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Thai Pongal messages

Love and compassion to all beings, theme of Thai Pongal - From Mahinda Rajapakse Leader of the Opposition

The Pongal day which marks the offering of gratitude to Sun God who helped to reap a good harvest, is a day of rejoicing for Hindus who consider it as the first day of the year. On this day milk rice with an admixture of jaggery cooked from the first harvest is offered to Sun God.

The second day of Thai Pongal known as 'Mattu Pongal' is dedicated to the cattle who helped in agricultural activities.

On this day it is the custom of Hindus to pay homage to cattle by bathing them and adorning them with 'Kumkumam' and garlands.

Thai Pongal is essentially a cultural festival of people engaged in agriculture. Paying obeisance to Sun God had been an age old custom of rural Sinhala society who depended on agriculture, too.

This shows that there are certain similarities between Sinhala and Tamil culture. It is the duty of communities to preserve their endemic cultures and values. Gratitude has been the underlying theme of Thai Pongal. This is equally applied to both man and animal. This is also the Buddhist principle.

It is a Buddhist principle to show gratitude and love and compassion to animals, too. It is a principle relevant not only to our country, but to the whole world.

Therefore on this day we should resolve to show love, compassion and gratitude not only towards humanity, but also towards animals. Such a practice will promote moral and spiritual values and help our own well being.

May Thai Pongal herald an era of peace- From John A.E. Amaratunga, Minister of Interior and Christian Affairs.

The month of Thai in the Tamil calendar is of special significance. Coming as it does after a season of fruitful agricultural pursuits, it brings wealth from a bountiful harvest. Pongal literally means spilling over.

The overflowing of milk on Pongal Day portends prosperity signifying an outpouring from the heart abundant with joy. Tamils have been celebrating Thai Pongal for over two millennia. Thai Pongal brings forth happiness and delight when another year of prosperity dawns afresh.

To the Tamils of yore Thai Pongal was a means of expressing their sense of indebtedness to Mother Earth and the forces of nature for the bounty so benignly conferred. Grateful thanks are also conveyed to the Sun God the source of all energy and the supreme benefactor in agriculture. Pongal, composed of many a farm produce together with fruits are being offered to the Sun God in a spirit of devotion. The Pongal ceremony concludes with the singing of Thevarams the divine garland of verse.

Hallowed by time, there exists a belief that the birth of the month of Thai is auspicious for opening of new vistas for peace, prosperity and happiness. Sri Lanka is poised on the threshold of social harmony. Thai Pongal offers renewed yearning and fresh hope for peace.

It is the wish of all, that Thai Pongal will ensure an outpouring of goodwill understanding and reconciliation. May Thai Pongal herald an era of Peace for Sri Lanka.

Thai Pongal portrays beauty of Hindu Culture

Thai Pongal portrays the beauty of Hindu Culture and this year's Thai Pongal day dawns with bright hopes of peace for our country which had been entangled in a disastrous war for two decades states Human Resources Development, Education and Cultural Affairs Minister Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku in a special Thai Pongal day message.

The message said that according to historical records different races in the world had engaged in Sun worship even during ancient periods.

This shows that ancient people had shelved the tribal or 'Island' mentality and inclined themselves more towards a global mentality which is still lacking in some people today.Thai Pongal day is not only a Cultural Festival of Hindus, but also a festival which upholds development and equality. Hindus derive an innocent pleasure by giving special care and treatment to cattle who helped them in agricultural pursuits throughout the year.

Thai Pongal day which dawns this year amidst a lull in a two decade war kindles feelings of peace and unity. Let this Thai Pongal day be a day which helps humanity to move away from a tribal and cloistered mentality into a global mentality, the message concluded.

Thai Pongal Festival - 2003

Thai Pongal Festival is one of the most significant Hindu Celebrations will take place at the ten Legendary Hindu Temples and Institutions Islandwide.

This festival is organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Hindu Religious Affairs and the Dept. of Hindu Religious & Cultural Affairs in collaboration with the trustees of the temples, Hindu organizations, District Secretaries and Divisional Secretariats, states a Ministry release.

Religious ceremonies and cultural programmes will take place at this festival in ten districts. In the morning,

7.30 a.m. Pongal & Pooja, 9.00 a.m. - 12.30 noon - Traditional Games, 3.00 p.m. - 6.30 p.m. - Cultural Programs will take place in ten venues on different dates.

T. Maheswaran, Minister of Hindu Religious Affairs and Members of Parliament and VIPs are expected to participate at the functions.

The details of places and dates are given below.

Ampara District - Sangamankandy Pillaiyar Temple - 17/01/2003, Batticaloa District - Kaluwanchikkudy Pillaiyar Temple - 19/01/2003, Kegalle District - Vincent Perera Playground, Yatiyanthota - 24/01/2003, Mannar District - Sri Sithy Vinayagar Temple - 25/01/2003, Vavuniya District - Siththananda YMHA - 25/01/2003, Badulla District - Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple - 25/01/2003, Trincomalee District - Thampalagamam, Aathi Konanayagar Temple - 25/01/2003, Jaffna District - Nelliyadi Tamil Maha Vidyalayam - 26/01/2003, Mullaitivu District - Puthukkudiyiruppu Pillaiyar Temple - 26/01/2003, Kilinochchi District - Kandaswamy Temple - 26/01/2003.

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