I agree with the two other answerers...so i guess I have to do better...
Meaning of Thai Pongal
Thai - is the tamil word for January, and pongal is a sweet offering made of rice and milk.
Thai Pongal is essentially a harvest festival - the Tamil equivalent of Thanksgiving. It is held to honor the Sun, for a bountiful harvest. Families gather to rejoice and share their joy and their harvests with others. The Sun is offered a "Pongal" of rice and milk.
There is much excitement and preparation. New clothes are made or bought. The homes and yards are cleaned days ahead. Tasty aromas of Palakaram (sweet snacks) fill the air for days ahead. On the day of Pongal, early in the morning, everyone bathes and wears new clothes.
Family members also jointly draw the kolam (a decoration laid on the floor), this is generally unique to each household and has a lot of meaning. To make the kolam - rice flour (plain and coloured) is used to draw the kolam. Parallel straight lines can be drawn using a cylindrical rod (Ulakai) as a guide. A kolam can be a plain one or can be artistically drawn with symbols of cosmic interest. The kolam defines the sacred area where the pongal is prepared.
When it was celebrated this year - Thai Pongal. Thai, the first month of the Tamil Almanac, beginning on January 13/14. Pongol, a dish of sweet concoction of rice, Moong Dal, jaggery and milk.