The festival is a significant cultural event in Ambattur, as it is throughout Tamil Nadu. The local municipal government has previously participated in and organized celebrations. During the festival:
- People wake up early, bathe, and cook the traditional Pongal dish in a new clay pot, often outdoors.
- The dish is allowed to boil over, a symbolic act accompanied by shouting “Pongalo Pongal!” which signifies prosperity and abundance.
- The cooked Pongal is offered to the Sun God, along with sugarcane, vegetables, and spices.
- The Tamil Nadu government also implements a Pongal gift scheme, providing hampers to eligible PDS ration card holders, including those in Ambattur.