Get Ready for Pongal 2026 - Traditional Groceries & Ingredients from Lakshmi Stores UK

Pongal is the significant harvest festival that is mainly celebrated in South India, particularly in Tamil Nadu. It is a time of joy, thanksgiving, and unity when families gather to give nature their homage and celebrate the abundance of the harvest. The festival, which is rooted in agrarian customs, reflects the strong bond among man, the soil, and the changing seasons.

The celebration of Pongal takes place in the Tamil month of Thai, which also marks the harvest period and thus, it is a time of thanksgiving for the good yield. The festival is a moment when the Sun, rain, earth, and farmers who work hard to give us life are thanked. Moreover, the practice, food, and traditions linked to Pongal denote the superiority of nature and the cycles that help agriculture.

What is Pongal?

Pongal is a harvest festival that is traditionally celebrated in South India and is characterized by the expression of gratitude, the sharing of wealth, and the cleansing of the earth. It is one of the primary festivals of the Tamil people, who consider it a time of joy, prayers, and family reunions.

The term “Pongal” translates to “to boil over” in Tamil. It denotes the custom of preparing rice with milk and letting the mixture spill out of the pot, which represents abundance, joy, and prosperity. The overflowing pot is seen as a fortunate sign and it represents the essence of the festival.

 

Which God is Celebrated in Pongal?

Pongal is somewhat of a festival dedicated to Suryan, the Sun God, who is viewed as the giver of life and energy. The Sun's presence in the sky is essential for agriculture and thus Suryan becomes a mighty deity for the whole farming community. By offering prayer and worship to the Sun God, people show thankfulness for the divine light and warmth which are the main factors for growing crops and maintaining life on earth.

Sunlight is important to the farmers who believe their crops will not be harvested without it. Pongal is celebrated at the end of the harvesting period to give thanks to the Sun for its part in the whole process of granting abundance and wealth. This relationship demonstrates the very acknowledgment of nature which is the primary characteristic of this festival

What are the 4 Types of Pongal Festival?

Pongal is a four-day celebration that comes with different meanings and customs for each day. These four days together are thanksgiving, renewal, and community sharing.

• Bhogi Pongal

Bhogi Pongal is the first day of the festival and it signifies the change of season and baptisms. The first day of Bhogi Festival is always cleaning and throwing away their old things. This process means getting rid of bad things and letting in good ones. Traditionally, fireplaces are made with old stuff and the houses are spruced up for the coming days of festivities.

• Thai Pongal

Thai Pongal day of the festival is the most important and festive. It is the day in honor of Suryan, the God of the Sun, and harvest season. The families make the traditional Pongal by mixing and cooking rice, sugar, and milk, generally in earthenware. The boiling over of the pot represents the state of being full and rich. Prayer of thanksgiving is made to the Sun for the bountiful harvest.

• Mattu Pongal

The day of Mattu Pongal is for livestock that are very essential in agriculture. Cows and bulls are bathed, and adorned with flowers, and ribbons; bells and other colorful ornaments; and are worshiped with thankfulness. Mattu Pongal is a day that highlights the role of cattle in an agricultural community and their contribution to the food supply and rural life.

• Kaanum Pongal

Kaanum Pongal is the day of family reunions and social parties. People go around visiting, traveling, and having meals together. It is a period to strengthen the bonds, have fun, and celebrate, thus concluding the pongal festival in a very merry way.

Traditional Pongal Rituals and Customs

Clay pot cooking is amongst the major rituals of Pongal. Rice, milk, and jaggery are boiled together and then allowed to overflow, which symbolizes the abundant happiness and wealth. Moreover, cooking in a clay pot is considered to be very lucky and is seen as a way of being closely connected with nature and earth. During Pongal, kolam decorations are of great importance.

Beautiful and complicated patterns made with rice flour have their places marked at the entrance of homes, which are sometimes livened up with colors and flowers. Kolams are thought to be the bringers of prosperity, the attractors of good vibes, and the markers of the season's festive mood.

The incorporation of sugarcane, turmeric, and flowers carries profound symbolic connotations. Sugarcane stands for sweetness and plenty, turmeric marks purity and prosperity, and fresh flowers are signs of positivity and devotion. All these combined together elevate the spiritual and cultural richness of the Pongal festivities.

Traditional Foods Prepared for Pongal

One of the major highlights of the festival is Sweet Pongal. It is made with the ingredients rice, moong dal, jaggery, ghee, cashews, and cardamom. Sweet Pongal is a symbol of wealth, sweetness, and good luck and is offered to the Sun God during prayers.

Savoury Pongal, or Ven Pongal, is the dish that has a sweet counterpart and is made alongside it. The main ingredients of rice and lentils are used for its preparation but it is seasoned with black pepper, cumin, ginger, curry leaves, and ghee. This rich dish indicates purity and harmony, thus it is included in the festive meal.

How Pongal is Celebrated Today?

In present-day festivities, families continue to make and offer prayers, and moreover, they still use kolams to adorn their houses just like in the past. More so, many people still maintain the essence of the rituals but at the same time, they use convenient ingredients, ready-made festive items, and modern cookware. Social media, virtual gatherings and community events have also become the modern-day Pongal celebrations.

The celebrations of Pongal outside India have gained a lot of popularity and have become a lot more common among Indian communities living overseas. Temples, cultural organizations, and community centers are places where families come together to cook Pongal, pray, and celebrate cultural traditions through Pongal events that are hosted by these places.

Where Can You Buy Groceries for Pongal in the UK?

Pongal is a vibrant expression of thankfulness, plenty, and cultural identity. It is a festival that has its roots in tradition but still has the power to adapt to modern lifestyles. The festival is still able to bring families together to pay respect to nature, farmers, and the spirit of togetherness. Even if you are in India or abroad,

Pongal is still a strong reminder of the importance of being grateful for life’s blessings and to practice the customs that we hold dear. If you are celebrating Pongal away from home, Lakshmi Stores UK will make it easy for you to keep the traditions alive.

As an online Indian grocery store based in the UK, Lakshmi Stores provides delivery of authentic South Indian groceries, festive supplies, and the necessary traditional ingredients right at your doorstep - enabling you to celebrate Pongal with the genuine taste and spirit of home.