Pongal / Thai Pongal 2026 தைப்பொங்கல்
Thursday, 15 January 2026
The day in the Tamil calendar
| Date | Thursday, 15 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Tamil date | Thai 1 தை |
| Tithi at sunrise | Dwadashi (துவாதசி) until 8:17 PM · Krishna Paksha |
| Nakshatra at sunrise | Jyeshtha (கேட்டை) until 5:47 AM, Jan 16 |
| Sunrise / Sunset | 6:38 AM / 5:57 PM |
| Tamil Nadu holiday | Yes (TN Gazette Extraordinary No. 721, 11-Nov-2025, G.O. Ms. No. 708 Public(Misc) Dept (stationeryprinting.tn.gov.in/extraordinary/2025/721_Ex_II_1_2025.pdf)) |
Timings for Chennai. The date follows the Tamil Nadu calendar.
About the festival
Thai Pongal is the main day of the Pongal harvest festival and is observed on the first day of the Tamil month of Thai, in mid-January.1,2
The day is dedicated to the Sun: households draw kolam at the entrance and cook newly harvested rice with milk and jaggery in a pot until it boils over, offering the dish before sharing it with family.1,2
Pongal is a public holiday in Tamil Nadu; in 2026 it was observed on 15 January.3
When it falls: Thai Pongal falls on the first day of Thai, the Tamil solar month that begins with the Sun's entry into the sidereal sign Makara (Capricorn), usually 14 or 15 January.1,2,4
Sources
Pongal / Thai Pongal in other years
| 2025 | Tuesday, 14 January 2025 |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Thursday, 15 January 2026 |
| 2027 | Friday, 15 January 2027 |
| 2028 | Saturday, 15 January 2028 |