Explained: This article explains the political background, key decisions, and possible outcomes related to Explained : Ahead of 2026 polls, politics over festivals—from Assam to Tamil Nadu and Its Impact and why it matters right now.
As electoral politics intensifies ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, festivals, too, become political flashpoints. While in Tamil Nadu, the ruling DMK stirred controversy, projecting Pongal as “Dravidian Pongal,” thus triggering a sharp political backlash; in Assam, the opposition Congress’s attempt to make a political statement around Magh Bihu backfired when it shared an AI-generated image purportedly showing the Assam BJP headquarters on fire.
The Assam BJP unit shared a screenshot of the now-deleted Congress post, warning that deleting the post would not “nullify” what the opposition was “trying to imply”. “Deleting the post doesn’t nullify what you are trying to imply, @INCAssam. You’re exposed,” the BJP said in a post on social media.
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According to the screenshot shared by Assam BJP, the Congress posted an image of the state BJP headquarters engulfed in flames, accompanied by a caption that said: “Wishing everyone a joyous Bhogali Bihu! As we light the Meji fire, let it consume the evils that plague our land—those divisive forces masquerading as guardians, sowing discord in the name of unity. May the flames bring renewal, harmony, and a brighter Assam, Bor Axom in 2026.”
The photo was later replaced.
The BJP condemned the post, calling it “cultural vandalism at its ugliest”. Accusing the Congress of “defiling and grotesquely distorting Assamese culture with shameless audacity,” it warned that such actions would be “fiercely opposed and not tolerated”.
“The Bhela Ghar of Bhogali Bihu is a sacred, symbolic structure rooted in centuries-old tradition. It is not a real home. By deliberately twisting this ritual, you are not making a ‘mistake’—you are committing a vile act of cultural sabotage,” the BJP said, adding that the post falsely appeared to glorify the burning of real homes and risked inflaming public sentiment.
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Pongal at the residence of Union Minister L Murugan in Delhi and performed traditional rituals signifying the harvest festival in what was seen as a Tamil outreach, back in the poll-bound southern state, the ruling DMK celebrated what it called “Dravidian Pongal” as per Chief Minister M K Stalin’s directives and reignited long-standing political debate over Tamil culture, identity, regional pride, and traditions.
BJP leaders accused the DMK of attempting to erase the Hindu religious aspects of Pongal and of “politicising a centuries-old harvest festival ahead of the Assembly polls.” However, according to the DMK, Pongal should be celebrated as a secular Tamil harvest festival centred on nature, agriculture, and social equality, rather than religious rituals.
Across India, mid-January is marked by vibrant harvest festivals such as Lohri in Punjab with bonfires and bhangra, Makar Sankranti across India with kite-flying, sesame sweets, and ritual dips, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, and Magh Bihu in Assam.