Photo:  Launching of the pongal light-up. Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Community, Culture and Youth and Second Minister for Law. Others in the photo are MOS, Mr Alvin Tan, President, LISHA, Mr Sankaranathan and Mr R Dhinakaran

Pongal Festival welcomes the beginning of the 10th month called ‘Thai’, which falls in the mid-January.  The pongal festival lasts for four days and celebrations include the cooking of pongal (traditional sweet delicacy), symbolizing thanks giving for a bountiful harvest.

LISHA (Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association) organizes pongal festival each year in Singapore with various activities planned for more than two weeks, that exhibits the tradition and culture.  In the modern Singapore, that lacks natural resources, there is little chance for people to witness the harvest related activities.

Pongal celebrations were officially launched on the 9th January, 2021 by Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Community, Culture and Youth and Second Minister for Law. From 11th to 15th January 2021, from 10-00 am to 6-00 pm, schools children and others had an opportunity to experience the pongal activities organised in the Little India area.  Maattu pongal, that is usually  celebrated the next day to pongal, to Thank cows was celebrated on the 15th January 2021.

The other activities that were lined up were mass pongal on the 16th January 2021 at 10-00 am, culinary trail on the 23rd January 2021 at 4-00 pm.  There will be treasure hunt on the February 6th 2021 at 4-00 pm in Little India.

Many cultural activities that was in line with the pongal theme added vibrancy to LISHA’s pongal festival.

Photos and information:  LISHA