Around 250 international tourists availed the opportunity to celebrate the <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/foreigners-get-a-taste-of-pongal-in-madurai/article5579147.ece">harvest festival </a>with the villagers, as a part of the programme organised by Tamil Nadu Tourism Department in Madurai. Photo: S. James
Coimbatore corporation is constructing a <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/coimbatore-community-kitchen-work-in-full-swing/article5581365.ece">kitchen </a>with 16 stoves that will be fuelled with gas from the nearby biogas plant that uses human waste from the nearby public convenience facility. Photo: S. Siva Saravanan
<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/tendulkar-felicitates-velammal-students/article5588527.ece">Sachin Tendulkar </a>said all records were meant to be broken and he would be happy if his marks were bettered by an Indian while addressing students at Velammal Matriculation HSS on Friday. Photo: K. Pichumani
With the involvement of eight art therapists, Velvi Trust kick started its ‘Art for <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/reaching-out-to-the-autistic-through-art/article5589622.ece">Autism Festival </a>2014’ on Friday with different sessions which included painting, theatre and music for small children, teens and adults with autism. Photo: G. Moorthy
<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/selling-books-to-save-her-son-from-the-gallows/article5581473.ece">Arputhammal</a>, mother of A.G. Perarivalan (convict on death row in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case), seeks to create awareness of abolishing death penalty at the 12-day book fair at the YMCA Grounds in Nandanam, Chennai. Photo: K. V. Srinivasan
The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Board organised <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/pongal-celebration-held-at-elephant-rejuvenation-camp/article5581372.ece">Pongal celebration at the elephant rejuvenation camp </a>at Thekkampatti near Mettupalayam on Tuesday. Photo: Special Arrangement
A large number of devotees offered worship to Samayapuram Sri Mariamman during the <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/samayapuram-float-festival-held-amidst-tight-security/article5581425.ece">float festival </a>organised as part of Thaipoosam Tiruvizha. Photo: G. Gnanavel Murugan
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa announced subsidy for availing <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/conch-divers-to-learn-safe-diving-methods/article5585565.ece">SCUBA device </a>for safe diving method workshop organised for the Madurai traditional conch divers in Madurai. Photo: Special Arrangement