Chennai, Jan. 14 -- Pongal, the traditional harvestfestival, was celebrated in Tamil Nadu with religiousfervour and gaiety on Thursday.The festival falls on the first day of the auspiciousTamil month 'Thai' every year and people ushered in thefestivities with a lot of enthusiasm by worshipping theSun God.People attired in new clothes, prepared sweet pongal,a traditional dish made of rice, dhal, jaggery and milkand offered it to Sun God as a mark of thanks by farmersfor a bountiful season.It was celebrated with much fanfare in rural areas wherepeople decorated their courtyards with colourful rangolisand tied festoons and prepared the pongal using thetraditional earthern pot.Thai Pongal was mainly celebrated to convey appreciationto the Sun G...