Pongal, the festival of harvest is right around the corner and is an important one for Chennai as we pay our respect to the farmers, the backbone of our country. This harvest festival usually comes with a myriad of traditions: we are talking Jallikattu, eating Ven Pongal, Kutcheris, Kolams and more. Spanning across three auspicious days, Pongal in Chennai is an experience like no other and if you are here, get into the 'Pongal O Pongal' mood with these Pongal events in the city.
Pongal In Chennai: 7 Events To Get Into The 'Pongal O Pongal' Mood
Here's A List Of Pongal Celebration In Chennai
Pongal Peruvizha 2025
Babaji Vidhyashram is here with their annual Pongal Peruvizha on their school grounds. The event will feature folk arts, a village-themed market, traditional food stalls, and rides. For a truly authentic Pongal experience, indulge in local delights like Goli Soda, Delhi Appalam, Molaga Bajji, Double Ice, Karumbu Juice, Panju Mittai, and Thengaa Maanga Sundal.
Elevate your Pongal celebrations in Chennai with their traditional games such as bullock cart rides, pottery, Ranga Raatinam, Kili Josiyam, balloon shooting, and more. This event will be a wonderful experience for children and adults alike, to immerse themselves in the traditional celebration of Pongal in Chennai. Know more here.
When: 10 January, 4 PM onwards
Where: Babaji Vidhyashram, Sholinganallur
Price: Free Entry
The Pongal Dance Festival 2025
Celebrate Pongal in Chennai the traditional way with this week-long dance fest. Organised annually by Krishna Gana Sabha, the Pongal Dance Festival is a much anticipated event to celebrate Pongal in Chennai. It is a curated platform that unites aspiring and seasoned dancers, allowing them to present their performances at this venue. The festival showcases solo and ensemble artists representing various classical dance forms such as Bharatanatyam, Mohiniattam, Kathakali, Odissi, Manipuri, Kathak, Kuchipudi, and Sattriya. This year, the performers include Sharanyaa Ganesan, Varsha Akhouri, KP Rakhesh and more. The festival comprises of three performances each day, with two free and one ticketed performance.
When: 10 January to 15 January, 3PM onwards
Where: Krishna Gana Sabha, T.Nagar
Price: Free and priced according to performance.
LBB Tip: The performances at 3PM and 5PM are free and welcome to all. The performance at 7PM is ticketed and can be bought at the Sabha's box office.
Pongal Tiruvizha At EA
Express Avenue is the hub for festive shopping in Chennai. If you are looking for a Pongal event in Chennai that also combines the joy of shopping for the festival, then you must join the Pongal Shopping Fest at Express Avenue for a diverse array of clothing, accessories, decor, jewellery, handicrafts, home essentials, delicious food, and much more. It is a shopping affair like no other, celebrating Pongal in Chennai with a myriad of stalls, music, food options and more.
When: 12 to 14 January, 11 AM to 9 PM
Where: EA Mall, Thousand Lights
Price: Free Entry
Chennai Organic Market
If you find yourself catching a bit of FOMO for Pongal in Chennai and want to go all out in the festive spirit and get some small business ware for yourself, then you must head to Bain School, Kilpauk this Pongal. This is a one-day one-stop hub for all things organic: groceries, vegetables, hand-made clothing, seeds for planting, eco-friendly home utility products and more.
When: 12 January, 10 AM to 5 PM
Where: Bain School, Kilpauk
Price: Free entry
LBB Tip: This is a zero plastic market so please bring your own bags for purchase
Parijatham Gardens Pongal Celebration 2025
Another authentic experience of Pongal in Chennai, this is one festival you cannot miss. We are talking about a true Pongal welcome with garlands and refreshing welcome juice. The decor will feature Vazha Maram arch, Thenathoranam , a Chettinad deck decorated with flowers and even a bullock cart ride. The festival is also set to feature performances of Karagattam, Parai Aatam, Theesilambam, Maadu and Mayil Aattam and more!
When: 16 January, 4:30 PM onwards
Where: Parijatham Gardens
Price: INR 699 onwards
Kalai Vizha 2025
“Kalai Vizha 2025," the much-awaited musical extravaganza celebrating art, culture, and devotion, is back in town for Pongal. It will be a journey into the soul of various art forms portraying the rich heritage and culture of India. The festival hosts three shows a day at 2 PM, 4 PM and 7 PM. There is going to be light music, carnatic music, classical dance and more: a full fusion of the festive spirit of Pongal with traditional art. The lineup includes Rajesh Vaidhya, Ranjani and Gayatri, Gul Saxena, Nirupama Dey and more.
When: 11 to 15 January, 2PM onwards
Where: Kamarajar Arangam
Price: INR 350 onwards
Mylapore Festival 2025
Margazhi and Mylapore festival go hand in hand. This Pongal celebration in Chennai is a three-day extravaganza, conducted annually by Sundaram Finance. In the nostalgic lanes of Mylapore, this festival fosters art and culture in the truest sense. Thronging the lanes of Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore would be kolams/rangolis of various sizes, shapes, colours. The stage behind the temple is set to host cultural music and dance from Bharatanatyam to Nadaswaram performances. They also have games like chess and carrom contests, and workshops for kids. This festival is also complemented by a throng of stores on both sides of Mylapore's lanes with south Indian delicacies like Pongal, Bhajji, Vada and Appalam to keep your appetite happy as you browse the stores.
LBB Tip: Sundaram Finance, the hosting organisation, crusading the cause of “Say No to Plastic Bags" will be distributing around 10,000 cloth bags to residents in exchange for plastic bags on all four days of the festival.
When: 9 to 12 January
Where: North Mada Street, Mylapore
Price: Free entry
