Pongal (பொங்கல், /ˈθaɪˈpo�ŋ�l/, also spelled Poṅkal), is also referred to as Thai Pongal (தைப்பொங்கல், also spelled Tai Pongal), is a multi-day Hindu harvest festival of South India, particularly in the Tamil community.[3][4][5] It is observed at the start of the month Tai according to Tamil solar calendar,[4] and this is typically about January 14.[3][1] It is dedicated to the Hindu sun god,[6] the Surya, and corresponds to Makar Sankranti, the harvest festival under many regional names celebrated throughout India.[7][8][9] The three days of the Pongal festival are called Bhogi Pongal, Surya Pongal and Maattu Pongal.[7]
Its dedicated to the Hindu god? No wonder its forbidden for muslim..

So? I celebrate Gawai in sarawak all the time together with Christian dayak. U don't see them go mass conversion. Lol.