Compiled by ZAKIAH KOYA, ALLISON LAI and R. ARAVINTHAN
THE Negri Sembilan Tamilar Thurivizha event, supported by the state government, was a grand affair showcasing many traditional elements, Makkal Osai reported.
The festival was held in Jalan Lee Fong Yee, Seremban, which was decorated and styled as Rangoli Street for the event. The state-level Pesta Ponggal, as it is officially known, was headed by state exco member J. Arul Kumar.
A bullock cart procession, held for the first time, was a major draw of the festival, which took place between 3pm and 8pm.
Uri Adithal (breaking of pot while being blindfolded game), garland making, ponggal cooking, public speaking, mattai weaving, sugarcane eating, kolam drawing, kabbadi competition, cultural dances, silamban performance, urumi troupe, and many other spectacles were held for guests to enjoy and take part in.
Seremban Jaya assemblyman P. Gunasekaren, state exco member Nicole Tan Lee Koon, Mambau assemblyman Yap Yew Weng, Lobak assemblyman Chew Seh Yong and other leaders attended the event.
The above article is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with this ' >'sign, it denotes a separate news item.
