Pongal occurs in one of the most beautiful months in Tamil Nadu. This month in the Tamil calendar is called tai. People wake up early in the morning and even before the sunrise they hop out of bed and start singing a verse called the Thirupavai. Every temple and almost every household follows this tradition.

What is special in these Pongal songs is, they not only possess a native charm and the aroma of the soil but also have preserved in them a certain literary and artistic quality, which is at once striking and characteristic.

These Pongal songs deal with such universal themes as Love and War, Wealth and Poverty and they also deal with religious themes and mythological episodes. They center round famous chieftains, leaders and legends associated with the festival of Pongal . Each village in South India has these songs in hundreds and each temple has its own traditional songs. There are several Pongal songs particular to the area and these songs reflect the individuality of the region and its traditions in worship. Pongal is also associated with the dance and drama that play a very important part and so naturally these songs form the major bulk of this valuable treasure.

Pongalo Pongal

Pongalo Pongal!
Thai pongal!
karumbu soru yarukku
yenakku
sarkarai satham yaruku
ungalluku
Pongalo Pongal!
Mattu Pongal!
nandasoru yaruku
mattuku
Pongalo Pongal!
yenna machan
paal pongiyacha
pongalo pongal
Contributed by: Srinivasan

Thalaivar Pongal Songs

Podhuvaaha en manasu thangon
Oru poattiyinnu vandhuputta singon
Unmaya solvaen nallatha seiven
vetri mel vetri varum...
aaduvom paaduvom kondaaduvom
aanandham kaanuvom ennaalumae

Vandhaendaa paal kaaraen
adadaaaaa
Pasumaatta paththi paada poaraen
Oru paattu katti aada poaraen
Pullu kuduththaa paalu kudukkum
unnaala mudiyaathu thambi

Hey Paadhi pulla porakkuthappaaa
Pasumbaala thai paala nambiiii

Sakalakalavallavan

'amman kovil kizhakkale
anna vayal merkale
namma ooru naduvale nikkuthadi
nathu sanam nammai kandu sokkuthadi

angala ammanukku
adiyile pongal vacha......'

Thanda Nana

Thanda nana....
Thanda nana...
Thanda naa naa..aaa.. hoi

Bogi idhu Bogi idhu nandha laalaaaa... hoi...
Bogi idhu Bogi idhu nandha laalaaaa... hoi...

katukuyilu manasukkulla paatukonnum panjamilla paadathaan
kavalaikattu vittuputtu thavilaith thattu thullikittu aadathan
ellorum moththathile sandhosha saththathilea
onnaana naerathile ullasa nenjathilae

Podaa ellam vittuthallu pazhasaiyellam suttuthallu
pudhusaa ippa porandhomunnu ennikollada

These Pongal songs , old and yet so full of life are always new and progressively modern. They stem from the proverbial Banyan tree of the human mind that has its roots deep into the past but continually stretches out its fresh green branches from the present to the future. These songs were born several centuries ago; they are being born every generation; they will be born and reborn over and over again!