‘Pongal’ celebrated with fervor by devotees in Seychelles |28 January 2023
The Seychelles Tamil Mandram celebrated Pongal Festival last Sunday at the Temple in Victoria.
Some 250 people of Tamil origin and other background participated in this grand festival.
The ladies in groups where involved in cooking Pongal (rice porridge) dish in their allocated pots in a traditional method using firewood and made an offering to the sun god and worshipped the gods.
The Indian high commissioner, Kathik Pande, was the Chief Guest at the event.
The guests also participated in traditional games organised by the members of Seychelles Tamil Mandram for ladies and children.
The event ended with a prize giving and lunch for all participants.
Pongal, also referred to as Thai Pongal, is a multi-day Hindu harvest festival celebrated by Tamils all over the world. It is observed at the start of the month Thai according to Tamil solar calendar and this festival is celebrated usually on January 14 or January 15 depending on the sun's orbit around earth that particular year. It is dedicated to the sun god, Surya, and corresponds to Makar Sankranti, the harvest festival under many regional names celebrated throughout India.
The four days of the Pongal festival are called – Bhogi Pongal (Burning the old household items to replace new); Surya Pongal (cooking and offering rice porridge to the sun god); Mattu Pongal (paying tribute to cattle used in agriculture/dairy farming) and Kanum Pongal (outing, visiting relatives and friends).
On February 19, the Seychelles Tamil Mandram is organising a gala night Pongal celebration music show at ICCS starting at 4.15pm where renowned singers from India will be performing and the public is most welcome to attend.
Vidya Gappy
