Usually the festival falls in the middle of the month of January in the Western calendar. The festival is celebrated for four days from the last day of the Tamil month Maargazhi (Dec/Jan) to the third day of Thai (Jan/Feb). The first day, Bhogi, is celebrated by throwing away and destroying old clothes and materials by setting them on fire to mark the end of old and emeregence of new.

  The second day, Pongal, is the main day which falls on the first day of the Tamil month Thai (January 14 or January 15 in western calendar). The Pongal day is celebrated by boiling rice with fresh milk and Jaggery early in the morning and allowing it to boil over the vessel — a tradition that is the literal translation for Pongal (in Tamil). The moment the rice gets boiled over and bubbles out of the vessel, it is offered to the Sun God, a gesture which symbolises thanksgiving to the Sun for providing prosperity. People also prepare savories and sweets, visit each other's homes, and exchange greetings.

  The third day, Maattu Pongal, is meant to offer thanks to the cattle, as they provide milk and are used to plough the lands. Jallikattu, a violent taming the wild bull contest, marks the main event of this day. During this final day, Kaanum Pongal — the word "kanum", literally meaning 'to view' — youths used to gather at river banks to view and select their future life partners, but that practice has declined. People, especially store keepers, visit beaches and theme parks during this day in modern times. During the Pongal season, people chew sugar cane and decorate the houses with kolam.