Pongal or Makar Sankranti Activities and Games for Preschoolers

Pongal is around the corner! It is an important Hindu harvest festival to thank the sun, Mother Nature, and the various farm animals that help to contribute to a bountiful harvest. The festival is a 4-day long affair and is celebrated mainly in Tamil Nadu. On the day of Pongal, as part of the festivities, a special dish called sweet pongal is made in a pot. Pongal is also the term for a rice dish. In Tamil, “pongal” means “boil” or “bubbling up.”

The harvest festival is celebrated by many more states with different names, like Makar Sankranti in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka, and in Punjab as Maghi.

Through various festival-themed learning activities and games, you can help preschool children (3 to 5 years old) learn about festivals like Pongal and the culture and traditions associated with them. Here are some fun activities to get you started.

Through various Pongal-themed learning activities, you can help your preschool children (3 to 5 years) old) learn about Pongal, and the culture and traditions associated with it. Here are some fun activities to get you started.

5 Pongal Activities For Your Preschooler

Count Your Kites

Things You Need

• A large piece of paper
• Scissors
• Crayon or color pencil
• A bowl
• Bottle caps or clips

Method

1. Take the paper and cut it out into five small kite shapes.
2. Write down the numbers 1 to 5 on each of the kites.
3. Hand over a bowl full of old bottle caps or clips to your little one.
4. The activity is to put the correct number of bottle caps or clips on each kite.

Fill ’Em Up Alphabets

Things You Need

• A3 size paper
• Color pencils
• Pebbles

Method

1. Take the A3 paper.
2. Outline the word “PONGAL” on it with different colors (as big as possible).
3. Ask your child to pick up the pebbles and fill up each alphabet with them.

Design Your Pongal Pot

Things You Need

• 2 A4 size papers
• Color pencils or crayons
• White cotton balls

Method

1. Take the two pieces of paper.
2. Draw an outline of a Pongal pot on one.
3. Design it with geometric designs, similar to a kolam.
4. Ask your li’l one to color it.
5. Cut it out along the outline of the Pongal pot.
6. Stick it on the other paper, centrally.
7. Ask your preschooler to pick up the cotton balls and help them stick the cotton on the mouth of the pot to depict rice boiling over.

Sort It Out

Things You Need

• A few til (sesame) laddoos
• Sweet corn kernels
• Medium-sized bowl
• Small bowls

Method

1. Mix the laddoos and the sweet corn kernels in a medium-sized bowl.
2. Ask your preschooler to pick and sort the laddoos and sweet corn kernels into the two small bowls.

Reading Time

Here are a few suggestions for books to introduce your li’l one to the festival.