Religious fervour, gaiety mark Pongal celebrations in TN

Chennai, Jan 15 (UNI) Pongal, the traditional harvest festival, was celebrated in Tamil Nadu with religious fervour and gaiety. The festival falls on the first day of the auspicious Tamil month 'Thai' every 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, dhal, 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…