Pongal 2026 — New York
Pongal is Tamil Nadu's four-day harvest festival at the start of the Tamil month of Thai, when the Sun enters Capricorn. The main day, Thai Pongal, thanks the Sun god for the harvest.
In 2026, Pongal runs from Tuesday, 13 January 2026 to Friday, 16 January 2026.
Thai Pongal: Wednesday, 14 January 2026
- Sun enters Makara: 14 Jan 2026, 4:37 AM
Date and timings for New York.
All days of Pongal 2026
| Date | Observance | Tithi / timing |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, 13 Jan | Bhogi | — |
| Wednesday, 14 Jan | Thai Pongal | — |
| Thursday, 15 Jan | Mattu Pongal | — |
| Friday, 16 Jan | Kaanum Pongal | — |
How the date is fixed
Thai Pongal is decided by the day the Sun enters the sign — or the next day if it enters after sunset.
Calculated for New York. Festival dates can differ by a day between cities and between regional traditions; your family priest's panchang has the final word.
How it is celebrated
On Bhogi old things are discarded in a bonfire; on Thai Pongal new rice is boiled with milk and jaggery in a clay pot until it overflows — "pongal!" — as an offering to the Sun; Mattu Pongal honours cattle; and Kaanum Pongal is for family outings and visits.
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Frequently asked questions
When is Pongal in 2026?
In 2026, Pongal runs from Tuesday, 13 January 2026 to Friday, 16 January 2026. (New York)
Why do calendars sometimes show different dates for Pongal?
Hindu festivals follow the lunar tithi, which begins and ends at different clock times. Each festival has a rule about which part of the day the tithi must cover — sunrise, midday, dusk or midnight. When the tithi straddles two days, calendars that apply the rule for a different city, or a different tradition, can land on different days. We show the rule we used and the tithi timings so you can check.