Surya Pongal

Surya Pongal is the second day of the four-day Pongal harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu, India, and by the Tamil diaspora worldwide. This day is dedicated to honoring Surya, the Hindu Sun god, who is revered as the giver of life, health, and energy.123

The celebration typically begins with women creating colorful kolam designs and offering milk and jaggery to Surya to express gratitude for a good harvest. A key ritual involves cooking a rice dish, also called pongal, in a pot until it overflows, symbolizing abundance and prosperity. The cooked rice is first offered to the Sun god. This day marks the beginning of the Tamil month of Thai and is considered auspicious.2