Lok Niwas hosts Pongal celebrations/

Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan hosted Pongal celebrations on the lawns of Lok Niwas on Wednesday.

Attended by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, the Lt. Governor and his wife Beena Kailashnathan, celebrated the festival by making Pongal dish in earthen pots and offered prayers for prosperity. Mr. Kailashnathan, clad in traditional attire of veshti and shirt, witnessed cultural performances by various artists along with the Chief Minister.

Speaker R. Selvam, Minister for Public Works K. Lakshminarayanan, Minister for Agriculture C. Djeacoumar, legislators and officials attended the event.

In Auroville, over 400 people gathered at the Bharat Nivas to celebrate Pongal festival and the auspicious conclusion of the Margazhi month.

The event brought together a diverse crowd of Aurovillians, Indian and foreign residents, children, Auroville Foundation staff, and tourists.

One of the high points was a dance performance against the backdrop of a rendition of Thiruppavai by Dalia, a child in Auroville, attired as the poet-saint Sri Andal. The dance marked the finale of the 30-day Margazhi festival in the universal township.

Students of Isai Ambalam School performed Silambam, the traditional Tamil martial art.

Later, staff of Bharat Nivas and the Auroville Foundation, together with residents, prepared the ceremonial Pongal. The presence of a cow and calf during the celebrations added to the ritual’s authenticity as the pot boiled over while a cheering crowd welcomed the symbol of prosperity and abundance for the year ahead, a press note said.

The State Bank of India, Villianur branch, too celebrated ‘Samathuva Pongal’ festival featuring colourful rangoli patterns and cooking Pongal rice in a new pot, in the presence of customers and staff.

Rajadurai Venkatesan, Branch Manager, Reverend S. Albert, Rector and parish priest of the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, and N. Ravi, Vice-Principal of Vivekananda Government Higher Secondary School, were among those who participated.