#Pongal2025: K-Town celebrities on their most cherished festival memories

Pongal is all about good food, family time and big time nostalgia. We ask a few Kollywood stars about their favourite Pongal memories and here's what they had to say!
Megha Akash

My most cherished memory of Pongal is waking up early in the morning, making Pongal with my mother, and eating the sweet Pongal made by her, which I feel is the best in the world. One special Pongal memory of mine is when my neighbour and I would go to her house, keep a pot of Pongal outdoors, and wait to say, ‘Pongalo Pongal.’ I always enjoy setting up the bricks, lighting the fire, putting the pot and the Pongal, and waiting for it to overflow. It’s a very sweet memory, and Pongal is a very special festival.
Ramya Paandiyan

As a child, I used to celebrate Pongal at my mom’s native, Courtallam. We used to put one big kolam in front of my patti’s, my neighbour's and my house. I used to wake up at 3.30 in the morning to see the kolam being drawn. It used to be a very chill and smoky atmosphere. In the centre of the Kolam, they keep the Pongal Panai and make the Pongal. Also, for me, Pongal is sugarcane, as it’s my favourite. Even Sweet Pongal comes second. Most of our family used to eat sugarcane together and tell stories to each other. It used to be beautiful to see kolam in front of everyone’s house, and I also have fond memories of seeing cattle set decorated.
Nikkii Galrani Pinisetty

The Pongal memory I cherish the most is when my first Tamil movie, Darling (2015), was released on Pongal Day. It’s one of the most memorable days of my life, and it happened to be on an auspicious day. It was beautiful how I was welcomed with such love and warmth to this lovely state. My career kicked off in Pongal. I started celebrating the festival when I moved to Chennai, which was when I made my Tamil debut. It’s been 10 years since I started celebrating the festival. Now that I’m married to a lovely South Indian boy, I celebrate Pongal at home as well. It’s a new culture that I have been exposed to, and I really love it.
Vikram Arul Vidyapathi

In 2014, my college friends and I went to SSR Pankajam Theatre in Saligramam to watch Veeram and Jilla. It took a huge fight to even get tickets for these films as they were so much in demand. A friend of mine sincerely stood there and bought the tickets at night, and we went for the early morning show. It was one of the first times that I watched a big-hero film in a theatre. That time was also a golden period of my life. It was during my college time, and it was when I became more independent and started to go out more.
Aditi Balan

Pongal, for me, is having Amma’s vadai and sweet pongal in the morning. I used to also watch movies in the afternoon with my family. I remember watching Pattimandram on TV. I don’t even know if they have those shows nowadays, as I haven’t seen cable TV in ages. A striking memory during Pongal is watching two hour-long movies on TV for about four hours due to the ads. As I'm a sweet tooth, saying no to sugar has always been tough. And during Pongal, it becomes impossible. But that’s what makes the festival special — family, food and the little indulgences.
Vedhika

As a child, Sankranti/Pongal was one of my favourite festivals, filled with joy and vibrant traditions. Growing up, I remember decorating the house with colourful rangolis, doing puja and relishing homemade delicacies like ellu bella. The festival always brought the family together, as we celebrated the harvest season with warmth and gratitude. Even today, I cherish those memories and try to recreate them wherever I am, as they remind me of my roots, the beauty of our culture and mom’s special festival treats and excitement.
Lovelyn Chandrasekhar

Pongal has always been very special, especially when I was younger because then we had more time. My grandparents and a lot of my family used to go to our farm; there are a lot of animals there. Of course, we enjoy eating sugarcane, and mom makes the yummiest sweet pongal. Celebrating Pongal with everyone together is a great way to start the New Year. Mattu Pongal is particularly special because we celebrate it with the cows at our farm. We give them a bath, put kumkum on them and groom them.
Abby V

Since I grew up outside India, Indian festivals were always celebrated with more intensity and fervour at home to keep in touch with our roots. Pongal was, of course, no exception — with the routine boiling of milk, sweet and butter Pongal and wearing traditional clothes. I remember singing rare ragas like Surya and Bhatiyar to celebrate the festival as an ode to the Sun. Now that I have moved back to India for my music, I still hold these traditions close to my heart and celebrate it with food, festive clothes and music.