Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (January 14, 2026) said Pongal, which gave the message of maintaining harmonious balance with nature, has emerged as a global festival, cherished by Tamils world over.
Participating in Pongal celebrations at the residence of Union Minister L. Murugan, the Prime Minister said this festival celebrates the hard work of the farmers and expresses gratitude to the land and the sun.
"The festival of Pongal reminds us that gratitude should go beyond mere words and become an integral part of our daily lives. When the Earth provides us with so much, it is our responsibility to cherish and protect it," Mr. Modi said at the celebrations that had Union Ministers, bureaucrats, and people from a cross-section of society in attendance.
The Prime Minister said that around the world, the Tamil community and those who cherish Tamil culture celebrate Pongal with great enthusiasm, and he was proud to be among them.
Mr. Modi said Tamil culture was one of the oldest living civilisations in the world and embodied centuries of wisdom and tradition that draw lessons from history to guide the way toward the future.
