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As the capital city of Tamil Nadu in India, Chennai   (formerly Madras), hosts the largest Pongal festival in the world.  The festival is also celebrated by Tamils in places such as Malaysia, South Africa, the United States and Canada, Sri Lanka, and Singapore.  It is a harvest festival that roughly equates to a thanksgiving celebration and is held over four days in January.

Visitors to Chennai during this time will find that the festival has grown from a simple Tamil rural harvest festival to a large urban event that is celebrated by locals of all origins, castes, or faiths.  Believed to be between 1000 and 2000 years old, the festival used to be known as Puthiyeedu.

Each of the days of Pongal holds a special significance, with specific activities and rituals to be performed. On one day, Tamils will burn old clothes, on another they will decorate their homes or their cattle.  The purpose of the festival is to celebrate the prosperity of the harvest and give thanks to nature, farm animals, the rain and the sun.

The final day is known as Kaanum Pongal. Originally a chance for Tamils to visit their relatives and enjoy the festivities with friends, it has taken on a modern, urban twist.  In Chennai it is now a chance for families to take to the amusement parks and beaches.

This large, traditional festival offers visitors many opportunities to sample Indian foods and traditions.  A visit during this time to Five Star Hotels Chennai would give one a front row seat to the celebration.

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