Madurai district will host a special Pongal Tourism Festival on January 14 and 17, aimed at offering a unique cultural experience for domestic and international tourists, according to District Collector Praveenkumar.
Organised by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Department, the festival will showcase traditional Pongal celebrations along with various rural art forms, encouraging active participation from tourists.
January 14 – Rural Pongal Experience
On January 14, tourists will be taken by a special bus from the Madurai District Tourism Office at 8:00 AM to Chathirapatti village. The village community will welcome them in traditional Tamil style, followed by a bullock cart procession through the village.
Tourists will get a firsthand experience of preparing Pongal along with villagers and will be served traditional Pongal. Cultural programmes such as Bharatanatyam, rural folk performances, and traditional Tamil games will also be held.
January 17 – Jallikattu at Alanganallur
On January 17, at around 10:00 AM, foreign tourists will be taken by a government special bus from the Madurai Tourism Office to the world-famous Alanganallur village. Arrangements have been made for them to safely watch the Jallikattu event from a designated spectator gallery reserved for foreign tourists.
Registration Details
Foreign tourists wishing to participate in these events can register in advance by submitting their name and passport copy at the Madurai District Tourism Office, No.1, Melaveli Street.
Contact Details:
Phone: 0452-2334757, 9176995868
Email: touristofficemadurai@gmail.com
The District Collector has encouraged tourists to make use of this opportunity to experience Tamil Nadu’s rich Pongal traditions and cultural heritage.
