Bhogi Pongal 2025 date in Tamil Nadu – Importance - First Day Of Pongal Festival in Tamil Nadu in 2025

Bhogi Pongal, Bogi festival, is the first day of Pongal festival in Tamil Nadu. Bhogi Pongal 2025 date is January 13. The day is popularly meant for cleaning – all things that are bad and of no use are burned on the day. Earlier only agricultural waste used to burned on the day.

In Tamil Nadu, Bhogi festival is observed on the last day of Margazhi Month. The next day is the Pongal festival or the Thai Pongal. Thus Bhogi is also seen as a preparation day for the Thai Pongal festival.

Bhogi and Indra Vizha

Bhogi is dedicated to Lord Indra, the Vedic God of thunder and rain. Scholars and historians are of the opinion that Bhogi Pongal is the Indra Vizha festival observed during the ancient Chola period.

What is done on Bhogi?

Bhogi Pongal is a sort of preparation day for Pongal. The next day is the most important Pongal day which is referred as Thai Pongal or Perum Pongal. On the Bhogi Pongal day people, decorate their homes and buy new vessels and other utensils and food items needed for the Pongal celebration.

A major activity on the day is the burning of things that are of no use. A sort of cleansing ceremony.

But nowadays this Bhogi bonfire causes pollution due to the burning of plastic and rubber.

Bhogi in other states of India

Interestingly, a similar ceremony is held in Assam during the Magh Bihu celebration. The evening before Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu is referred as Uruka and on this day pyramidal structures erected using wood are burned and the ashes are scattered on paddy fields.

In Maharashtra and Karnataka also the first day of Makar Sankranti is known as Bhogi.

In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Bogi festival is celebrated generally in the Pushya or Paush month – a day before Makar Sankranti.

Read more --- About Bhogi rituals in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana