Chennai (PTI): Tamil Nadu Governor S S Barnala and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi led a host of leaders in greeting the people of the state on the eve of Pongal, the harvest festival.

From this year, the day is also being celebrated as the Tamil New Year Day as per a law passed by the state assembly last year.

Barnala, in his message, said 'may this joyous occasion bring in happiness, peace, prosperity and all round development in the state and the nation'.

Karunanidhi said Pongal was the festival, which highlighted the greatness of Tamil culture. His government had enacted a legislation to celebrate Pongal as Tamil new year also, to concede the demand of Tamil scholars, led by late Maraimalai Adigal, who passed a resolution at a meeting way back in 1921 that Thai should be first month of Tamil calender, he said.

AIADMK General Secretary Jayalalithaa said all should take a pledge on the Pongal day to eradicate violence and selfishness for better democratic traditions.

PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss said that on Pongal day, Tamils all over the world should sink their differences and raise in unison for the welfare of Sri Lankan Tamils, "suffering due to Sri lankan Army's offensive in northern parts of the island".

TNCC President K V Thangkabalu, CPI(M) leader N Varadarajan, CPI leader D Pandiyan and MDMK Chief Vaiko also greeted the people on the eve of Pongal.