Hyderabad:
Tamils around the world are celebrating the harvest festival of Pongal today. The celebrations started on Sunday with people setting bonfires on the streets with agricultural and household waste to mark 'Bhogi'. It is the first day of the Tamil month of Thai. This day is believed to usher in prosperity in life.
Bhogi, also known as Indran, is celebrated in honour of Hindu god Indra. Men, women and children went around the bonfires with prayers. Some sang songs and danced.
However, there is less cheer in the delta region of Tamil Nadu as farmers are overlooking a huge crop loss due to shortage of water.
In Andhra Pradesh, the festival is celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety across the state, especially in the coastal region, famous for agricultural crops.
After thoroughly cleaning their houses, women folks set cow-dung balls called 'Gobbemma' and placed them akin to rangoli patterns.
After special prayers in temples, the families prepare various dishes, especially Pongal, made of rice and
daal. Traditionally people prepare Pongal using newly harvested rice in a brand new pot.
In other parts of the country, especially in North India, the day is celebrated as Makar Sankranti, which marks the day when the sun moves from the Tropic of Capricorn to the Tropic of Cancer.
Rangoli, kite flying, decoration of bulls, cockfights, bull-fights and other rural sports mark the festival.
Towns and villages wore a festive atmosphere with colourful kites dotting the skies and people participating in competitions to mark the festival.
(With Inputs from IANS)