Here's all you need to know about the colourful Pongal festival which pays homage to the sun and nature. Yes, it's Pongal time in Singapore! Plus, we share how to make sweet pongal rice.
Growing up in Singapore, I remember lapping up New Year festivities twice every January: the New Year festivities celebrated on a larger scale and the Pongal festival that my family observed modestly at home. I can’t help but smile when I remember fondly rushing home from school during the Pongal festival season and checking the pots on the stove to see if my grandmother made pongal, the eponymously named sweet rice dish eaten during this festival — read on for a delish recipe!
Fast forward to today, the Pongal festival has gained ground and abounds in Singapore every year. During Pongal, you can see dazzling light displays in Little India, Indian grocery shops teeming with earthen pots (a significant feature of the festivities, it’s traditionally what pongal is made in!) and many fun events that usher in this Tamil New Year!
Typically celebrated in mid-January by Tamils worldwide, this festival celebrates the rice harvest and pays homage to the sun and nature. The Tamil diaspora community in Singapore celebrates this beautiful festival with much aplomb, and festivities include offering gratitude to the sun, nature, and family. Think of it as the Indian version of Thanksgiving! This year, the Indian festival will be celebrated from 13 to 16 January 2025.
What is this festival all about, and how can you and the kiddos get in on the fun? Read on for more…
What is the Pongal Festival?
Pongal, also known as Makara Sankranti, is an Indian festival celebrated in mid-January by South Indians to mark the rice harvest in India. The essence of Pongal is to offer thanks to nature and celebrate the fruit of farmers’ labour throughout the year. You’ll notice that part of the festivities includes giving cows the red carpet treatment during this period because they are pivotal in farming practices. Additionally, in Tamil, the word pongal refers to overflow or abundance. Hence, this festival is a celebration of an abundant harvest and the abundance of all things good in our lives.
In Indian farming communities, it is the time of the rice harvest – which is of primary significance to Indians as rice is a dietary staple. Hence, Pongal is when people thank the sun and nature – the real MVPs – for nourishing and sustaining life as we know it and more!
While Pongal traditionally started as a farmers’ festival, it has become a festival for all Tamils transcending professions and faiths. On local shores where farming isn’t as prevalent, the festival remains significant and continues to be a means of offering thanks to nature, lapping up the good vibes and strengthening family bonds!
How is the Pongal Festival celebrated?
The Pongal festival lasts for four days. Each day has a unique significance.
It kicks off with Bhogi Pongal. This day is all about cleaning up and starting fresh by removing old stuff. On this day, families will be spring cleaning in preparation for the new year! Giving the place a nice sprucing up. Traditionally, local farming communities created a bonfire where they would burn old items. Out with the old!
The second day, Surya Pongal, is when the main event happens. “Surya” refers to the sun in Tamil, so it’s time to pay homage to the sun for nourishing the earth. How is this Surya Pongal observed? It starts with decorating the entrance of the house with kolam, colourful patterns made from powdered rice.
Then it’s time to whip up the festive dish pongal, which is made with rice, lentils, spices, milk, and sugar. Families gather around for this special treat. This dish takes quite a while but is a cherished part of the festival. The milk is poured over the rice and allowed to come to a roaring boil, spilling out of the pot, symbolising abundance flowing into the home; during this time, families cheer, “Pongalo Pongal or may this milk overflow” to usher in a prosperous new year.
Next up is Mattu Pongal, a day dedicated to thanking cows for their hard work during the harvest. Mattu refers to cows in Tamil. These cows get the VIP treatment and are loved up! In farming communities, cows are given a spa day, cleaned, adorned and fed a relishing feast!
Festivities are capped with the final day, Kaanum Pongal, about visiting family and friends to celebrate together, emphasising community and strengthening relationships. Everyone gathers for a delicious meal, and younger folks seek blessings from their elders. It’s a time of joy and togetherness! Plus, it’s also on this day that people are treated to dazzling traditional folk dances.
