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Houston Tamil community marks Pongal 2026 in Katy
Consul General of India in Houston D.C. Manjunath attended the event and joined community members in the celebrations.
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Malvika Choudhary - Mon, 12, Jan 2026
- 16:07 EST
- 24
Pongal Thiruvizha 2026 celebrations in Katy / X (@cgihou)
The Greater Houston Tamil Sangam (GHTS) held its Pongal Thiruvizha 2026 celebrations in Katy on Jan. 10, bringing together members of the Tamil community for a day of cultural programs, traditional food, and community festivities marking the harvest festival.
Consul General of India in Houston, D.C. Manjunath attended the event and joined community members in the celebrations.The Consul General underscored the importance of preserving India’s cultural heritage overseas and commended the Tamil community for sustaining traditions through language, cuisine, and cultural expression.
Also Read: 5 Indian festivals you must experience in the U.S.
The GHTS program featured traditional Tamil folk dance forms, including Kolattam, Kummi, and Oyilattam, performed by community members, along with a cultural evening aimed at families and children.
As part of the celebrations, a Sakkarai (sweet) Pongal cooking competition was also organized at Tompkins High School in Katy.
Organizers described the Pongal Thiruvizha as a community-wide effort to bring together Tamil families in the Houston area and pass on cultural practices to younger generations, reflecting the festival’s significance as a celebration of gratitude, harvest, and shared heritage.
Pongal festivities are scheduled to continue across the Houston area through January. A Texas Gaushala celebration is set for Jan. 17 in Waller, featuring traditional Pongal cooking, Gau Pooja, and kite flying.
Another community event organized by Bharathi Kalai Manram is planned for Jan. 24 at the Sri Meenakshi Temple Auditorium in Pearland, with cultural programs and community gatherings.
Pongal is a multi-day harvest festival celebrated primarily by Tamils to honor the Sun God Surya and give thanks for a successful harvest. The name “Pongal” comes from the Tamil word meaning “to boil over,” referring to the ceremonial cooking of the sweet rice dish that symbolizes abundance and prosperity.
The festival traditionally coincides with Makar Sankranti, a pan-Indian observance of the sun’s northward journey, marking the end of winter and the onset of longer days. In Tamil culture, the period is observed over four days—Bhogi, Thai or Surya Pongal, Mattu Pongal, and Kaanum Pongal—each associated with agricultural, cultural, and social traditions.
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