The usual Sunday at the Church of Sts Peter & Paul in Banting, Selangor, was made more special with a Ponggal celebration.
In a mix of cultural tradition with Christian worship, the event honoured the Tamil harvest festival.
The day began with congregation members preparing a sweet rice dish (ponggal) made with milk and sugar to symbolise gratitude for a good harvest.
The aroma of the ponggal dish wafted across the church grounds while parishioners prepared for mass.
“Ponggal is about giving thanks for blessings and this year, we wanted to highlight that through our prayers,” said Ponggal celebration committee member Soozanna Vincent.
The mass began with the lighting of a kuthu vilakku, a brass lamp symbolising light and hope.
During the offertory, church members presented the ponggal dish and sugarcane as a thanksgiving gesture.
This was followed by the Aarathanai ceremony where flowers, incense and light were offered, blending Tamil traditions with Christian reverence.
“Ponggal may be a cultural tradition but it’s also an opportunity for us to reflect on our faith and show gratitude,” explained Soozanna.
“Cooking the ponggal dish together also brought the community closer, reminding us of the value of working as one.
“Bringing these elements together in our church made the celebration even more meaningful,” she added.
“We also offered rice and flowers during the celebration as part of our rituals.
“It was a moment of thanksgiving and unity for our community,” said Soozanna.
After the mass, a silambam performance showcased the traditional Indian martial art form.
The celebration continued with a fellowship session which included games such as musical chairs, dancing and a boisterous sugarcane-eating contest.
