Pongal is more than a harvest festival—it is a living expression of Tamil civilisation rooted in gratitude

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Pongal is more than a harvest festival—it is a living expression of Tamil civilisation rooted in gratitude. At its heart lies thanksgiving to Surya, nature, farm animals, and the people whose labour sustains agriculture. Its antiquity is well attested: Pongal is celebrated in Tiruvempavai by Manikkavacakar and recorded in Chola and Vijayanagara temple inscriptions. A notable record at the Veeraraghava Swamy Temple, attributed to Chola king Kulottunga I, speaks of land grants specifically made for Pongal celebrations, affirming its significance over a millennium ago.

Culturally, Pongal embodies the Tamil vision of harmony between humanity, nature, and the divine. The overflowing pongal—rice, milk, and jaggery—symbolises abundance and shared prosperity. The four days—Bhogi, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal, and Kaanum Pongal—honour renewal, agriculture, cattle, and community. Celebrated as Tamizhar Thirunal, Pongal transcends religion and geography, uniting Tamils through memory, ritual, and gratitude.

— Venkataramanan Ramasethu
15 January 2026

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