Manama : The Pongal Festival was celebrated on Friday and organized by Bharathi Association, the only registered Tamil association functioning under the guidelines of the Ministry of Social Development.
H.E. Ziyad Adel Darwish, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Development, represented the Ministry on behalf of the Honorable Minister H.E. Osama bin Saleh Al Alawi and conveyed Pongal greetings to the Tamil community. In his address, he highlighted the significance of Pongal, the farmers’ festival widely celebrated as a traditional Tamil festival by the Tamil diaspora across the globe.
The Undersecretary appreciated the Tamil community for their valuable contribution to the Kingdom of Bahrain and acknowledged the ancient historical links between India and Bahrain. He also commended the Kingdom’s continued support in allowing communities to practice their culture and traditions freely in its multicultural environment.
The Undersecretary enjoyed the traditional Pongal feast, served on banana leaves and prepared using authentic Tamil culinary methods, featuring over 23 delicious vegetarian dishes.
Thousands of members of the Tamil community gathered at the Indian Club during the morning session to celebrate the grand Pongal festival, coming from every nook and corner of the island. The event was vibrant and colorful, evoking nostalgic memories of their hometowns.
More than 60 women performers presented the traditional Kummi Group Dance, adding charm to the morning session. Nearly 100 students showcased various cultural performances, including Parai Attam, Kavadi Attam, Karagattam, Oyilattam, and Village Folk Dances, choreographed by “Nritya Kala Ratna” Hansul Gani. Thousands of spectators thoroughly enjoyed the cultural programs.
Traditional activities such as Kolam Competition, Pongal Pot rituals, and adventure games like Uri Adithal and Tug of War were conducted. Sports events for children across various age categories and special competitions for women were also organized.
The morning session was energetically anchored by DJ Rathi.
· Kolam Competition was organized by Anees Fathima and Nisha Pratheeban
· Kummi Dance was organized by Abi Inbasekaran and Archana Aravind
The evening official ceremony was hosted by Nisha Pratheeban. The entire event was meticulously planned and executed under the leadership of President Vallam Basheer, supported by the 12-member Executive Committee and dedicated volunteers.
The Convener for the event was Muthuvel Murugan, alongwith Chief Coordinators Babu Sundarraj and Sakhivel.
During the evening session, a grand musical and comedy show featuring cine-fame artists captivated the audience. The live musical concert, supported by Music City Orchestra, was anchored by Nagore Abdul Qaiyum. Popular Tamil film singers Sathyan Mahalingam and Srisha Vijayasekar mesmerized the audience with their soulful and foot-tapping performances.
Renowned comedians Chutti Aravind and Azhar entertained the crowd with their sensational and humorous acts.
Entry to the event at the Indian Club was entirely free. Approximately 2,200 people attended the morning session and were served the traditional Pongal feast. The evening session attracted around 2,000 music lovers, who thoroughly enjoyed the performances.
The Programme was executed with support of Star vision events coordinated with The Indian Club
Manama : The Pongal Festival was celebrated on Friday and organized by Bharathi Association, the only registered Tamil association functioning under the guidelines of the Ministry of Social Development.
H.E. Ziyad Adel Darwish, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Development, represented the Ministry on behalf of the Honorable Minister H.E. Osama bin Saleh Al Alawi and conveyed Pongal greetings to the Tamil community. In his address, he highlighted the significance of Pongal, the farmers’ festival widely celebrated as a traditional Tamil festival by the Tamil diaspora across the globe.
The Undersecretary appreciated the Tamil community for their valuable contribution to the Kingdom of Bahrain and acknowledged the ancient historical links between India and Bahrain. He also commended the Kingdom’s continued support in allowing communities to practice their culture and traditions freely in its multicultural environment.
The Undersecretary enjoyed the traditional Pongal feast, served on banana leaves and prepared using authentic Tamil culinary methods, featuring over 23 delicious vegetarian dishes.
Thousands of members of the Tamil community gathered at the Indian Club during the morning session to celebrate the grand Pongal festival, coming from every nook and corner of the island. The event was vibrant and colorful, evoking nostalgic memories of their hometowns.
More than 60 women performers presented the traditional Kummi Group Dance, adding charm to the morning session. Nearly 100 students showcased various cultural performances, including Parai Attam, Kavadi Attam, Karagattam, Oyilattam, and Village Folk Dances, choreographed by “Nritya Kala Ratna” Hansul Gani. Thousands of spectators thoroughly enjoyed the cultural programs.
Traditional activities such as Kolam Competition, Pongal Pot rituals, and adventure games like Uri Adithal and Tug of War were conducted. Sports events for children across various age categories and special competitions for women were also organized.
The morning session was energetically anchored by DJ Rathi.
· Kolam Competition was organized by Anees Fathima and Nisha Pratheeban
· Kummi Dance was organized by Abi Inbasekaran and Archana Aravind
The evening official ceremony was hosted by Nisha Pratheeban. The entire event was meticulously planned and executed under the leadership of President Vallam Basheer, supported by the 12-member Executive Committee and dedicated volunteers.
The Convener for the event was Muthuvel Murugan, alongwith Chief Coordinators Babu Sundarraj and Sakhivel.
During the evening session, a grand musical and comedy show featuring cine-fame artists captivated the audience. The live musical concert, supported by Music City Orchestra, was anchored by Nagore Abdul Qaiyum. Popular Tamil film singers Sathyan Mahalingam and Srisha Vijayasekar mesmerized the audience with their soulful and foot-tapping performances.
Renowned comedians Chutti Aravind and Azhar entertained the crowd with their sensational and humorous acts.
Entry to the event at the Indian Club was entirely free. Approximately 2,200 people attended the morning session and were served the traditional Pongal feast. The evening session attracted around 2,000 music lovers, who thoroughly enjoyed the performances.
The Programme was executed with support of Star vision events coordinated with The Indian Club
