GEORGE TOWN: The Ponggal festival was ceremoniously celebrated by many at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness temple at Jalan Kebun Bunga here.
Congregants arrived early this morning and began cooking the ponggal, a rice mixture, to mark the celebration from as early as 9am.
Temple committee member D Dvarakadish, 70, said that the ponggal usually will be boiled for an hour or so until the froth spilles out during which people will cry out 'ponggal lo ponggal'.
"We have been celebrating this for the past 15 years and it is such a joy to see everyone come together early in the morning, attend the prayers and cook the ponggal together.
"We welcome, regardless of race and religion to join us to celebrate ponggal together," he said.
The festival is traditionally celebrated by farmers as a sign of expressing thankfulness to the God of the Sun - also known as Vivasvan, for a bountiful harvest and prosperity.