- South India celebrates harvest and cultural unity during Makara Sankranti & Thai Pongal.
- Festivals honor nature, farmers, and cattle with eco-friendly practices.
- Traditions blend food, rangoli, and family gatherings, symbolizing renewal.
On January 14, 2026, as the sun rises marking the auspicious Uttarayana the Sun’s northward journey millions across South India embrace the spirit of renewal. Today, in Bengaluru, Karnataka, families are already immersed in the festivities of Makara Sankranti, while neighboring states join in harmony.
Pongal, primarily a Tamil harvest festival, shares deep roots with Sankranti celebrations in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, uniting communities in gratitude for nature’s bounty amid a changing climate and urban shifts. This four-day period symbolizes not just agricultural abundance but a collective fresh start, much like a regional new year, fostering sustainability, family bonds, and cultural pride.
Gratitude for Harvest and Renewal
Pongal and its regional counterparts celebrate the end of the winter solstice and the promise of longer, warmer days, dedicated to the Sun God Surya and the elements that sustain life. In Tamil Nadu, it’s Pongal, in Andhra Pradesh, its Pedda Panduga or Sankranti, and in Karnataka, Makara Sankranti or Suggi Habba.
All honor the harvest, farmers, and cattle, emphasizing ecological balance in 2026, a year marked by variable monsoons affecting crops. The festival’s core remains thanksgiving, for rice, sugarcane, and the labor that brings prosperity.
In Bengaluru, where diverse communities converge, Tamil families prepare traditional Pongal dishes alongside Kannadiga households drawing rangoli and offering prayers. Andhra Pradesh echoes this with vibrant processions and sweets. This interconnectedness highlights South India’s shared agrarian heritage, where the overflow of milk-rice pudding (pongal) signifies overflowing joy and wealth.
Amid urbanization, these traditions remind us of our dependence on nature, inspiring eco-conscious practices like reduced-waste celebrations and support for local farmers.
Also Read: Makar Sankranti 2025: A Festival of Harvest, Tradition, and Unity Across India
Unity in Diversity Across the Four Days
The celebrations unfold over four vibrant days, with slight regional variations enriching the experience.
Bhogi: The festival begins with cleansing. In Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and parts of Karnataka, homes are scrubbed, old items burned in bonfires (Bhogi Mantalu) to discard negativity.
Andhra and Telangana emphasize renewal through bonfires and new clothes, while Karnataka observes it in border areas with similar fervor. Eco-friendly adaptations are prominent in 2026, with communities opting for symbolic rituals to minimize smoke.
Thai Pongal / Makara Sankranti: The pinnacle day sees families cooking sweet pongal outdoors in earthen pots, letting it boil over as chants of ‘Pongalo Pongal’ fill the air. In Tamil Nadu, kolams adorn thresholds with sugarcane and turmeric.
Karnataka features ellu (sesame-jaggery mixes) and rangoli, while Andhra Pradesh includes ariselu and pulihora offerings. Today in Bengaluru, streets buzz with kolam competitions and temple visits, blending Tamil and Kannada styles.
Mattu Pongal / Kanuma: Dedicated to cattle, animals are bathed, adorned with garlands, and fed delicacies for their role in farming. Tamil Nadu’s Mattu Pongal includes jallikattu in some areas (with welfare focus), Andhra’s Kanuma features similar reverence, and Karnataka honors bullocks in rural Suggi Habba traditions.
Kaanum Pongal / Mukkanuma: The finale brings family outings, picnics, and visits. Tamil Nadu’s Kaanum emphasizes community, Andhra’s Mukkanuma includes reunions, Karnataka sees gatherings with festive foods.
In Bengaluru, multi-cultural events mix these elements kolam displays, cattle processions, and shared feasts creating a unique urban tapestry.
Summing It Up!
As we welcome Makara Sankranti & Thai Pongal 2026, its overflowing pots symbolize endless possibilities. In this new beginning, let’s carry forward its lessons of gratitude, sustainability, and togetherness, ensuring the harvest of hope endures for generations.
