Pongal
January
Chennai (Madras), Tamil Nadu
Pongal, Tamil Nadu’s harvest festival, is Chennai’s favourite celebration. Observed for four days in mid-January, this extravaganza sees the preparation of a delicious sweetmeat called Pongal – a mixture of rice and jiggery. Each household draws Kolam and people dress up in their finest attire to visit temples, where the sounds of bells, conches, clarinets and drums fill the air.