In Singapore, Pongal festivities can involve light displays along Little India, farm tours (to catch sight of some cool, diligent cows and thank ’em!), lively performances, delish festive eats and more. It is a celebration of nature, traditions, culture and family.
Recipe for Kerala-style Sweet Pongal from Chef Annil AKA @annilravin
I have waxed lyrical about the festive dish that’s eaten as part of this festival, and it’s only right that you should have the chance to try your hand at it too!
We asked the amazing Chef Annil to share his recipe for sweet pongal. The bubbly Chef Annil is the founder of Chemmeensg, a catering company crafting delicious Kerala cuisine and Indian chaats. Plus he’s one of our favourite IG chefs at the moment! This Kerala-style sweet pongal is a traditional dish with rice, moong dal, jaggery, and aromatic spices. It’s a rich, comforting treat perfect for festivals and occasions like Pongal.
Ingredients
For the Sweet Pongal:
200g raw rice (short-grain rice or ‘Ponni’)
50g moong dal (yellow split lentils)
150g jaggery (grated, adjust according to your sweetness preference)
720ml water (3 cups)
1/4 tsp cardamom powder (around 1-2g)
120ml coconut milk (optional for richness)
A pinch of salt (around 1g)
For the Tempering:
30g ghee (clarified butter)
30g cashews
30g raisins
Optional:
1-2 dried red chillies (for heat)
1 sprig of curry leaves
How to cook sweet pongal
1. Cook the rice and Moong Dal
Dry roast the moong dal (about 50 g) until golden brown. In a pressure cooker, combine the rice (200 g) and roasted moong dal with 720 ml of water. Cook for 3-4 whistles or until soft and mushy.
Alternatively, cook in a pot until the mixture is porridge-like.
2. Prepare the sweet mixture:
Once the rice and dal are cooked, add the grated jaggery (150 g) and stir well until it completely dissolves. If the mixture becomes too thick, you can add coconut milk (120 ml) for a richer texture.
3. Add flavourings
Stir in cardamom powder (1-2 g) and mix well. Taste and adjust sweetness with more jaggery if preferred.
4. Tempering
In a small pan, heat the ghee (30 g). Add cashews (30 g) and fry until golden brown.
Add raisins (30 g) and fry until they puff up.
Pour the tempering over the sweet pongal and mix.
5. Serve:
Serve the sweet pongal hot, garnished with fried cashews, raisins, and a few fresh curry leaves, if desired.
We hope you enjoy Chef Annil’s Kerala-style Sweet Pongal, a delectable fusion of traditional flavours with the rich sweetness of jaggery, fragrant cardamom, and the aromatic tempering of ghee and spices!
Where to celebrate Pongal 2025 with kids in Singapore
Can’t wait to join the Pongal festivities with the kiddos this year? You’re both in luck because there’s a surfeit of festive fun across the island this festive season! Check out some cool events that will be happening over the Pongal festival:
1. Pongal Open House 2025 at Indian Heritage Centre
Celebrate the harvest festival of Pongal at the Indian Heritage Centre’s Pongal Open House on 11 and 12 January 2025! Enjoy various free, family-friendly activities like the interactive farm experience, where you can step into the role of a farmer, learn about rice cultivation, and explore the importance of cattle in agriculture. Don’t miss the first-ever Farmer’s Market showcasing agricultural and cultural products and fun crafts, face painting, henna, and free Pongal & chai. With live folk performances, a special Pongal activity booklet for kids, and much more, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!
When: 11 to 12 January 2025
Where: Indian Heritage Centre, 5 Campbell Lane, Singapore 209924
2. Pongal celebrations by OnePA
Do you feel like celebrating Pongal somewhere closer to the ‘hood? You and the kiddos are in luck; the People’s Association has a long lineup of Pongal festivities happening all over Singapore. Choose from culinary tours or competitions and more!
When: Various dates & timings
Where: Various locations
