Q1. Pongal 2026 (Thai Pongal) will be celebrated on which date?
A. 12 January 2026
B. 13 January 2026
C. 14 January 2026
D. 15 January 2026
Answer: C. 14 January 2026
Pongal is a four-day festival, and Thai Pongal (main day) falls on 14 January 2026.
Q2. Thai Pongal is primarily dedicated to which deity?
A. Vishnu
B. Surya (Sun God)
C. Shiva
D. Indra
Answer: B. Surya (Sun God)
Thai Pongal is a thanksgiving festival that honours Surya, symbolising sunlight, warmth, and prosperity for agriculture.
Q3. The word “Pongal” in Tamil literally refers to what?
A. Lighting lamps
B. Overflowing/Boiling over
C. Temple procession
D. New clothes
Answer: B. Overflowing/Boiling over
“Pongal” means to boil over, linked to the ritual of milk and rice overflowing—seen as a sign of abundance.
Q4. Pongal is mainly known as a ______ festival.
A. War festival
B. Harvest festival
C. Mountain festival
D. Sea festival
Answer: B. Harvest festival
Pongal is a harvest thanksgiving, celebrating food, farmers, and nature’s support systems.
Q5. Pongal is typically celebrated for how many days?
A. 1 day
B. 2 days
C. 3 days
D. 4 days
Answer: D. 4 days
The four days are commonly observed as Bhogi, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal, and Kaanum Pongal.
Q6. Which day of Pongal focuses on cattle and farm animals?
A. Bhogi
B. Thai Pongal
C. Mattu Pongal
D. Kaanum Pongal
Answer: C. Mattu Pongal
Mattu means cattle; the day celebrates animals that support farming and rural livelihoods.
Q7. Bhogi Pandigai (Pongal’s opening day) in 2026 falls on which date?
A. 12 January 2026
B. 13 January 2026
C. 14 January 2026
D. 16 January 2026
Answer: B. 13 January 2026
Bhogi is observed the day before Thai Pongal, beginning the four-day cycle.
Q8. Kaanum Pongal in 2026 falls on which date (as commonly listed in 2026 calendars)?
A. 14 January 2026
B. 15 January 2026
C. 16 January 2026
D. 17 January 2026
Answer: C. 16 January 2026
Kaanum Pongal is often marked by family visits, outings, and social gatherings.
Q9. Which practice is most strongly associated with Pongal morning decorations in Tamil homes?
A. Rangoli/Kolam designs
B. Firecracker shows
C. River boat races
D. Sand art
Answer: A. Rangoli/Kolam designs
Kolam (often with rice flour) is drawn at entrances as a symbol of welcome, beauty, and auspiciousness.
Q10. The traditional “Pongal” dish is most commonly prepared by boiling rice with ______.
A. Milk and jaggery
B. Curd and salt
C. Coconut water and pepper
D. Tea and sugar
Answer: A. Milk and jaggery
The sweet preparation (often called Sakkarai Pongal) symbolises prosperity and sharing.
Q11. The ritual of “boiling over” during Pongal symbolically represents ______.
A. Anger and protest
B. Overflowing joy and abundance
C. Fear of drought
D. End of farming
Answer: B. Overflowing joy and abundance
The overflow is considered a good omen—like blessings “spilling over” into life.
Q12. Pongal (Thai Pongal) usually falls on the first day of which Tamil month?
A. Chithirai
B. Thai
C. Aadi
D. Margazhi
Answer: B. Thai
Thai is considered auspicious, and Thai Pongal marks its start.
Q13. Pongal is closely connected with which livelihood system?
A. Mining
B. Agriculture and farming
C. Shipbuilding
D. Software industry
Answer: B. Agriculture and farming
Pongal is fundamentally agrarian—rooted in harvest cycles, farmer labour, and food production.
Q14. From a “social work” viewpoint, Pongal best highlights which value?
A. Individual competition
B. Social exclusion
C. Community solidarity and gratitude for labour
D. Urban isolation
Answer: C. Community solidarity and gratitude for labour
The festival encourages collective celebration, respect for farmers, sharing food, and strengthening social bonds.
Q15. Which of the following is NOT a commonly named day in the four-day Pongal sequence?
A. Bhogi Pongal
B. Thai Pongal
C. Mattu Pongal
D. Navratri Pongal
Answer: D. Navratri Pongal
Navratri is a different festival; Pongal’s four days have distinct traditional names.
Q16. Pongal is considered a cultural example of sustainable living mainly because it promotes ______.
A. Excess consumption and waste
B. Seasonal food and respect for nature
C. Avoiding community gatherings
D. Replacing traditional foods with packaged foods
Answer: B. Seasonal food and respect for nature
Pongal celebrates local harvest, nature’s cycles, and mindful consumption—ideas aligned with sustainability.
Q17. Which statement best describes the central “theme” of Pongal?
A. Celebrating military victories
B. Thanksgiving to Sun, nature, and farm animals for a good harvest
C. Celebrating sea trade
D. Celebrating winter snowfall
Answer: B. Thanksgiving to Sun, nature, and farm animals for a good harvest
This is the festival’s core meaning across regions and generations.
Q18. Pongal is often associated with the Sun’s northward journey, commonly called ______.
A. Dakshinayan
B. Uttarayan
C. Amavasya
D. Purnima
Answer: B. Uttarayan
Pongal is linked with the Sun’s seasonal transition and renewed agricultural hope.
Q19. Which day in the Pongal cycle is most associated with “cleansing the old and welcoming the new”?
A. Bhogi
B. Thai Pongal
C. Mattu Pongal
D. Kaanum Pongal
Answer: A. Bhogi
Bhogi is traditionally linked to renewal, including symbolic discarding of the old.
Q20. For competitive exams, Pongal is best classified under which area of current/static knowledge?
A. Only Science & Tech
B. Only International Treaties
C. Culture + Agriculture/Rural Development (interdisciplinary)
D. Only Mathematics
Answer: C. Culture + Agriculture/Rural Development (interdisciplinary)
Pongal connects culture, agrarian economy, food security, community life, and sustainability, making it relevant across multiple exam sections
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