How many days is Pongal?

Four days, starting around 14 January. Bhogi is the bonfire day when old things are burned. Thai Pongal is the main one, when rice and milk are boiled in a new pot until they boil over. That overflow is the point of the festival. Mattu Pongal is for the cattle, and Kaanum Pongal is for visiting family.

Bhogi Pandigai

Tamil

भोगी पंडिगई · ભોગી પંડિગઈ

Next date

13 January 2027

Wednesday · Shukla Panchami

Tithi begins11:29 AM · 12 Jan

Tithi ends01:02 PM

Full panchang for this day

About

First day of Pongal celebrations. Old items are burnt in a bonfire (Bhogi Mantalu) to welcome the new.

Falls on: Thai 1, Makar Sankranti, ~14 January, over four days

What it is

Tamil Nadu's principal harvest festival, and a four-day sequence:

Bhogi Pandigai (day 1), old possessions burned in a bonfire at dawn; houses cleaned and repainted. A clearing-out.
Thai Pongal (day 2), the main day. Rice and milk boiled in a new pot outdoors until it boils over, at which point everyone shouts "Pongalo Pongal!" The overflow is the whole point: abundance spilling.
Mattu Pongal (day 3), for the cattle. Horns painted, garlands, bells; jallikattu in some districts.
Kaanum Pongal (day 4), family visiting and outings.

Food

Sakkarai pongal (sweet) and ven pongal (savoury), sugarcane, vadai, payasam.

Common questions

How many days is Pongal?: Four days, starting around 14 January. Bhogi is the bonfire day when old things are burned. Thai Pongal is the main one, when rice and milk are boiled in a new pot until they boil over. That overflow is the point of the festival. Mattu Pongal is for the cattle, and Kaanum Pongal is for visiting family.

2026

Jan13TueTuesdayKrishna DashamiTithi begins12:43 PM · 12 JanTithi ends03:18 PM

2027

Jan13WedWednesdayNextShukla PanchamiTithi begins11:29 AM · 12 JanTithi ends01:02 PM