Sagar/Chennai, Jan 14 (UNI) Kites in the sky were seen flying high and Mugulu (Rangoli) on the floor sprinkled different colours of Makar Sankranti, Bihu, Pongal, Uttarayan and Poang Lum as India celebrated the festival of harvest, marking winter solstice. According to the tradition, the inauspicious phase ends with the Sun entering the Makar sign and Uttarayan beginning from today. Hindus believe that all auspicious work should be done from today. It also marks the change in the season and longer days begin with Makar Sankranti relieving people from long cold nights. Lakhs of devotees from all across the country today took a holy dip at Ganga Sagar at the confluence of the Ganga and Bay of Bengal on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. Braving biting cold and chilly winds, devotees plunged into water for the dip from the early hours of this morning. South 24-Paraganas District Magistrate PB Salim here said, 'Around 10 lakh devotees have taken the holy dip so far. No untoward incident or accident has been reported till now in the Mela. Pilgrims have come from all over the country from 22-23 states. A substantial number of foreigners are also here.' Devotees believe that a single dip in the sacred water at this time washes off the sins of a lifetime. The State Government has taken precautionary measures to avert any untoward incident. From the Coast Guard, the Army, the NDRF, Marine Police to the State Government machinery, several security personnel have been deployed in the Sagar island. The southern India celebrated the festival as Pongal. Tamil Nadu indulged in with religious fervour and gaiety. The festival falls on the first day of the auspicious Tamil month 'Thai' ever year and people ushered in the festivities with a lot of enthusiasm by worshipping the Sun God. People attired in new clothes, prepared sweet Pongal, a traditional dish made of rice, dal, jaggery and milk and offered it to Sun god as a mark of thanks by farmers for a bountiful season. It was celebrated with much fanfare in rural areas where people decorated their courtyards with colourful Rangolis and tied festoons and prepared the pongal using the traditional earthern pot. Thai Pongal is mainly celebrated to convey appreciation to the Sun God for providing the energy for agriculture. However, the festival was a low-key affair in southern districts, which were engulfed in gloom as the traditional Jallikattu (taming of bulls), usually associated with the Pongal, could not be held for the third successive year due to a ban imposed by the Supreme court. The festival was also a low key in the Cauvery delta areas which witnessed severe drought and suicide by farmers following the failure of the northeast monsoon. Tamil Nadu Governor CH Vidyasagar Rao, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and leaders of various political parties greeted the people on the occasion. In Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, people thronged the temples to offer special Poojas since dawn before indulging in the festivities, including kite flying and to savour special Sankranti dishes. The front yards of Hindu households were beautifully decorated with eyeful Rangoli (Mugulu) patterns in bright hues. The Telangana Government officially celebrated the festival with fervour at Arts and Crafts village of Shilparamam near Madapur and at Ravindra Bharati. People headed towards their native places to celebrate the festival. Governor ESL Narasimhan and Chief Ministers K Chandrasekhar Rao (Telangana) and N Chandrababu Naidu (AP) also greeted the people. In Andhra Pradesh, Mr Naidu celebrated Pongal along with his wife Bhubaneswari, son Lokesh, daughter-in-law Brahmini and grandson Davansh, at his native village Naravaripalli in Chittoor district. The traditional cockfights and ram fights were being held in rural areas on the occasion of Sankranti festival. In Madhya Pradesh, braving extreme cold, devotees started taking dip since morning in the Narmada river in Hoshangabad and Omkareshwar. People also took holy dip in the Kshipra river in the ancient temple town of Ujjain and also offered Puja in temples after taking bath in the holy rivers. Makar Sankranti was celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety in this heartland state along with other parts of the country. Devotees also paid obeisance in the temples on this occasion in the state capital. Kite flying took place in Bhopal and other cities in the state. In some places, kite flying competition was also held, the sources said. In the hill state of Himachal Pradesh, thousands of devotees in this hill state took holy dips in sulphur springs and rivers to celebrate the occasion despite cold wave. Large gatherings congregated at various holy places and took holy dips in the Satluj, Yamuna and Parvati rivers and in Nehru Kund and at Ponta Sahib. People also offered ritual of Tuladan in which grains equal to the devotees' weight were given as Daan (offering) to the priests. More UNI Team AE SNU 1957