Festival date logic

Pongal 2026

பொங்கல்

Four-day Tamil harvest festival thanking the Sun God.

Direct answer

When is Pongal 2026?

Pongal 2026 is on Wednesday, 14 January 2026. The Hindu date is Krishna Ekadashi, Chaitra.

Also searched as: Thai Pongal 2026.

Gregorian date

Wednesday, 14 January 2026

Hindu date

Krishna Ekadashi, Chaitra

Observance moment

the relevant Panchang moment for the observance

Why this date?

Coincides with Makar Sankranti when the Sun enters Makara (Capricorn) rashi. This solar event marks the harvest season in Tamil Nadu, occurring around January 14-15.

For 2026, Samvat resolves the observance to Wednesday, 14 January 2026, with Krishna Ekadashi, Chaitra. The public festival calendar uses an India-baseline Panchang; personal observance can vary by location and family tradition.

Read the calculation methodology

Pongal 2026 tithi and Panchang details

Calculation type

sankranti

Festival type

regional

Nakshatra

Anuradha

Common observance

vegetarian

Significance

Celebrates the harvest season. Pongal means "boiling over" symbolizing abundance.

Traditions and Regions

Traditions

Cooking Pongal dishKolam decorationCattle worship

Observed in

Tamil NaduSri Lanka

Other years

Common questions

What is the date of Pongal 2026?

Pongal 2026 is on Wednesday, 14 January 2026. The Hindu date is Krishna Ekadashi, Chaitra.

What is the tithi for Pongal 2026?

The Hindu date shown by Samvat is Krishna Ekadashi, Chaitra. This is based on the festival rule encoded for Pongal.

Can the date differ by city?

Yes. Panchang values depend on sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and timezone. Samvat's public festival page uses an India-baseline calculation; local observance can differ by city, sampradaya, or family tradition.

Plan around this festival

Nearby observances

Citation summary

Samvat lists Pongal 2026 on Wednesday, 14 January 2026 because the India-baseline festival rule resolves to Krishna Ekadashi, Chaitra. Panchang dates can vary by location and tradition.