Happy Pongal!    இனிய பொங்கல் நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள்!    मकर संक्रांति की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएँ।

‘Pongal’ is the winter harvest and thanks-giving festival celebrated all across India – it is known as Pongal in the South and Makar Sankranti in the North. This 4 day festival is celebrated to give thanks to the sun God Surya for providing the energy for agriculture/food that sustains life on planet Earth.

The word Pongal itself is roughly translated as “boiling” or “overflow” in order to signify the abundance of crop harvest – indeed one of the most popular dishes for this festival is itself called ‘pongal’ and is prepared using boiled rice and lentils as both a savory and a sweet.

Other ways of commemorating Pongal include cleaning the house to make way for new beginnings, drawing kolam/rangoli on the ground and eating sugar-cane.

We cordially invite you and your family to celebrate Pongal with us at the temple. Events will include:

• 9am: Cooking of ‘pongal’ dish- learn to cook Pongal
• 11:30 am: Surya Bhagawan Puja

Puja sponsorships available, please enquire at temple front desk.