Capital’s Tamilians celebrate Pongal with gusto

The Tamilians in the Capital New Delhi did not lag behind their community in the south and rest of the country in celebrating the Pongal festival with gusto.

While many families performed traditional puja and sun worship at home, many get-togethers were organized across the city keeping the tradition alive. Temples dotting the metro were crowded on Thursday (Jan 14) with brightly dressed women thronging the areas in South Delhi, which boasts of a large Tamil population.

Called Makar Sankranti in northern India, the festival is known as Bhogali Bihu in Assam and Pongal in Tamil Nadu. It marks the transition of the sun from Makar (Tropic of Capricorn) towards the equator on its celestial path.

The highlight of the celebrations in Delhi was a special function organized at a farmhouse in which ‘Mattu Pongal’ was held with havans and a cow decorated and fed according to scriptures. Dr D. Vadivel Mukundan, the organizer, has to his credit rebuilding many temples in south and working for keeping the Tamil culture alive. For many families gathered on the occasion, it was a unique experience to watch a ceremony rarely seen in the Capital.

Housewives Prema and Deepa were thrilled as they had rarely seen this ritual of cow worship.

There was a sprinkling of curious North Indians too who were captivated by the proceedings.

At the Tamil Nadu House, a three-day Tamil New year Day and Pongal Vizha was organized by the state government from Jan 14 to Jan 16 which consisted of cattle worship, rangoli competitions, cultural shows performed by South Zone Cultural Centre, Thanjavur, besides a food court serving traditional cuisines of Tamil Nadu.

- Asian Tribune -