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'Let us join hands in the spirit of Thai Pongal'

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in a message on the occasion of the Thai Pongal celebration appealed to the people to "join hands in the spirit of Thai Pongal to put an end to the evils of war and create a prosperous Sri Lanka, based on the principle of peaceful coexistence."

The message:

"I have great pleasure in extending warm greetings to all Tamil people in Sri Lanka who celebrate Thai Pongal today.

"It is the belief of the Tamil people that the dawn of the month of Thai would bring in a new era of peace and happiness. Hence, it is with new hopes and aspirations they greet the New Year. Let us join hands in the spirit of Thai Pongal to put an end to the evils of war and create a prosperous Sri Lanka, based on the principle of peaceful coexistence.

"As the President of Sri Lanka, in the past seven years, I have worked tirelessly to resolve the ethnic conflict and usher in an era of peace. My Government started the process of political negotiations to end this conflict. We attempted to deal with the root causes of the problem. While we have not succeeded in ending the conflict, we have made much progress towards Peace.

I am happy to state that the new Government elected a few weeks ago, is also taking action to continue this process. I remain committed to the process of Peace which I initiated seven years ago and shall continue to give leadership and guidance to the Government in this regard.

"I send my greetings to all of you on this very auspicious occasion and wish that the dawn of Thai Pongal would herald an era of peace and tranquillity to this country as a whole."

Thai Pongal appeal

The President, V. Kailasapillai and General Secretary, Kandiah Neelakandan of the All Ceylon Hindu Congress in a Thai Pongal appeal state:

"On every Thai Pongal, the Hindus give their thanksgiving to the Sun by offering Pongal to him and engage in prayers to His Almighty for giving them the necessaries for their living. One of the forms of divine power is received by the people through the Sun.

The power received from the Sun is essential for our existence in the world. Farmers cannot imagine successfully harvesting their produce without Sun powers. The Tamils believe that "Thai Piranthal Vaizhl Pirakkum" (meaning that the way will dawn with the dawn of the Thai Month of Thai" on the Thai Pongal day).

On this Thai Pongal the Hindus of this country and the other Tamils who also generally join the Hindus in observing Thai Pongal will certainly have more confidence that a way will dawn on this Thai Pongal because of the news of efforts made by the new government to find a political solution to the ethnic problems.

Let all of us join together and pray that Shri Sivagami Ambal Sahetha Nadarajaperuman to shower his blessings on all those involved in the peace process to succeed in that, thus giving relief to all the people and in particular the people of the North-East as they have been suffering in numerous ways for about two dacades.

We appeal to all our brothers and sisters to observe Thai Pongal in a religious way and not to waste money on celebrations.

Hindus in Sri Lanka and abroad are welcome to send donations to the Humanitarian Fund established by us for assisting the needy. If they wish they can also contribute to the restoration of Shri Thiruketheeswaram Temple by sending contributions to the Thiruketheeswaram Temple Restoration Society as the rest ration work has recommenced".

Thai Pongal Festival - 2002

The Department of Hindu Religious and Cultural Affairs under the patronage of the Ministry of Hindu Religious Affairs in collaboration with the Government Agents, Divisional Secretaries, Temple Authorities and Hindu institutions has organized Thai Pongal Festival in the following six (6) districts:

1. Jaffna - 14-01-2002 at Nallur Kandasamy Temple and at Thurkka Mani Mandapam.

2. Ratnapura 19-01-2002 at Sri Muthumariamman Kovil Cultural Hall

3. Mullaitivu 20-01-2002 at Puthukudiruppu - Ulagalantha Pollayar Kovil.

4. Puttalam 25-01-2002 Uduppu Perumal Kovil

5. Batticaloa 26-01-2002 Kallady Sri Sithy Vinayagar Kovil and Hindu Cultural Centre

6. Colombo 28-01-2002 Ramakrishan Mission Hall Colombo 06.

This program will be presided by Kumar Vadivel Asst. Director Dept of Hindu Religious and Cultural Affairs. Minister of Hindu Religious Affairs Thiyagarajah Maheswaran will be the Chief Guest for this function and several other Ministers, dignitaries, Priests, Kovil Trustees, Members of the Hindu Associations and schoolchildren will participate in this festival.

This festival will begin with a special Pongal and special Religious ceremonies, poojas and traditional games, the function will continue till 12.00 noon.

In the evening at 3.00 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. there will be Cultural program like Kummi, Koladdam, Folk Dances, Carnatic music recitals, Bharatha Natiyam and Hindu drama, this program will be conducted by the local artistes at the above said districts.

