To another year of abundance: Thaneswari Balakrishnan (right) stirring the clay pot filled with the sweet rice ingredients as her family looks on during the Pongal celebration at the Sri Maha Muneswarar Temple in Brickfields. — AZMAN GHANI/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: Loud cheers rang through the school when the rice in the earthen pots started to boil and overflow.
For those celebrating Ponggal, it symbolised abundance and the overflowing of goodness and success.
Yesterday, pupils and teachers at SJK (T) Subramaniya Barathee began their day by preparing a traditional Ponggal dish.
This involved mixing rice and moong dal (green bean) in jaggery syrup (made from sugar cane), milk, water flavoured with ghee and cashews.
These were then placed over the fire to cook.
Ponggal is a three-day harvest festival. This year, the celebration lasts from Sunday until tomorrow.
On the Tamil calendar, it takes place from the first to third day of the 10th month known as Thai.
Joyous celebration: Teachers and students of SJK (T) Subramaniya Barathee waiting for the pot to boil over. — LIM BENG TATT/ The Star
B. Venugopal, who is the Parent-Teachers Association chairman of SJK (T) Subramaniya Barathee, said almost all 418 pupils of the school were involved in the Ponggal celebration yesterday.
“This is the first time we are organising a Ponggal celebration. Our goal is to instil in the pupils our rich history, culture and tradition. Many have forgotten or do not observe this festival at their home now,” he said.
To maintain its origins, he said they decided to have a bonfire on the grounds and erected bamboo stalks over it.
“The pots of rice are then heated up on the fire until they are boiled.
“This way, the pupils will get to witness and participate in this cultural event like how it is actually done in India during the harvesting period,” he said.
The pupils were dressed in traditional attire during the three-hour activity.
They also learnt how to fold Thoranam (hanging decorations) using coconut leaves, made kolams on the ground, and painted earthen pots.
At the end of the celebration, the pupils joined their headmistress R. Kogilavany to perform prayers and made offerings to the Sun God, Lord Surya.
