‘Secular Pongal’: Eradicating Sanatana dharma in action by DMK in Tamil Nadu

VSK Telangana    16-Jan-2026
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DMK has been trying to secularise the Pongal festival every year. It rechristened it as “Samathuva (equality all religion) Pongal” and started calling the first day of the month (Thai) in the solar calendar as New Year. It seems as if the DMK is indeed implementing the agenda of missionaries by de-Hinduising Pongal and giving it a secular colour. Every church in the country participates in celebrating Pongal, and there are special masses that are conducted as well. But pious and common Muslims, in large numbers, refused to partake of the Prasad sweet Pongal or pre-Pongal rituals, saying it is haram to them. Churches in Tamil Nadu are trying to celebrate Pongal like other Hindu festivals. It has been saying all Hindu festivals, including Diwali, are northern festivals; Bhagwan Ram, Murugan, Siva, Ganesh are not Tamil Gods. But for them, Ramdan and Christmas are Indian festivals.

The inculturation of Pongal by Church is like mocking the true essence of harvest festival and converting it into a pan-world one, only to belittle its significance and to destroy Hindu and Tamil culture with a hidden agenda.

PM Modi, while participating at MoS L Murugan’s residence, said, “Today, Pongal has become a global festival,” celebrated with enthusiasm by Tamil communities and those who cherish Tamil culture across the world, and added that he too is one among them. In Tamil life, Pongal is like a pleasant experience, embodying gratitude towards the toil of the farmers, the earth, and the Sun, while also guiding us towards balance in nature, family, and society. Different parts of the country are also immersed in the celebrations of Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Magh Bihu, and other festivals, “Tamil culture is one of the most ancient living civilisations in the world.”

In the southern parts of Bharat, the Pongal or harvesting festival, or Maha Sankranthi, is celebrated in mid-January or at the beginning of the Tamil month Thai. Pongal marks the initiation of the Sun’s movement towards the North for a six-month period. Uttarayan Punyakalam bears special significance in Hindu mythology and is considered extremely auspicious. It signifies the event when the Sun enters the zodiac sign Capricorn (Makar), and thus the name Makar Sankranti. It is religiously, traditionally, and culturally celebrated by all Hindus. In the initial days, before the Dravidian parties took root in this spiritual land, it was called Maha Sankranthi only. It is celebrated during the solar equinox after harvesting crops like rice, sugarcane, turmeric, etc. It is one of the biggest festivals celebrated in the southern part of India and is primarily celebrated in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Puducherry.

Pongal comes from Tamil literature, which means to boil or to overflow. It is a celebration to thank the Sun God, Mother Earth, and various other farm animals or cattle that help farmers contribute to a bountiful harvest. In Hindu mythology, it is found that Bhagwan Shiva instructed Basava/Rishaba (Bull) to visit the Earth and ask humans to bathe and receive an oil massage every day. Nevertheless, the Bull declared that he would eat daily and take a bath once a month. Angry, Bhagwan Shiva condemned the Bull to dwell on Earth forever and told him that he must plough the fields to increase food production for mankind. Therefore, the mythology is followed to date, and people observe this festival with crops and cattle after harvesting.

Pongal goes way back to the Sangam age from 200 BCE to 300 CE. During this era, Pongal was celebrated as Thai Niradal (Thai bathe), and it also marks the beginning of the auspicious Tamil month called Thai. Also, in the olden days, the festival was marked by unmarried girls fasting and performing rituals, praying to God to safeguard the agricultural prosperity of the country.

One of the Vaishnavite saints, Andal, woke up early in the morning, observed penance, and prayed to Bhagwan Vishnu. In the month of Margazhi before Thai, in temples and houses, it is mandatory to wake up early in the morning, take a bath amidst chilly weather in cold water, and go to the temple to pray Andal pasurams (Thiruppaavai) and receive hot rice Pongal as Prasad. They observe penance during the Tamil month of Margazhi. They would abstain from the consumption of milk and milk products and would not oil their hair throughout the month. The use of harsh words is strictly refrained from. A ceremonial bath in the early morning is part of the ritual of penance. Unmarried girls would draw kolams or rangoli designs in front of their houses. It is also said that if they place a white pumpkin, brown pumpkin, or any other flower, it signifies that there is an unmarried girl in that house and alliance seekers can visit to initiate talks.

The first day is called Bhogi Pongal. Earlier, people would clean their houses, whitewash or paint them, and collect unwanted items to be disposed of on Bhogi Pongal day. People happily burn their old, useless household items, marking new beginnings.

