Tamizhar Thiruvizha : Pongal Through a Christian Lens

Warm Pongal Festival Greetings to You and Your Family!

May this harvest season fill your homes with gratitude, peace, and renewed hope as we celebrate life, community, and God’s abundant grace.

Celebration is not merely an event or a festive gathering. It is a meaningful expression of life, faith, gratitude, and community. When celebration is understood deeply, it becomes a bridge connecting culture with God, society with faith, and human values with divine purpose. Without clarity of purpose, celebration can easily turn into noise, routine, or empty display. But when rooted in meaning, celebration transforms hearts.

The Bible makes it clear that God is not against celebration. In fact, God invites His people to rejoice: “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). Celebration, when centered on God, becomes an act of worship and thanksgiving—not mere entertainment.

Faith and Culture: Not Enemies, but Partners

Christian faith does not destroy culture; rather, it purifies, redirects, and gives deeper meaning to cultural expressions. The Church does not live in isolation from society. God meets people within their language, customs, seasons, and rhythms of life. That is why festivals like Pongal matter.

Christian faith clearly teaches that we worship the Creator, not creation. The sun, earth, rain, and cattle are not gods; they are gifts from God. “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1). Pongal becomes problematic only when creation is worshipped. But when Pongal is celebrated as thanksgiving to the Creator, it becomes spiritually meaningful and biblically sound.

As theologian M. M. Thomas rightly said, “The Gospel does not call us out of history, but sends us back into history as agents of renewal.” Festivals are part of our history, and faith is called not to reject them, but to renew them.

Pongal Through a Christian Lens

Thai Pongal – Thanksgiving to God

Thanksgiving is more than spoken words. If we say “thank You, God,” but then pollute the air by bursting crackers, burning unnecessary things, or harming the environment, our gratitude remains incomplete. True thanksgiving is lived out through responsible actions—by protecting nature and caring for God’s creation.

The Bible reminds us that God entrusted the earth to humanity with responsibility: “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15). Let our Pongal celebration reflect this calling through care, restraint, and respect for creation.

Mattu Pongal – Gratitude for Life-Supporting Forces

Traditionally, Mattu Pongal thanks cattle for agricultural labour. Today, even when many no longer depend directly on cattle, the meaning remains powerful. It reminds us to thank God for all life-supporting forces—farmers, labourers, sanitation workers, drivers, caregivers, essential workers, systems, and even unseen helpers. “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Kaanum Pongal – Celebrating Community and Unity

Kaanum Pongal beautifully aligns with Christian values. It emphasizes rest after labour, family bonding, visiting relatives, reconciliation, and social harmony. The Bible affirms this joy of togetherness: “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1). Celebrating Kaanum Pongal involves no theological compromise—it is simply gratitude for the people God has placed in our lives.

Spiritual writer Bede Griffiths said, “Christ fulfills the deepest aspirations of every culture.” Tamil culture’s love for nature, gratitude, and community finds its fulfillment—not denial—in Christ.

இனிய தமிழர் திருநாள் பொங்கல் நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள்

(Iniya Tamizar Thirunaal Pongal Nalvaazhthukkal!)

May this Pongal season lead you into new paths of hope, strengthen your relationships, and fill your hearts with gratitude to the Creator who provides abundantly.

With love,

Rev. Daniel Justine.