Pongal celebrated with fervour across country

Tamil people across the country and other parts of the world are celebrating the harvest festival of Pongal and the first day of Tamil month Thai on Friday, preparing the traditional food and offering prayers.

People prepare sweet pongal, made of jaggery with rice and milk, in traditional mud pot or in brass cookware, with ginger tied on the top, and offer prayers to Sun God, along with a piece of sugarcane.

The food is shared with relatives and neighbours after being offered to lord Sun.

Cows and bulls would be worshipped, particularly in the southern districts of the Tamil Nadu, for Mattu Pongal on Saturday, while people visit relatives on the last day Kaanum Pongal.

Since the Supreme Court has banned the bull-taming sport of Jallikattu, normally conducted on Mattu Pongal day, the festival is expected to be low-key in Madurai and neighbouring districts, where it is widely popular.

For the Kannum Pongal festival, security has been beefed up at several places in Chennai, including at the Marina beach, where people throng in very large numbers.

Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M Karunanidhi and other leaders have extended greetings to the people.