Coimbatore, Jan. 16 -- A wave of festive cheer swept through Coimbatore on Friday as people celebrated Mattu Pongal, a key part of Tamil Nadu's most important harvest festival marking the beginning of the harvest season. Mattu Pongal was celebrated with devotion, tradition, and heartfelt joy, with family and relatives worshipping the cattle through traditional rituals, festive food, kolams, and prayers.

Earlier, cattle were given a bath, oil was applied to the horns, and they were placed with sandanam and kumkum, and they were garlanded. They were brought to a worship place where family members and relatives prepared pongal and offered prayers. The family who thanked lord surya for a successful harvest season that supports life and livel...