Fri15Jan
🎪 Festival
Pongal Celebration
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Pongal 2027 in Chennai: Festival Events & Chennai Sangamam
3 events matching right now across Chennai — mostly festival (3).
Pongal 2027 runs from Thursday 14 January to Sunday 17 January: Bhogi on the 14th, Thai Pongal on Friday the 15th, Mattu Pongal on Saturday the 16th and Kaanum Pongal on Sunday the 17th, by Drik Panchang's calendar. We had not seen Tamil Nadu's 2027 holiday notification when this page was last updated, but the state normally declares Pongal, Thiruvalluvar Day and Uzhavar Thirunal as consecutive holidays. In Chennai the harvest festival is a home celebration, with pots of sweet pongal boiled over at sunrise and kolams drawn at every doorstep, but there is plenty in public. Chennai Sangamam – Namma Ooru Thiruvizha, the state's festival of folk arts, puts more than a thousand performers of parai, karagattam, oyilattam and other traditions on open-air stages in parks, beaches and grounds across the city on the Pongal evenings; in January 2025 it ran at 18 venues from 6 to 9 pm. The 2027 venues had not been announced. DakshinaChitra, colleges, apartment communities and hotels hold Pongal celebrations with pot-breaking games and traditional food. Kaanum Pongal is the outing day, when Marina Beach, Vandalur Zoo, Guindy and Mahabalipuram see their biggest crowds of the year. The Chennai Book Fair and the trade fair at Island Grounds are also open through the holidays.
Fri15Jan
🎪 Festival
Pongal Thiruvizha
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Fri15Jan
🎪 Festival
Pongal Festival Days
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Good to know
- Chennai Sangamam shows are free and outdoors. Pick the venue nearest you, arrive by 5:30 pm and sit on the ground or bring a mat.
- Avoid Marina Beach, Vandalur Zoo and the ECR on Kaanum Pongal unless crowds are what you want; police impose one-way systems and bathing bans.
- Bhogi-morning bonfires can make the air smoky. The airport sometimes reports delays from the smoke and fog, so allow extra time for early flights.
- Book travel early. Trains and government buses out of Chennai fill weeks ahead, and Chennai Metro has extended its hours on the days before Pongal in past years.
- Many restaurants and shops close on Thai Pongal day itself. Malls, cinemas and tourist sites stay open.
Frequently asked questions
When is Pongal 2027?
Thai Pongal is on Friday 15 January 2027, with Bhogi on Thursday 14 January, Mattu Pongal on Saturday 16 January and Kaanum Pongal on Sunday 17 January, according to Drik Panchang.
What is Chennai Sangamam?
Chennai Sangamam – Namma Ooru Thiruvizha is a free open-air festival of Tamil folk arts held at parks, beaches and grounds across Chennai during Pongal, organised with the state government. It was first held in 2007.
Where is Chennai Sangamam held in 2027?
The 2027 venues had not been announced at the time of writing. In January 2025 it was held at 18 venues, including Elliot's Beach in Besant Nagar, from 6 to 9 pm each evening.
What is Kaanum Pongal?
The fourth day of the festival, traditionally spent visiting relatives and going on outings. In Chennai it brings very large crowds to Marina Beach, the zoo at Vandalur and other picnic spots.
Is the Mylapore Festival held around Pongal?
It is usually held over four days in early January, shortly before Pongal, around the Kapaleeshwarar Temple. The 2027 dates had not been announced at the time of writing.
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