Members of Tamil community in Bhubaneswar celebrate Pongal. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 17: A vibrant celebration of Pongal following the traditional Tamil rituals was seen in the capital on Sunday. Members of the Tamil community from all over the state took part in the festivities held by the Bhubaneswar Tamil Sangam (BTS) at their office premises in Nayapalli.

The programme began early in the morning when women dressed in traditional Tamil Nadu handloom saris cooked delicious sweet rice, also known as Pongal. The rice was cooked in a new clay pot with freshly harvested rice.

“Pongal is our chief festival and since it is mainly a harvest festival the ritual includes cooking of fresh harvest,” said A.N. Kasinathan, general secretary of the BTS. The participants of the festival then offered the sweet rice and other delicacies like vadas, payasam and various items cooked with coconut, jaggery, milk and pulses to the Sun god.

Later, Tamil and Oriya children performed traditional Tamil folk dances following which sports activities were also held for kids. But a major attraction was the Kolam or Rangoli contest among women. Huge, intricately drawn Rangolis decorated with natural colours were created by around 15 participants.

“In our village in Tamil Nadu, Pongal is celebrated vibrantly. There is a lot of hustle-bustle during all days of the four-day festival. It was the same feeling, participating in the Kolam contest here,” said Ramya, a participant.

Around 200 people from Cuttack, Paradeep, Angul and other cities of the state, including Bhubaneswar, attended the event. “Oriyas, as well people from different communities, joined the celebrations today. We are happy that the celebrations that began in 2006 have become bigger and bigger,” said T.R. Balaji, treasurer of BTS.

In the evening, a Carnatic music event was held at Rabindra Mandap as part of the Pongal celebrations. The vocalist regaled the audience with recitals from Thiruvalluvar’s compositions as well as devotional songs on Lord Vishnu. Chief secretary of the state Bijay Patnaik was the guest for this event.