Indian traders host vibrant Ponggal fest

One of the white cows being led into the white tent in Brickfields where the Ponggal Festival 2016 was held. – chan tak kong /The Star

IT IS not every day that one can see cows walking on the road in the middle of an urban centre in the capital city. And so the unusual sight in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, brought out many curious onlookers including tourists.

The white cows, led by their minders through the crowd under the tent were significant and symbolic of the ponggal celebrations.

Under a white tent, 50 claypots on makeshift stoves made of bricks were brimming with a mixture of milk and rice.

Three people attended to each of the pots, adding ingredients and watching over the bubbling mixture.

The buzz of activities was all part of the Ponggal Festival 2016 organised by Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Small Indian Traders Association with the cooperation of Kuala Lumpur City Hall.

The event was launched by Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk Dr Loga Bala Mohan.

Datuk Seri R. Jeyenderan (left) attended the celebration and presented a gift for the children from Stepping Stone Living Centre.

Maritime Network Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Seri R. Jeyenderan, 41, also attended the celebration.

After the cooking was done, sets of traditional attire -- saree and vesthi -- were presented to 50 men and 50 women from various welfare homes.

Children from Stepping Stone Living Centre, a home for underprivileged children and senior citizens, were also celebrated and given schoolbags, books and stationery, while 50 single mothers received RM100 each.

All these items were donated by Jeyenderan.

Firecrackers kicked off the celebration at 5pm, and the event continued well into the night with programmes lined up including games for the attendees.

As the sun set, the festival took on an even more vibrant beat with colourful dance and singing performances that entertained about 2,000 people who came for the event.

Ponggal is celebrated by Tamils around the world to show gratitude for a good harvest.

The first day of Ponggal falls on the first day of the Thai month in the Hindu calendar.

Rice and other condiments such as sugar, cashew nuts and raisins are added into boiled milk to cook the sweet dish also known as ponggal.