From the archive record
Decorated cow with multi-colored beads, tinkling bells, sheaves of corn and flower garlands tied around the neck of the cow are worshiped and are fed with Pongal rice as a offering to God and Goddesses. Mattu Pongal is an Indian festival celebrated on the day following the Pongal festival (festival of first harvests) or the Makar Sankranti festival. Though the name of the festival is specific to Tamil Nadu, in India, it is also celebrated in other southern states such as Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Makar Sankranti is a festival that marks the start of northern declination (called Uttarayana in Sanskrit) of the Sun from the Zodiaca sign of Sagittarius (Sanskrit name: Dhanurmas) to Capricorn (Sanskrit: Makara), which according to Hindu calendar usually falls on 14 January. Mattu Pongal is