A devoted Rajinikanth fan in Madurai celebrated Pongal in a unique way by offering prayers at a home temple dedicated to the superstar. The festival featured a 300-kg idol, bullock cart display, navadhanyam, and creative vegetable and grain decorations.
Image Source: ANI
Move over, village mandapams. Madurai has a new Pongal hotspot, and it’s inside a home! Karthik, a devoted Rajinikanth fan, took his love for the “Thalaivar” to a whole new level this Pongal. Instead of the usual celebrations, he and his family offered prayers at a temple dedicated entirely to Rajinikanth right under their own roof.
For Karthik, this is devotion. The temple, which he set up a few years ago, houses a massive 300-kg idol of the superstar.
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During Pongal, the family observed traditional rituals, complete with offerings and decorations that wouldn’t look out of place in any village festival.
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Warm wishes on Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Magh Bihu and Lohri. May the harvest season bring prosperity, happiness and new beginnings for all. ✨
May the warmth of tradition and the joy of togetherness light up every home across the country.#MakarSankranti #Pongal #MaghBihu… pic.twitter.com/uz0cCEuQOL— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) January 14, 2026
Speaking to ANI, Karthik said this was the temple’s third consecutive Pongal celebration. “Pongal is a festival dedicated to farmers. It’s meant to honour them and the rural lifestyle. Even though many of us live in cities now, we wanted to recreate the village atmosphere,” he explained.
Adding a cinematic touch, Karthik and his family recreated a scene inspired by the iconic film ‘Muthu’. A life-size Rajini idol was posed on a bullock cart, echoing the film’s famous horse-cart sequence.
“It’s our way of blending tradition with the magic of Rajini,” he added.
The decorations this year were nothing short of a feast for the eyes. The idol was adorned with fresh vegetables like carrots and beans, while a smaller display recreated the legendary ‘Padayappa’ Rajini using nine varieties of grains, or navadhanyam.
Garlands of tomatoes and dried dates added the finishing touch to both the main and processional idols.
“It’s all about showing respect, devotion, and a little creativity,” Karthik said. “Pongal is about gratitude. So we wanted to celebrate it in a way that reflects both our love for Rajini and the festival’s essence.”
Pongal, one of the most cherished festivals among Tamils worldwide, means to give thanks to nature, the sun, farm animals, farmers. It is traditionally a family affair symbolising prosperity, gratitude, togetherness.
In recent years, the Tamil Nadu government has supported the festival by providing gift packages including one kilogram of raw rice, one kilogram of sugar, and a full-length sugarcane to eligible beneficiaries.
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