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A Union Territory on the shores of the Bay of Bengal, the territory of Pondicherry is a tiny former colony of the French, which in its colonial years was referred to as "The French Riviera of the East". Essentially rooted in Indian tenets, there is a good number of Festivals and Events in Pondicherry. The Pongal festival in Pondicherry is not the least of them. One of the most popular festivals in the entire southern region of India, the Pongal festival in Pondicherry is an occasion that is celebrated with immense fanfare and revelry. Originating from agrarian concerns and other agricultural activities, the Pongal festival in Pondicherry is an occasion that stands as an indicator to the departure of the Southeast Monsoons. Not just that, the Pongal Festival in Pondicherry is also a Harvest festival. The state of Tamil Nadu also shares a passion for the Pongal festival with Pondicherry. The Pongal Festival in Pondicherry occurs between the 13th and the 16th of the month of January. During the Pongal Festival in Pondicherry people begin the preparations well in advance by first cleaning up the houses and streets in the territory. After that, the members of the community come together to decorate their houses, community halls and other public places with artistic and colorful patterns. Then comes the traditional rituals like the deflagrating of all things old and worn out; especially clothes and mats and such like. During the Pongal Festival in Pondicherry household cattle are given a bath and cleaned for the big day. After that, these cattle are decorated with garlands and flowers; even their horns are painted with bright colors and different patterns are traced on them. The revelry during the Pongal Festival in Pondicherry comprises of several aspects; one of them being the rustling up of traditional delicacies to drool over. All the food made is partaken by the family and also the household cattle.
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