There are a few secular state holidays ( e . g . , independence day ) and some solar holidays , such as the entry of the sun into the sign of aries ( mesa - samkranti ) , marking the beginning of the new astrological year ; the sun ' s entry into the sign of capricornus ( makara - samkranti ) , which marks the winter solstice but has coalesced with a hoary harvest festival , which in southern india is very widely celebrated as the pongal festival ; and the mahavisuva day , which is new year ' s eve 有几个世俗的国家假期（比如，独立日） ，还有一些有关太阳的节日，比如太阳进入白羊座的节日（玛萨?山卡提） ，标记着新的占星年开始；太阳进入摩羯座（玛卡拉? ?山卡提） ，标记着冬至日，但与一个古老的收割节日接合，在南印度作为丰收节而被广泛地庆祝，而摩诃维苏亚节，是除夕。
