(Eds: Adding details)Chennai/Puducherry, Jan 14 (PTI) The harvest festival of'Pongal' was celebrated with traditional fervour across TamilNadu and neighbouring Puducherry today with the bull-tamingsport of Jallikattu and a host of other games pepping up thefestive spirit.
Though celebrated across urban and rural areas withsalutations to the sun god and nature, it was more fun andzeal in the hinterland with a host of traditional games.
'Jallikattu' was held in Avaniapuram in Madurai district,the first such event of the year. Participants wore colour-coded T shirts for easy identification. The bulls were allowedto enter the arena only after a fitness test by authorities.
Elaborate arrangements were made for the event under thedirect supervision of the District Collector. Teams of localofficials,veterinarians, and paramedics were deployed, besidesambulances. Winners were given prizes, including bureaus andother consumer appliances, by the village prize committee.
A total of 643 bulls were registered for the event, whichwas held peacefully and by following all rules, RevenueMinister R B Udhayakumar said, adding no participants or bullswere injured.
The Tamil Nadu tourism department conducted the fest inseveral parts of the state, including Tirunelveli, Thanjavur,and Kanyakumari, where foreign tourists took part in preparingsweet rice (Pongal) and witnessed cultural events like stiltwalking and fencing.
"For the world-famous Alanganallur jallikattu (on January16 in Madurai district) Chief Minister K Palaniswami will giveaway a Renault car as prize for the best bull-tamer. The bestbull-rearer will be given a Hyundai car as prize by DeputyChief Minister O Panneerselvam," Udhayakumar said.
The prizes will be given on behalf of the AIADMK,symbolising the two-leaves symbol of the ruling party, hesaid.
Traditional marital art 'Silambam,' folk dances like'Karagam' and games like rope-pulling and 'Uriyadi,' whichinvolves hitting a pot hung from rope tied to poles on twosides with a stick were also held in many parts of Tamil Nadu.
The Police department held events across the state tocelebrate Pongal, which served as a stress-buster for theuniformed personnel and their families.
Every street and locality was decked up with a fresh coatof 'kolam' (rangoli, drawings made of flour) welcoming theTamil month of 'Thai', the dawn of which is traditionallyviewed as a harbinger of new beginnings and prosperity.
Homes were decorated with mango leaves and strings offlowers as a mark of ushering in auspiciousness. Peopleoffered special prayers at temples and exchanged greetings.
Sweet rice (Pongal), made of jaggery or sugar with riceand milk, in a traditional mud pot, was offered to the Sun Godalong with pieces of sugarcane.
The food was also shared with relatives and neighbours.
Cinema halls drew huge crowds and almost all businessestablishments, including retail outlets and the ubiquitoustea stalls, were shut as the festive mood took over.
Security has, meanwhile, been strengthened at severalplaces, including Marina Beach here, where people throng inlarge numbers during 'Kaanum Pongal' (when people go on anouting) festival on Tuesday.
Pongal is celebrated traditionally for four daysbeginning with Bhogi, which was observed yesterday.
Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister KPalaniswami, DMK working president M K Stalin and otherleaders extended their Pongal greetings.
Top stars Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan also greeted thepeople.
Chief Minister Palaniswami sent a bouquet and extendedhis best wishes to the Governor and his family on theoccasion.
In Puducherry, people clad in new garments turned up atvarious shrines to offer prayers to deities.
Lt Governor Kiran Bedi, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy andhis ministerial colleagues were among those who greeted thepeople of the Union Territory. PTI VGN COR APRCHT.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.