Is a celebration of spring on the occasion of the 'ascent' of the sun to the north (Uttarayana). In Maharashtra, Karnataka as well as parts of Andhra. Makar Sankranti is a day of goodwill and friendship. Sesame ladoos and sugar drops are distributed as a symbol of the need to be generous and kind to everyone. Women wear new clothes, new glass bangles and hold get-togethers to share sweets and gifts. A new bride is given ornaments made of sugar drops and her new relatives are invited to meet and welcome her at a Haldi Kumkum celebration.

In the south Sankranti becomes Pongal. It is a celebration of the harvest which is observed for three days in Tamilnadu as well as in Andhra Pradesh. The first day is the Bhogi Pongal which is celebrated as a family festival. Surya Pongal the second day, is dedicated to the Sun (Surya) when ponagal (rice coocked in milk and jaggery) is boiled by women and offered to the sun. Mattu Pongal, the third day is a dedicated to the worship and veneration of cattle (mattu). The Pongal that has been offered to the local deities is given to tha cattle to eat.
In Madurai, Tiruchirapalli and Tanjore, a kind of bullfight, called the "Jellikattu" is held. Bundles containing money are tied to the horns of ferocious bulls, and unarmed villagers try to wrench the bundles from them. With ingredients provided by the freshly gathered harvest, community meals are held at night.

The magnificent fesival is celebrated in Madurai on the night of full moon. The ornamented icons of the two deities, the God Sundaresa (incarnation of Shiva) and the goddess Meenakshi (incarnation of Parvati), with pearl crowns on their heads and riding on a golden bull are taken out in a splendid procession from the Meenakshi temple.
The God Alagar (incarnation of Vishnu) gives his sister Meenakshi, in marriage to Sundresa amidst great rejoicing. Devotees clothed in yellow and red dance among the processionists and spray colored water on them. The icons are floated in the tank of a raft decked with flowers and flickering lamps.

Mid-January is the time for cultural events in the lush villages around Kovalam, every year. Traditional thatch houses are decorated during these ten days long festival and are the venue for folk dances, music and festivities.

The festival starts off with a magnificent procession of bedecked camels. It is colorful spectacle of beautifully decorated camels that fascinates the onlookers with their charm and grace. Several competitions are held, marked with typical Rajasthani color, joyous music, lilting rhythms and gay festivities.