The harvest festival of Tamil Hindu devotees alias Thaipongal festival was celebrated today (16) under the leadership of Kegalla District Secretary Mr. Jagat Herath and Parliament Minister Mr. Nandana Millagala at Karumari Amman Kovil premises.
Hindu devotees living all over the world including Sri Lanka are celebrating Thaipongal festival. This festival which is considered to express gratitude to the Sun God and celebrating a successful harvest is considered one of the most important religious and social festival in Hindu culture.
The Thaipongal festival is on the first day of “Thai” month of the new year, and “Pongal” means “overflowing up”. It holds a meaning that symbolizes physicality, happiness and prosperity. Offering the Sun God specially cooked in a clay bowl with milk and fresh harvest rice, specially for this day.
The event often occurs on a sunny morning at an outdoor location. Drawing colourful skeleton (rangoli) patterns in front of the house, farming symbolized hills (sugar mountains) and yellow plants beautifully decorated, religious pilgrimage together is a special sign of this day.
The Thaipongal festival also reminds of the unique connection between human, nature, and the animal world. This is considered a festival that honors farm life, agricultural traditions, and family unity.
God pooja was held in this year's festival by Lakshan Kurukkal of Karumari Amman Kovil, Oyard. It was included in Thaipongal rice preparation, worshiping Sun God, drawing skeleton patterns, bending idols, conducting Martu Pongal offering as well as many cultural events presented by the children of New Polatagama College.
There was also organized a skeleton pattern and flower garlanding competition for the children of New Polatagama College and prizes distributed to the winners.
This Thaipongal day ceremony was held on the grants of Ministry of Education Information Technology and Cultural Affairs in Sabaragamuwa provincial council.
The program was organized by the Cultural and Hindu Affairs Department of Kegalle District Secretariat and the Cultural and Hindu Affairs Department of Yatiyankota Divisional Secretariat.
Mr. Tharidu Dewanagala, Kegalle Additional District Secretary (Government) T, President of Yatiyanthota Pradeshiya Sabha for this occasion. It is Mrs. Kusum Bandara, Mrs. Anoma Dissanayake, Assistant District Secretary Mrs. Malsha Priyadarshani, District Cultural Officer Mrs. Kanchana Wijeratne, Hindu Affairs Officer Mr. Namal Sanjaya, District Elder Officer Mrs. Dilani Kumari and Officers of the Cultural Department of Kegalla District Secretariat Office and Yatiyanthota Pradesh. Officers of the Regional Secretariat, and those locals, children and others participated.
