Makar Sankranti and Pongal celebrations - in pictures

  • A child dressed as Hindu deity Shiva during Makar Sankranti celebrations in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. AP
    A child dressed as Hindu deity Shiva during Makar Sankranti celebrations in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. AP
  • People fly kites during Makar Sankranti festival in Hyderabad, India. AP
    People fly kites during Makar Sankranti festival in Hyderabad, India. AP
  • Kites on display ahead of Makar Sankranti in Hyderabad. AP
    Kites on display ahead of Makar Sankranti in Hyderabad. AP
  • A vendor arranges kites at a shop in Hyderabad. AFP
    A vendor arranges kites at a shop in Hyderabad. AFP
  • People shop for kites, to take part in good-natured kite-fighting competitions as part of Makar Sankranti celebrations. AP
    People shop for kites, to take part in good-natured kite-fighting competitions as part of Makar Sankranti celebrations. AP
  • Cattle are decorated and paraded through villages as part of a traditional practice believed to bring good fortune to the families who own them, on the occasion of Makar Sankranti in Bangalore. AFP
    Cattle are decorated and paraded through villages as part of a traditional practice believed to bring good fortune to the families who own them, on the occasion of Makar Sankranti in Bangalore. AFP
  • Villagers march along with their cattle through a village in Bangalore. AFP
    Villagers march along with their cattle through a village in Bangalore. AFP
  • Hindu devotees crowd the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers to take a ritualistic bath during Makar Sankranti in Prayagraj. AP
    Hindu devotees crowd the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers to take a ritualistic bath during Makar Sankranti in Prayagraj. AP
  • Ganga Sagar Fair is an annual gathering of Hindu pilgrims during Makar Sankranti on Sagar Island, to take a dip in the sacred waters of the Ganges River before it reaches the Bay of Bengal. EPA
    Ganga Sagar Fair is an annual gathering of Hindu pilgrims during Makar Sankranti on Sagar Island, to take a dip in the sacred waters of the Ganges River before it reaches the Bay of Bengal. EPA
  • An Indian monk applies tilak to devotees during Makar Sankranti on Sagar Island, about 130km south of Kolkata. EPA
    An Indian monk applies tilak to devotees during Makar Sankranti on Sagar Island, about 130km south of Kolkata. EPA
  • Hindu priests perform rituals as pilgrims look on at the confluence of the Ganges River and the Bay of Bengal during the Ganga Sagar Mela. AFP
    Hindu priests perform rituals as pilgrims look on at the confluence of the Ganges River and the Bay of Bengal during the Ganga Sagar Mela. AFP
  • Poush Sankranti celebrations in Old Dhaka, Bangladesh. EPA
    Poush Sankranti celebrations in Old Dhaka, Bangladesh. EPA
  • Fireworks and laser lights illuminate the sky during the Poush Sankranti celebration in Old Dhaka. EPA
    Fireworks and laser lights illuminate the sky during the Poush Sankranti celebration in Old Dhaka. EPA
  • Indian devotees perform a Ganga aarti ritual at Sagar Island. EPA
    Indian devotees perform a Ganga aarti ritual at Sagar Island. EPA
  • A devotee blows a conch shell at Sagar Island. EPA
    A devotee blows a conch shell at Sagar Island. EPA
  • Indian men bathe a cow in Bay of Bengal on the occasion of Pongal at Marina beach in Chennai, India. EPA
    Indian men bathe a cow in Bay of Bengal on the occasion of Pongal at Marina beach in Chennai, India. EPA
  • Gangireddu, a sacred decorated bull, is part of the celebrations. AP
    Gangireddu, a sacred decorated bull, is part of the celebrations. AP
  • A blessing ritual as part of the annual celebration. AP
    A blessing ritual as part of the annual celebration. AP
  • Participants compete in a bout of traditional mud wrestling on Makar Sankranti, on the outskirts of Chandigarh. AFP
    Participants compete in a bout of traditional mud wrestling on Makar Sankranti, on the outskirts of Chandigarh. AFP
  • A Hindu devotee cooks Pongal, a traditional rice dish, at a temple in Colombo. AFP
    A Hindu devotee cooks Pongal, a traditional rice dish, at a temple in Colombo. AFP
  • Tamil women cook special food to celebrate the harvest festival of Pongal in Dharavi, Mumbai. AP
    Tamil women cook special food to celebrate the harvest festival of Pongal in Dharavi, Mumbai. AP
  • A participant tries to control a bull during the annual bull taming event Jallikattu in Palamedu village on the outskirts of Madurai in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. AFP
    A participant tries to control a bull during the annual bull taming event Jallikattu in Palamedu village on the outskirts of Madurai in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. AFP
  • A bull is released into a crowd for Jallikattu, an ancient sport held during Pongal festival. AFP
    A bull is released into a crowd for Jallikattu, an ancient sport held during Pongal festival. AFP