Manama : The Bharathi Association, the only registered Tamil association operating under the Ministry of Social Development, is excited to announce a grand Pongal event scheduled for January 16, 2026, at the Indian Club, in collaboration with Star Vision Events. Since its inception, this non-profit organization has been dedicated to serving the needs of the Tamil community and fostering cultural heritage.
A press conference was held Jan 8th to unveil the details of this anticipated all-day celebration.
Pongal, a vibrant multi-day harvest festival, is celebrated by Tamils worldwide and holds profound significance within the Tamil diaspora. Known as the Festival of Tamils, Thai Pongal coincides with the first day of the Tamil calendar month of Thai, typically observed on January 14 or 15 in the Gregorian calendar.
The festivities will commence at 7:30 AM with an engaging Kolam Competition. Attendees can look forward to an array of sports and competitions, including Tug of War and ‘Uri Adithal,’ tailored for men, women, and children. Hundreds of gifts will be distributed, enhancing the spirit of the celebration.
Participants will partake in traditional Pongal rituals, which include cooking sweet rice in new clay pots until they overflow while joyfully exclaiming “Pongalo Pongal!” The venue will be adorned with fresh mango leaves, sugar cane, flowers, and banana trees, creating an authentic ambiance reminiscent of home.
We anticipate thousands of Tamil community members from across the kingdom to participate in this grand celebration at the Indian Club, with many Tamil individuals from neighboring Gulf countries also expected to join us.
The day’s events will be divided into morning and evening sessions.
The morning will feature competitions and sports activities, followed by a delicious Pongal feast, where a variety of Tamil cuisines will be served in the traditional manner on banana leaves. Alol types of Tamil traditional dances will presented including ‘Oyil Aattam’, ‘Parai Aattam’, ‘kavadi Aattam’, ‘karagattam’ and variety folk dances. Nearly 62 participants are engaged in the dance performance
More than 60 ladies are participating in the mega Kummi dance. All the dances are choreographed by the celebrity dance teacher in the island Nirtya kalaratna Mrs Hansul Gani.
The evening session will transform into an Entertainment Extravaganza, showcasing a live orchestra with celebrities from the Tamil film industry, providing an enchanting musical experience complete with mimicry and fun.
Baharathi Association invites everyone to come together as we celebrate our rich cultural heritage and share in the joy of Pongal.
