In Pictures | Pongal celebrations all over the nation

A Tamil devotee prays during the Thai Pongal harvest festival at a temple in Colombo- Reuters

Hindu priests cook pongal during the Thai Pongal harvest festival at a temple in Colombo- Reuters

Devotees stand in line to collect utensils and ingredients for preparing ritual rice dishes to offer to the Hindu Sun God as they attend Pongal celebrations at a slum in Mumbai- Reuters

An Indian Hindu devotee applies a dot of vermillion paste - considered auspicious - on a new pot before starting to prepare a traditional sweet dish during an event to mark Pongal in Mumbai- AFP

Indian Hindu devotees prepare a traditional sweet dish on open fires during an event to mark Pongal in Mumbai- AFP

A Sri Lankan vendor prepares flower garlands at a Hindu temple in Colombo- AFP

Hindu devotees prepare a traditional sweet dish on open fires during an event to mark Pongal in Mumbai- AFP

Devotees prepare ritual rice dishes to offer to the Hindu Sun God as they attend Pongal celebrations at a slum in Mumbai- Reuters

Devotees pray as they prepare ritual rice dishes to offer to the Hindu Sun God during Pongal celebrations at a slum in Mumbai- Reuters

Women prepare traditional sweetened rice dish on the occasion of Pongal harvest festival at Dharavi slum in Mumbai- PTI