Pongal (Makara Sankranthi) in India

Pongal (Makara Sankranthi) is one of the major festivals of India.This is the only one Indian festival which falls on the same date i.e January 15th of every year.From this day The Sun moves from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn or from Dakshinayana to Uttarayana. Many people believe that Uttarayana is very good season.Legend Bheeshma (Grand father of both Pandavas and Kauravas) wanted to die only in this Uttarayana and for that he waited for nearly 21 days on the bed of arrows. I can say that this is a festival of Farmers ( of course all the people celebrate this festival). It was very good when I was in the school because we used to get 15 days holidays for this festival.Ladies put rangoli in front of their houses for one month during this season. They decorate this rangoli very well.

People celebrate this festival for 3days.
1.Bhogi
2.Sankranthi
3.Kanuma
Bhogi: First of these 3 days is Bhogi. People light the fire in wee hours of this day in front of their homes, with some wood, cow dung and all the unwanted material like papers, old items in their home.Then they will have hair wash and pray to god. We should eat a curry with mix of 5 vegetables and some of moong dal should add to the regular rice on this day.This type of rice is called pulagam in telugu. There is a custom that for the children below 5 years, all the elders pour some fruits on their head. Fruits like regipallu(plums), chana and some other ones are used for this one. This is called Bhogi pallu. Makara Sankranthi: Second day is Sankranthi. This is more important day in these 3 days.Paayasam(rice, milk and sugar) is the main dish on this day.This is the harvest season for the paddy. People prepare paayasam with this new rice.

Kanuma: Third day is Kanuma. People worship their cows, oxes on this day. These are the main sources of farming in the olden days, now machines replaced these ones, but for one thing (I didnt get that one exactly) we should use oxes.
As per the Legend Lord Krishna lifted the Govardhan hill to protect the people of Gokulam from the cyclone poured by Lord Indra on this day. The festival is dedicated to cows, bulls and other animals that are part of rural economy in Andhra Pradesh.