Thai Pongal falls on Friday, 15 January 2027. The sun enters Capricorn on the night of 14 January, at about 9.14 pm Indian time (converted from the almanac times published by Drik Panchang), and because the transit comes after sunset, the Tamil month of Thai begins the next morning. That puts Bhogi on Thursday 14 January, Mattu Pongal on Saturday 16 January and Kaanum Pongal on Sunday 17 January.
The Tamil Nadu government has not yet published its 2027 holiday list. The 2026 list came out as a gazette notification on 11 November 2025, so the 2027 order is likely in the coming weeks. Until then, plan around the pattern below, but don’t book non-refundable tickets on the assumption of extra days off.
Expected holidays, and how the list usually works
For 2026, G.O. (Ms.) No. 708 of the Public (Miscellaneous) Department gave three consecutive January holidays for state offices and banks: Pongal, Thiruvalluvar Day and Uzhavar Thirunal, on 15, 16 and 17 January. Bhogi itself was not on the list. If the same three days are given in 2027, the calendar would look like this:
| Day | Date (2027) | Holiday status |
|---|---|---|
| Bhogi | Thu 14 January | Not a listed holiday in 2026 |
| Thai Pongal | Fri 15 January | Listed holiday in 2026 |
| Mattu Pongal / Thiruvalluvar Day | Sat 16 January | Listed holiday in 2026 |
| Kaanum Pongal / Uzhavar Thirunal | Sun 17 January | Listed holiday in 2026 |
Two of those days fall on a weekend in 2027, so the effective break is shorter than in 2026. Governments have sometimes added a special holiday around Pongal through a separate order; that happened in January 2025. Wait for an official announcement before counting on it. Schools follow their own calendar from the School Education Department.
Bhogi: what you can and cannot burn
Bhogi is the morning people clear out old things, and the custom of a small bonfire is old. The problem is what goes on the fire. The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) and the state environment department have, year after year, asked residents not to burn tyres, rubber tubes, plastics and paper with chemical residue. A 2023 government press release described this as a wrong practice that produces dense black smoke, and announced awareness drives across Chennai using handouts and announcements from autorickshaws.
In practice, the message is:
- Do not burn tyres, tubes, plastic bags, foam, synthetic clothing, or treated or painted wood.
- Give old clothes, utensils and furniture to someone who can use them, or hand them over to the Corporation’s waste collection.
- If you light a fire at all, keep it small and use only dry natural material such as leaves.
- Keep fires well away from parked vehicles, electric lines and building entrances.
Enforcement has mostly meant patrols rather than fines. In one recent year, DT Next reported that TNPCB formed more than 35 teams and five squads to watch for burning of tyres, plastics and rubber across the Corporation’s zones, with police patrols through the night. To report waste burning, call the Corporation’s 1913 helpline.
What the air readings show
TNPCB monitors air quality across the city for 24 hours on Bhogi and the day before. In 2023, its results showed PM2.5 between 50 and 113 micrograms per cubic metre on Bhogi day against a standard of 60, and an AQI ranging from 135 at Anna Nagar to 277, rated poor, at Valasaravakkam. The board noted fewer tyres and plastics were being burnt than before. Early morning smog on Bhogi can still delay flights and make roads dangerous, so drive slowly with headlights on if visibility is poor. People with asthma or heart conditions should stay indoors until the smoke clears; check with your doctor about medication.
Pongal gift hamper: status for 2027
As of 18 October 2026, the state government had not announced whether there will be a Pongal gift hamper or cash for ration card holders in January 2027. The hamper is announced afresh each year, usually in late December, so its contents and amount change.
For reference, the January 2026 scheme was launched by the then Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. According to Onmanorama, it covered more than 2.2 crore ration-card households and eligible Sri Lankan Tamil refugee families. Each received 1 kg raw rice, 1 kg sugar, a whole sugarcane, a dhoti, a saree and Rs 3,000 in cash at fair price shops, with tokens issued in advance for time slots. Whether the current government continues that model is a decision it has yet to announce. Keep your smart ration card details updated so you are not left out if a scheme is declared.
Quick answers
What is the date of Pongal 2027?
Thai Pongal is on Friday 15 January 2027, with Bhogi on 14 January.
Has Tamil Nadu released its 2027 holiday list?
Not as of 18 October 2026. The 2026 list was notified on 11 November 2025.
Is burning things on Bhogi banned?
The authorities ask people not to burn tyres, plastics and rubber, and TNPCB runs patrols.
Will there be a Pongal gift in 2027?
No announcement had been made as of mid-October 2026.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- G.O. (Ms.) No. 708, Public Holidays 2026 (Tamil Nadu Government Gazette)
- Thai Pongal 2027 date (Drik Panchang)
- Press release on smokeless Bhogi, 12 January 2023 (TN DIPR)
- TNPCB Bhogi air quality results, 14 January 2023 (TN DIPR)
- TN govt’s Pongal gift: over 2.2 crore families to get Rs 3,000 (Onmanorama)
- Bhogi bonfire ritual: TNPCB squads monitor burning (DT Next)