A very special day - Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena

Thai Pongal festival of the Hindus of Sri Lanka and world over is a very special day in the Hindu calendar of events. On this day, thousands of farmers offer their successful harvest to the Sun (Suriya Bhagavan) as thanksgiving.

I certainly feel that this year's celebration assures much importance as it is conducted in an atmosphere filled with joy and happiness as compared to the past. There is cessation of hostilities in the country and it is a significant move in our quest of peace and reconciliation. On this joyous day let us all express our firm commitment to this process.

I am charged with the responsibilities of rehabilitation and resettlement of the displaced, and restore hope and courage to those whose lives have been irreparably affected. We must dispel fear and distrust and promote amity and understanding among all peoples of Sri Lanka.

With the astute leadership of Ranil Wickremesinghe the dawn of a new era in the lives of the people is imminent. Let us assure them with the renewed hope for a bright and secure future.

I wish you all a happy and prosperous Thai Pongal and let us hope and pray that we, Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims, one and all, be able to enjoy the fruits of freedom in our land in the coming months with a bumper harvest of peace and tranquillity!

Opposition Leader's message

On the Thai Pongal Day which is the day of paying homage to the sun, the Hindus, who as an agricultural community celebrate same, must attach the same kind of compassion and respect towards the humanity as they do so in respect of cattle and other animals, states Opposition Leader Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, in a message to commemorate Thai Pongal.

"Thai Pongal is a sublime day for Hindu devotees the world over. The Hindus in Sri Lanka who have their foundation on agriculture celebrate this day with great veneration to sacrifice their first harvest of the year in the name of Sun God while dedicating the pride of place to the Cow in recognition of their gratitude and compassion for the animal.

They also abstain from eating beef", states the message. Show of loving kindness towards the animal is also a tradition of the Buddhist.

To us in Sri Lanka, consisting of a population of agricultural origin, Thai Pongal is a day of great significance.

To the Hindu devotees who celebrate Thai Pongal, I wish them well, concludes the message.

Promise of dawn of peace - Arumugam Thondaman

Housing and Plantation Infrastructure Minister Arumugam Thondaman in a Thai Pongal Day message appeals to the people to make Thai Pongal the opportunity of promising the dawn of peace, considering same as a matter of national responsibility as Dravidians and as Sri Lankans.

It states that Thai Pongal is the important festival of Hindu devotees to sacrifice the first harvest of the year in the name of God. "This year Thai Pongal is dawning with the tender leaves of a fresh hope emerging on our way which is battered by a cruel war over many past years.

Now is the time when the strong path is forming itself to usher in everlasting peace under a hopeful fresh program envisaged by the new Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The bilateral truce in force, we believe, augurs well for lasting peace through negotiation.In my good wishes on the occasion of Thai Pongal I hope that all people as Dravidians and as Sri Lankans will consider it our national responsibility to mark this moment as the dawn of lasting peace among all of us" states the message.

Sarvodaya announces a massive Peace drive

The Sarvodaya Movement which is the largest peace organization in the country and also which has been active in promoting national amity and peace for nearly five decades, announces on the Thai Pongal Day the biggest ever People's Peace Operation to be launched by the Movement starting from March 15.

500,000 people from 15,000 Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim Sarvodaya villages have agreed to assemble at Mahameuna Uyana in the Sacred City of Anuradhapura to launch this people to people peace campaign.

This campaign will be inaugurated by a whole day peace meditation. On this day itself, 1000 villages in the North and East will be linked to 1000 villages in the South as sister villages. Villagers in the south will continuously go to the villages in the North and East with necessary skilled and unskilled labour and material requirements to start rehabilitation of houses, wells, tanks, schools, toilets and places of religious worship.

This will continue until December 31 .

Live telecast of Thai Pongal program in Jaffna

A live telecast of the Thai Pongal Program in Jaffna will be aired over Rupavahini Channel Eye on January 14 (Today) from 6.30 am. The program will take place at Jaffna town, Jaffna villages and the Nallur Temple (cleared areas).

Thai Pongal is an important festival mark the "Thanksgiving to the Sun God" and it is also important for farmers who celebrate the event in a unique way just after the harvest season.

The highlights of the program are preparations for Thai Pongal festival by the villagers and town dwellers in Jaffna, displaying real village life in Jaffna paddy fields, short interviews of farmers, Kolam(a traditional floor decoration), milk boiling and cooking of the rice at the entrance, cultural events, a special Pooja conducted at Nallur Kandasamy Temple, worship of the Sun God and thanksgiving to the cow and the bull.

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