When cultural traditions with deep civilisational roots endure, they often face attempts to be reshaped through new ideological narratives. In Kerala, critics have long accused Communist parties of secularising Onam. In Tamil Nadu, similar concerns are now being raised over Pongal, with allegations that the DMKand the newly formed TVK parties are seeking to dilute the festival’s traditional character by recasting it as a secular event and compelling Abrahamic faith communities to participate, thereby altering its Hindu and agrarian identity.
This has brought renewed focus on the concept of Dravida Pongal, to detach the harvest festival from its Hindu roots while projecting it as a broader cultural and political observance that includes Abrahamic religious communities.
Dravidam denotes a geographical landscape, not a religion, language, or denomination, covering regions south of the Vindhya range, including parts of the former Bombay Presidency, Madras Presidency, and Hyderabad State, where Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, and Malayalam are spoken as mother tongues.
Questions are being raised by Hindus and political leaders as to why the DMK has been bent on celebrating Pongal by rebranding it as Dravida Pongal and Equity Pongal, while also attempting to project it as the Tamil New Year, which traditionally falls only in Chithirai (Mesha). The DMK has also tried to mark Thiruvalluvar Day on the third day of the Pongal festival, despite scholarly consensus that Thiruvalluvar, according to Maraimalai Adigal and other scholars, was born in Vaikasi Anusham.
The DMK government altered Thiruvalluvar’s traditional attire from saffron to white and removed religious symbols, including sacred ash and the sacred thread, moves critics say were aimed at diminishing the spiritual depth of his couplets. It also lent support to a theory promoted by certain Christian groups that Thiruvalluvar was not a Hindu but a Christian sage and poet.
Ahead of the Pongal festival, DMK president and Chief Minister MK Stalin issued an epistle to party cadres and functionaries, urging them to begin celebrating Dravida Pongal from the New Year and to use the festival as a political tool to highlight the achievements of the DMK government over the past four and a half years. Referring to Periyar (E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker), Anna (C. N. Annadurai), and Kalaignar (M. Karunanidhi), he asked cadres to celebrate Pongal as Dravida Pongal from the first day of the New Year.
Netizen Arjuna Tamizhelavan questioned this narrative, asking: “Why is there no Dravida Ramzan or Dravida Christmas? What is Dravida Pongal? Whom are you fooling?”
கேட்டாப்ல பாரு நாக்க புடுங்குற மாதிரி 😁 pic.twitter.com/valgctsw0D
— அர்ஜுன் தமிழீழவன் (Arjun) (@___Arjun___04) January 15, 2026
Tamil Nadu Minister K. Ponmudi, who faces cases over controversial remarks comparing Hindu religious symbols to a commercial sex worker and is also accused in corruption cases, triggered outrage by claiming that Pongal is not a Hindu festival.
He stated: “Makar Sankranti is not a Hindu festival. It is a festival of Muslims, Christians, and Hindus combined.”
Reacting sharply, a netizen using the handle SanghiPrince posted: “This anti-Hindu DMK will never change its abusive ways unless DMK is completely eradicated in this election.”
Makar Sankranti is not a Hindu festival. It's the festival of Muslim, Christians and Hindus combined, says DMK minister Ponmudi.
This Anti Hindu DMK will never change their abusive ways unless DMK is completely eradicated by this election.😤 pic.twitter.com/bWKo5AbVIo
— Sanghi Prince 🚩 (@SanghiPrince) January 15, 2026
Another netizen, Tamil Lab 2.0, noted that many D-Stocks and V-Stocks (TVK supporters) now call Pongal the Tamil New Year and describe it as a “secular” festival. The post recalled that Periyar, writing under the pen name Screwloose in Kudiyarasu (1931), had dismissed Pongal as a four-day “nuisance”, questioning the extravagance of the celebrations and mocking what he called Paazhum Pongal. The post argued that Dravidian outfits later reversed their stance for political convenience.
