity is also celebrated as Sankranti. The same day is observed as Makar Sankranti in North Indian states when people take holy dip in river Ganges. Mother Nature is worshiped on this day and people thank nature for bestowing food grain on them.This harvest festival has been named after the Tamil word, meaning “to boil”.

Being one of the major Festivals of India, Pongal is celebrated all over India. At different regions, it is known by different names. It is known as Lohri in Punjab, Makar Sankranti in the North Indian states, Hadaga in Maharashtra, Bihu in Assam, Bhogi, Kanumu, Thai Pongal and Poki festival. Grand feasts are arranged on this day and people light bon fire to make this festival a magnificent occasion.

The day before Thai Pongal is known as Bogi Pandigai. On this day people clean their homes and light bonfire to discard unused items. In Punjab the same day is celebrated as Lohri by Sikh community.

Thai Pongal day is celebrated by boiling freshly harvested rice with fresh milk and jaggery in a new clay pot. While boiling the concoction, people let the milk spill over the pot as an auspicious sign of material abundance and prosperity. Later the concoction of rice, milk and jaggery, known as Pongal, is topped with brown sugar, Ghee, cashew nuts and raisins. Freshly cooked Pongal is first offered to the Sun God as a gratitude for good harvesting and later served on banana leaves to the people present in the home for the ceremony. Traditionally Pongal is cooked at sunrise at an open place.

Thai Pongal is the first day of Thai month according to Tamil Solar Calendar. Thai is the tenth solar month in Tamil Calendar. Thai Masam is known as Makar in other Hindu calendars.

Next day of Thai Pongal is known as Mattu Pongal. Cattles are decorated and worshipped on Mattu Pongal day. Jallikattu is held in Madurai, Tiruchirapalli and Tanjavur as a part of Pongal celebrations on Mattu Pongal day. Bundles of money are tied to the horns of ferocious bulls which the villagers try to retrieve. Everyone joins in the community meal, at which the food is made of the freshly harvested grain. This day is named and celebrated as Tamizhar Tirunal in a fitting manner throughout Tamil Nadu.

The last and final day of Pongal is known as Kaanum Pongal. It is time for family reunions in Tamil Nadu.