Minister John Amaratunga on Thai Pongal Day

I am pleased to extend my wishes on the occasion of Thai Pongal, which Tamil Hindus celebrate in a respectful manner

The Sri Lankan Tamil Hindus had a close relationship with agriculture and they hence had a strong closeness with the Thai Pongal festival, Minister of Christian Religious Affairs John Amaratunga said in his Thai Pongal Message. He said in his message: “I am pleased to extend my wishes on the occasion of Thai Pongal, which Tamil Hindus celebrate in a respectful manner, together with other Tamils in the world.

“Offering tribute to Sun, which brings prosperity and offering gratitude to the animals that assisted in tilling and harvesting are special rituals in the Thai Pongal celebrations. “According to Tamil tradition, Sun with this happiness will bless the people with a prosperous life in the year ahead. They expect a life with fewer physical or mental affliction, with the blessing of the sun because of the rituals performed on the Thai Pongal day.

The Sri Lankan Tamil Hindu community has a long tradition of agricultural life and hence has a strong closeness with the Thai Pongal celebrations.

“I wish the determination of the Tamil Hindus to the life reconciliation and the peace, accepting the blessing rendered with the dawn of the Sun on the first day of the month of Thai, be meaningful with the Thai Pongal celebrations,” he said.