Thai Pongal (Pongal Festival)

Surya (Sun-god) — Makara Sankranti, beginning of Uttarayana

Shaiva Siddhanta

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Thai Pongal — the Tamil Shaiva harvest festival and Makara Sankranti, observed as a thanksgiving to Surya. The first day of the Tamil month Thai, marking the start of Uttarayana. The pongal pot is boiled at sunrise and the overflowing milk is greeted with the cry 'Pongalo Pongal!'.

Dates 2026–2027

January 14, 2026

Mantra

ॐ सूर्याय नमः । तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ।

Om Suryaya Namaha. Tat Savitur Varenyam Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat.

Salutations to Surya. We meditate upon the most excellent radiance of Savitr, who illumines our intellects.

How to recite

Thai Pongal is celebrated as the sun enters Makara rashi (Capricorn) and Uttarayana begins. The pongal pot (mann-paanai) is freshly bought, decorated with turmeric and ginger plants, and rice with milk is boiled outdoors at sunrise — when the milk overflows, the family calls 'Pongalo Pongal!' as a thanksgiving to the Sun. Sakkarai pongal is offered first to Surya, then to the family deity, then taken as prasad.

Benefits

Thai Pongal marks the most auspicious solar transit of the Tamil year — Makara Sankranti, the start of Uttarayana (the northward journey of the sun). Worship of Surya on this day is held in the Aditya Hridayam to grant health, vitality, prosperity and spiritual progress through the entire year.

✦ Special Note

Per the Thirukanthika Panchangam — Thai Pongal always falls on the day the sun enters Makara rashi (typically January 14th, very rarely January 15th). Dates per the Thirukanthika Panchangam (Tamil Shaiva almanac, Chennai reckoning).

Foods Allowed

Sakkarai pongal (sweet rice with jaggery, ghee, cashews, raisins) — the central naivedyamVen pongal (savoury rice and moong dal with pepper, ginger, ghee)Sundal, vada, payasam, kesari — Pongal-day prasadamSugarcane, turmeric whole plant, fresh fruits — offered to SuryaNew-crop rice and freshly milled jaggery

Foods to Avoid

Meat, fish, eggs, alcoholOnion and garlic in the naivedyamStale food — only freshly cooked Pongal is offered

Meal Idea

Boil the pongal pot at sunrise; offer sakkarai pongal (sweet) and ven pongal (savoury) with sugarcane, turmeric plant, and bananas to Surya at the courtyard kolam; sundal, vada and payasam through the day.

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