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Pongal
In
the South Sankranti becomes Pongal. It is a celebration of the harvest which
is observed for three days in Tamil Nadu as well as in Andhra Pradesh. The first
day is the Bhogi Pongal which is celebrated as a family festival.
Surya Pongal, the second day, is dedicated to the Sun (surya) when pongal (rice
cooked in milk and jaggery) is boiled by women and offered to the sun. Friends
greet one another by asking "Is it boiled?" and the answer given is
"It is".
It is followed by great rejoicing. Mattu Pongal, the third day, is a day dedicated
to the worship and veneration of cattle(mattu). The pongal that has been offered
to the local deities is given to the cattle to eat. The cattle are bathed and
decorated.
Coloured balls of the pongal are also made and left in the open for birds. In
Madurai, Tiruchirapalli and Tanjore, a kind of bullfight, called the "Jellikattu"
is held. Bundles containing money are tied to the horns of ferocious bulls,
and unarmed villagers try to wrest the bundles from them. With ingredients provided
by the freshly gathered harvest, community meals are held at night.
---›
Holi ---›
Onam ---› Pongal 
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