KUALA LUMPUR: Ponggal this year will be celebrated on Jan 15, according to the Panchangam (Hindu calendar and almanack).
Malaysia Hindu Sangam president T. Ganesan said Ponggal, which marks the beginning of the auspicious Tamil month of Thai, must be observed on Jan 15, which falls on Thai 1 according to the Panchangam.
"Based on the Panchangam, the birth time of the Thai month is on Jan 14 at 9.23pm. As such, it is not appropriate to observe Ponggal on that day, and the festival should instead be celebrated the following morning on Jan 15, which is Thai 1 and falls on a Thursday," he told Bernama.
He said this following public queries and confusion over the correct date of the festival.
Ganesan said those performing Ponggal prayers at home may do so during the auspicious time in the morning from 6.10am to 7.20 am, followed by another favourable period from 9.10am to 11.30am.
"For those who are unable to perform the rituals in the morning, Ponggal prayers may also be conducted in the evening between 4.20pm and 6.20pm," he said.
He added that this harvest festival traditionally involves cooking ponggal, a mixture of rice and milk, at sunrise or sunset, and offering it to Surya Bhagavan (the Tamil Sun God) as an expression of gratitude for prosperity, abundance and well-being.
According to Ganesan, Ponggal in 2026 would be celebrated over four days, beginning with Bhogi on Jan 14, followed by Thai Ponggal on Jan 15, Mattu Ponggal on Jan 16 and Kaanum Ponggal on Jan 17.
Ganesan urged devotees to observe the sacred festival, which reflects harmony with nature and a spirit of gratitude, with discipline, respect and unity, while upholding the traditional values and customs of the Hindu faith.
"In Malaysia, a nation where people of diverse races and religions live together in harmony, let us continue to preserve and practise our Hindu traditions and culture responsibly and with pride, in accordance with the noble principles of Sanatana Dharma (eternal law), while fostering mutual respect, tolerance and understanding," he said.
Meanwhile, Hindu Dharma Maamandram president V. Rishi Kumar said Ponggal is celebrated over four days, with each day carrying its own cultural and spiritual significance.
He said the festival begins with Bhogi on Jan 14, the final day of the Tamil month of Margazhi, during which families clean and decorate their homes as a symbol of renewal and positivity
"The main celebration, Thai Ponggal (Jan 15), involves preparing the ponggal dish in new clay pots and allowing the milk to boil over, which symbolises abundance and gratitude to the sun. The overflowing milk reflects prosperity and thanksgiving for life's blessings," he said.
Rishi Kumar said the third day, Mattu Ponggal, is dedicated to honouring cows for their role in agriculture and daily life, while the final day, Kaanum Ponggal, is observed through family visits and social gatherings.
"It's a day to strengthen bonds with relatives and friends. In some traditions, unmarried women also pray for a prosperous future and a suitable life partner," he added.
Ponggal is a major harvest festival celebrated by the Tamil community worldwide, including in Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka and Singapore.
The festival symbolises thanksgiving to nature, farmers, cattle and the Tamil Sun God for a bountiful harvest, and is commonly marked by family gatherings, prayers and cultural observances. – Bernama
