Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Education Minister, Government of India, celebrated Pongal today (14th Jan 2026) with the staff, faculty and students of Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras).

A traditional Pongal celebration was jointly organised by the Staff Club, IIT Madras and the Muthamizh Mandram, IIT Madras, under the leadership of the Institute’s administration. The event underscored the Institute’s commitment to celebrating India’s rich cultural traditions alongside academic excellence.

Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, welcomed Shri Dharmendra Pradhan at the Community Hall, where he was accorded a traditional Tamil cultural welcome, featuring folk art forms such as ‘Parai’, ‘Madattam’, ‘Mayilattam’ and ‘Poi Kaal Kuthirai’.

The Hon’ble Education Minister also viewed an elaborate rangoli (‘kolam’) created by members of the IIT Madras campus community, reflecting the festive spirit of the harvest festival.

Conveying his Pongal greetings to the IIT Madras community, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Education Minister, said, “Today, it is the beginning of Harvest Year. Many parts of the country celebrate the same festival of harvest, festival of sustainability, festival of our agricultural background in different names. In Assam and North East, it is known as ‘Bihu,’ In Punjab it is known as ‘Lohri’ and in Western parts of the country such as Gujarat and Maharashtra it is known as ‘Uttarayan’. In my part of the country, in Eastern parts, it is known as ‘Makar Sankranti’. The entire South India celebrates today as ‘Pongal’.”

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan added, “I thank Prof. V. Kamakoti for this event. I am happy to celebrate Pongal in Tamil Nadu. I wish all success in all of your careers.”

Thanking the Hon’ble Education Minister for taking part in Pongal celebrations on campus, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “The Pongal festival honours the farmer and the cow. It ushers in a fresh energy of hope to all of us. The campus community is extremely happy to have celebrated this event with our Hon’ble Minister Shri Pradhan ji.”

A key highlight of the programme was the Hon’ble Education Minister’s personal participation in the preparation of Pongal pot, symbolising gratitude to nature and the farming community. He also took part in ‘Uriyadithal’, a traditional festive activity, engaging closely with students, staff and campus residents.

Following this, the Hon’ble Minister distributed ‘Pongal Thoguppu’ (Pongal kits) to members of the IIT Madras campus community, reinforcing the values of sharing and togetherness that define the festival.

The Pongal celebrations at IIT Madras reflect the Institute’s ongoing efforts to integrate cultural values, community participation and national ethos within its academic environment, while providing students and staff an opportunity to collectively celebrate one of Tamil Nadu’s most significant festivals.