Thai Pongal Festival for 2016 falls on January 15th. Sweet Pongal and Khara Pongal are usually prepared on this harvest festival day. Instead of trying normal rice pongal, I tried thinai arisi pongal and it was good. Thinai arisi is also known as Foxtail millet in English, Kakkum in Hindi, Korra biyyam in telugu. Millets are easy to digest and makes a Please check below for step by step instructions and pictures for preparing South Indian Thinai Arisi Khara Pongal | Fox tail Millet Ven Pongal.