Pongal is the Tamil harvest festival, and the Pongal kolam shows the pongal pot boiling over with sweet rice, sugarcane and the rising sun. This 2.5 ft kolam takes about 45 minutes and has a red kaavi border.
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1
Draw a round pot in the centre with rice and foam bubbling over the top.
Step 2
Draw a sugarcane on each side of the pot, leaning in, and a half sun with rays behind it.
Step 3
Fill the pot red with white and yellow patterns, the rice white, the sugarcane purple with green leaves, and the sun orange and yellow.
Step 4
Draw a square border with a double white line, fill it with kaavi (red), and add kolam loops in the corners.
Tips
- Draw the pongal kolam on Bhogi night or early on Pongal morning.
- Add a few turmeric leaves tied around the pot neck.
Frequently asked questions
Which kolam is drawn for Pongal?
A kolam with a pongal pot boiling over, sugarcane and the sun is the most popular.
When is Pongal 2027?
Thai Pongal falls in mid-January (14 or 15 January). Check your local calendar for the exact day.
