Hindu devotees led ritually decorated cows over burning hay to celebrate Makar Sankranti in south India in a rite seeking good fortune and protection from harm. <br /><br />In Mandya district, Karnataka state for the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti on January 14, men decorated cows with garlands and bells and walked them over burning piles of hay. <br /><br />The Makar Sankranti festival marks the advent of spring and is celebrated by kite-flying and other regional festivities in the month of January. The age-old ritual is believed to bring good fortune and keep cows and other livestock and crops from harm's way. <br /><br />While the rest of the country celebrates Makar Sankranti (also known as Pongal, Lohri, Bihu in different parts of India), people in Karnataka perform the cattle fire walk instead.