Today, lot of DStocks and Vstocks (TVK-ians) would be calling Pongal as Tamil New Year and wishing for this "secular", " Tamil" festival. CM even wanted to celebrate it as "Dravida Pongal"
But their ideological leader, "Thamizhar Thalaivar" EVR called Pongal as a 4 day… pic.twitter.com/M3eOjfIMOO
— Tamil Labs 2.0 (@labstamil) January 15, 2026
Another netizen, Sinha, warned that a narrative is being pushed to detach Hindu festivals from their religious identity, stating that similar arguments are being made about Durga Puja, Onam, and Diwali.
Pongal isn’t a Hindu festival, it’s Tamil.
Durga Puja isn’t related to Hinduism, it’s Bengali.
Onam isn’t related to Hinduism, it’s Malayali.
Diwali isn’t a Hindu festival, it’s North Indian.This is the propaganda being pushed…
Soon, the same will be said for every Hindu…— Mr Sinha (@Mrsinha) January 15, 2026
Critics say this forms part of a coordinated campaign that selectively targets Hindu festivals under the guise of environmental and social concerns. No comparable objections are raised during Ramzan or Bakrid, despite slaughterhouse waste polluting land and water bodies, or during Christmas celebrations, when large numbers of trees are felled and billions of candles are burned, releasing soot, volatile organic compounds, and carcinogens that can cause respiratory issues and long-term health risks.
Netizen Rishi Bagree summed it up by stating: “And now: Pongal is not a Hindu festival – DMK.”
And Now :
Pongal is not a Hindu festival – DMK pic.twitter.com/fBIj1WEXpb— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) January 15, 2026
On Dravida Pongal, critics observe that the ritual has been reduced to procuring cooked Pongal from catering services, placing it in pots without fire, wearing shoes and slippers, and posing for photographs alongside representatives of other faiths. They contrast this with traditional celebrations, including those organised by BJP leaders and the Ministry of State Murugan events, where fire is lit, ingredients are added ritually, and footwear is removed.
Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, who earlier spoke of eradicating Sanatana Dharma, has also drawn criticism, with opponents likening his sermons on communal harmony to moral lectures delivered by those accused of undermining Hindu traditions.
Police personnel across Tamil Nadu celebrated Samathuva Pongal in the name of communal harmony. According to tradition, Pongal coincides with Makar Sankranti and marks the Sun’s transition into the zodiac sign of Makara (Capricorn). Bhogi is dedicated to Indra, Thai Pongal to the Sun, Mattu Pongal to cattle, and Kaanum Pongal to family bonds. Critics argue that attempts to delink these rituals from their Hindu roots amount to cultural erasure.
Netizen Tatvumasi argued that by compelling minorities to participate, the DMK was insulting their faiths, as Pongal involves worship of the Sun, Earth, rain gods, and cattle. He pointed out that while Muslims have largely opposed celebrating Pongal as un-Islamic, churches have begun organising Pongal celebrations, which critics see as an attempt to appropriate the festival and draw economically vulnerable Hindus.
What the hell is catholic pongal @Pontifex ?
Stop appropriating our festivals.
Leave Hindu festivals alone. pic.twitter.com/KOov4XjQzg
— Tathvam-asi (@tathvamasi6) January 16, 2026
Meanwhile, DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran sparked controversy with remarks contrasting northern India and Tamil Nadu, prompting BJP leader Narayanan Thirupathy to condemn the comments as offensive and insensitive, demanding an apology to Hindi-speaking people.
The fledgling TVK, critics argue, mirrors Dravidian ideology despite projecting itself as an alternative. In a Pongal message, Vijay extended greetings for Pongal and the Tamil New Year:
TVK Chief and actor Vijay tweets, "On this Thai Pongal festival, the Tamil harvest celebration, may the lives of Tamils across the world be filled with love and peace, and may their well-being and prosperity abound. Heartfelt Pongal and Tamil New Year greetings to one and all" pic.twitter.com/5ofmluiNtJ
— ANI (@ANI) January 15, 2026
Critics point out that the Tamil New Year is traditionally observed in April and accuse TVK of merely replicating DMK narratives. They further question why traditions are altered selectively, asking why Pongal, celebrated for centuries as part of Tamil Hindu culture, is now being assigned a new political identity while institutions are criticised or praised depending on ideological convenience.
