Traditional Ponggal celebration an eye-opener for children

(Left pic) Children trying their hand at stirring the sweetened rice during the celebration at Penang Suya Meiyarivagam in Changkat Delima. (Above) A performer delighting the children with a horse dance. – Photos: CHARLES MARIASOOSAY/The Star

THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD S. Ranjjetha Thevi was excited to be celebrating Ponggal (Harvest Festival) on such a grand scale at Penang Suya Meiyarivagam (PSM), a children and youth orientated non-governmental organisation.

“Although we celebrate it at home, I didn’t know there were so many different activities and types of rice cooked during Ponggal.

“I know there is a savoury rice called Keerai Ponggal made with nine types of vegetables. It’s very tasty and I enjoyed learning how to make it,” she said when met at the PSM premises in Changkat Delima yesterday on Sunday.

L. Jayvelan, 13, said celebrating Ponggal with his friends of over eight years was the highlight of the day.

“It was nice to gather around the clay pot and watch the milk boil over.”

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

Some 150 children, who attended the various youth oriented classes offered by the NGO, were treated to a fun day of Kolam making, Indian cultural dance performances and fun interactive activities apart from making the sweetened rice.

A performer delighting the children with a horse dance.

PSM chairman N.V. Subarrow said this was the first time they were holding the celebration on such a large scale.

“We invited the children who come here for classes as well as their parents to join in the fun activities.

“The purpose of the event is to expose them to how Ponggal is celebrated in India,” he said.

The NGO, formed in 1999 aims to inculcate and inspire moral and spiritual values and social responsibility in children and youths through the various classes offered at their learning centre.

Earlier in the morning, 50 children from the Ramakrishna Ashram could be seen celebrating Ponggal with fervour as they placed firewood and waited patiently for the milk to boil over.

It was organised by Malaysia Hindhudharma Mamandram Northern Region.

The children also enjoyed a Kolam-colouring contest, a pot-breaking competition, a dance performance by Mayuri Dance Academy and a scrumptious lunch held at the ashram premises on Scotland Road.

The celebration also saw 10 children from Penang Cheshire Home joining in the fun.

Participants boiling milk during the Ponggal celebration at the Ramakrishna Ashram in Scotland Road.

Malaysia Hindhudharma Mamandram Northern Region chairman V. Nanda Kumar said they chose to hold their annual Ponggal celebration at the ashram as they wanted them to experience a traditional Ponggal celebration.

“We want to teach the children the essence of Ponggal and let them have a good time.

“They are away from their families and these celebrations are usually done at home. We want them to feel as ‘at home’ as possible,” he said.

Datuk Keramat assemblyman Jagdeep Singh Deo, who was guest of honour, expressed his happiness that the group chose to celebrate Ponggal at the ashram.

He praised the members for their work in conducting educational activities to help the community.