Traditional Indian dances being performed during the state Ponggal celebration at the Youth and Sports Complex in Batu Uban. — Photos: ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
CRIES of “pongalo ponggal” echoed loudly across the Batu Uban Youth and Sports Complex in George Town, Penang, as celebrants came together for Ponggal.
People were seen carrying bowls of rice, milk and clay pots for the harvest festival.
Over 600 people took part in a mass-cooking session under sugarcane stalks.
Ponggal also refers to the traditional dish. It is made by boiling milk until it overflows, symbolising abundance and prosperity. Rice and jaggery are then added in to complete the dish.
Batu Uban assemblyman A. Kumaresan said the colourful celebration attracted over 1,000 visitors and a new Malaysia Book of Records was set for the largest ponggal pot replica.
Standing at 5.21m high and 4.43m wide, the giant pot was made with a wooden frame and polystyrene sheets.
To add excitement to the festival, 21 bullock carts also took to the streets, grabbing the attention of passersby and motorists during their 2km journey.
“Ponggal is a cultural celebration, not a religious event.
“In the spirit of unity, we organised this event to celebrate with everyone and promote a better understanding among our diverse communities,” said Kumaresan.
Also present at the state-level event were Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak and Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.
Retiree Lee Siew Chun, 60, and her friend Tan Teen Choo, 53, were thrilled to participate in the Ponggal cooking session.
“This is the first time we are participating in this festival, and had a go at cooking rice in a clay pot. It’s such a good experience,” Lee said.
Tourist Wu Xijun, 19, from Xi’an, China, said: “This is the first time we witnessed a celebration like this.
“It reminds me of our ancestral festivals in China but here, it’s a joyous occasion with so much colour and energy.”
Visitors were also treated to traditional games, stage performances, a lucky draw and complimentary meals at the event.
Ponggal, celebrated primarily by Tamil communities worldwide, is a harvest festival held in mid-January to mark the beginning of the Tamil month of Thai.
The four-day festival honours Mother Nature for providing a bountiful harvest.