A special puja is also performed by cutting the paddy. Now, it is being banned in the name of environmental protection, as it causes pollution. The next day is an important one, and on that day people worship the Sun God. Women draw decorative patterns called kolam at their home entrances and prepare a pot of fresh rice with milk at auspicious timings. Milk rice is left in the clay pot to boil freely, and as it boils, family members happily start shouting “Pongalo Pongal”. They tie the pot with coir along with banana, sugarcane pieces, and fresh turmeric and ginger plants. Normally, in villages, it is done in the open courtyard or porch (Muttram).

They use newly harvested paddy to make rice, which is cooked by boiling it with milk and jaggery. The sweet dish occasionally includes extra ingredients like cardamom, raisins, split green gram, and cashew nuts. Other components include ghee and coconut. Some people prepare Pongal dishes in addition to the sweet version, such as salty and savoury varieties (ven pongal).

In certain communities, women gather together to cook as a social activity by bringing their cooking pots to the town centre, the main square, near a temple of their choice, or simply in front of their own homes. All members of the family gather and jointly celebrate. They offer Pongal to the Sun God and perform puja. Then they feast on the special meal with avial (a dish with all vegetables using buttermilk and condiments like cashew, green peas, chickpeas, groundnuts, and raisins), or they cook a spicy sambar with a variety of vegetables. Also, curd vada and papads are prepared. They share it with friends and relatives. After relishing the sweet Pongal, they retire for the day.

The third day of Pongal is devoted to worshipping the cattle (Mattu Pongal). Cows and bulls are washed and adorned with colourful beads, flowers, and bells during this day. The bulls or cows are taken around the temple or streets, with children following joyfully or sitting on bull-drawn carts.

In parts of the southern districts, Jallikattu, a famous traditional bull-taming sport of the people of Tamil Nadu, especially in villages, is also part of Mattu Pongal. It is to showcase the valour of the youth. In olden days, bull owners or families with marriageable girls would rear bulls for this purpose. On the Jallikattu day, the youth who tamed the bull would marry the girl offered prior to the event.

Nowadays, it is restricted to prizes such as two-wheelers, gold ornaments, almarahs, cots, vessels, or cash for those who emerge victorious. Madurai Alanganallur and Avaniapuram are well known for this. Basically, it is a game where a bull is released into the crowd, and any person can try to calm and tame it. A winning bull is usually kept for breeding. It is also known as Manju Virattu or Eru Thazhuvuthal. ‘Jallikattu’ is evolved from the words ‘Calli’ (coins) and ‘Kattu’ (tie), which denotes a bundle of coins tied to the bull’s horns.

Prior to Pongal, people repaint their houses after discarding unwanted items. On the first day, Bhogi day, they burn the litter in front of their houses.

During the DMK and successive Dravidian rules, it has been reduced to a get-together of Muslims, Hindus, and Christians.

Every year, Pongal gift hampers are given to Muslims and Christians at the token inauguration event. But the same courtesy is not extended to Hindus during minority festivals. CM Stalin did not wish Hindus on their festivals but eagerly participates in minority festivals, greets them, and announces government largesse. DMK has reduced the Pongal festival to a thamasa. The standard formula it has adopted is one burqa-, hijab-, or abaya-clad Muslim woman, one Rajasthani woman, a woman from their home, a doll, a Brahmin lady in traditional attire, and a Christian nun.

CM’s son and Deputy CM Udhayanidhi also does the same. He has proclaimed himself a Christian faith follower.

Reacting to Stalin’s gesture, BJP leader Narayanan Tirupathi said, “Pongal is not a religious festival”: @mkstalin Is that so, @mkstalin? Fine! Just get any one Muslim to say that he or she worships the Sun, as people worship the Sun during Pongal, and I will accept that Pongal is not a religious festival. Similarly, do you have the courage to say that Ramzan is not an Islamic festival? Do you have the courage to say that Christmas is not a Christian festival?”

One cleric said, “Muslim college students should not participate in Pongal celebrations because Pongal is a Hindu festival. Going there is haram, and celebrating it means you belong to another religion,” says a Tamil Nadu Muslim cleric. Do you hear that, @mkstalin? Pongal is the festival of Hindus.

Hitting back at Karti Chidambaram, retired Lt Col Thiagarajan, in a post on X, said, “When the Deputy CM speaks of eradicating Sanatana Dharma, it is a direct threat to Hindu temples, rituals, Agama traditions, and faith.”

So, for the DMK, Pongal or Hindu festivals are a mere film shoot, belittling their significance to appease minorities at a larger level. Hindus must wake up before it becomes too late to preserve and practise the tradition and culture that is envied by the world.

 (Courtesy: Organiser)
Hindu festivals Tamil Nadu politics Tamil Culture DMK politics Pongal controversy Maha Sankranthi church Politics