‘Samathuva Pongal’ festival held at Erode Collectorate

The ‘Samathuva Pongal Festival–2026’ aimed at bringing people together and showcasing the cultural and traditional significance of the harvest festival, especially to the younger generation, was held at the Collectorate here on Tuesday (January 13, 2026).

Collector S. Kandasamy inaugurated the festival and flagged off traditional games for government officials, including rangoli, tug-of-war, uri adithal and lucky corner competitions. School students presented traditional martial arts and folk performances such as silambam, por silambam, alangara silambam, vaal veechu and magudu veechu. The Collector also joined thappattam artistes in playing the parai (drum). Cultural performances including mayilattam, kaalaiyattam and mangala isai were staged as part of the celebrations. Prizes were distributed to winners of various competitions.

District Revenue Officer S. Santha Kumar, District Revenue Officer (Land) Manjula, Personal Assistants to the District Collector Ramkumar and Loganathan (Agriculture), Assistant Tourism Officer Palanisamy and officials from various departments were present.